Worried new mom!

[6CHICKS141]

Im getting 6 new araucana chicks tomorrow afternoon! I am so excited since this will be my first time and I have wanted some chickens for a long time now! Like any new mother, I have a couple worries that I would like help with.

For the chicks, I have some medicated chick starter, and some plain water. Is this enough to keep them healthy? I really don't want them to get sick!

Also, I have a tuber ware like container that is the brooder and is on a small low down table. Is this ok? Will the table be ok or should I put the container on the ground?

I have a heat lamp with a read bulb, but does the room itself that the chicks are in need to be heated?

thanks so much! I know that some of these worries may seen silly, but I had 2 birds (parakeets) in the past and they died after 3 years from some unknown disease! This just has made me a little more carful! Thanks again!

 

[cutipatooti]

Congrats on the new babies, when you get them. This is my first time too. Mine are in a 50 gallon tuberware type tote for a month now and doing fine. So I don't think you should have any problems with that. I don't think it matters if it's on a table as long as you don't have anyone who can nock it off. I have kids and other pets so a table would not be a good idea at my house. Red bulb is good but how many watts. The room does not have to be heated but that's where the watts of the bulb come in. My chick's are in the house in my bathroom. I keep the temp in the house at 68. My bulb is the 200 or 250 now I can't even remember. Since my house is heated my bulb really is too warm. I have to open the bathroom Window to cool it down. I have the lamp as far away as I can get it. My whole bathroom heats up to 85. Another thing I give my chick's is grit. Some say it's not necessary but mine like it. It was the first thing they went for when I got them. I got them when they were a couple of days old. I also give mine worms or bugs from outside and cut up veggies and other table foods. It took a couple of tries till they realized they can eat bugs and fruit now they chase whoever has the goodie around in the brooder trying to take it for themselves. It's so funny. Good luck

 

[6CHICKS141]

Congrats on the new babies, when you get them. This is my first time too. Mine are in a 50 gallon tuberware type tote for a month now and doing fine. So I don't think you should have any problems with that. I don't think it matters if it's on a table as long as you don't have anyone who can nock it off. I have kids and other pets so a table would not be a good idea at my house. Red bulb is good but how many watts. The room does not have to be heated but that's where the watts of the bulb come in. My chick's are in the house in my bathroom. I keep the temp in the house at 68. My bulb is the 200 or 250 now I can't even remember. Since my house is heated my bulb really is too warm. I have to open the bathroom Window to cool it down. I have the lamp as far away as I can get it. My whole bathroom heats up to 85. Another thing I give my chick's is grit. Some say it's not necessary but mine like it. It was the first thing they went for when I got them. I got them when they were a couple of days old. I also give mine worms or bugs from outside and cut up veggies and other table foods. It took a couple of tries till they realized they can eat bugs and fruit now they chase whoever has the goodie around in the brooder trying to take it for themselves. It's so funny. Good luck

Thanks so much! This really helps and calms my nerves! Todays the day!

 

[Hamstery]

Congrats on your new chicks!! I just got mine yesterday and regular chick starter and water is what they are getting as well. I have mine in a plastic brooder as well. They are on a table out in a four season (unheated) room and the temps got down to 35 last night..... they were toasty warm under the 100 watt light bulb keeping the end of their brooder at a perfect 90 degrees. No unhappy peeping! And I should know because I was up all night checking on them They were all sprawled out, sleeping in peace. Enjoy your babies!