My daughter (16 yrs) is going to start raising chickens this spring. In fact, she has contacted a gentleman via craigslist and has ordered 4 Easter egger chicks to be picked up next weekend. We've purchased a heat lamp, feed and waterer and are set up to make a brooder thanks to the good advice I've gleaned from this forum. My main question at the moment is how to get the chicks home safely. Of course they will be in a box, but do we need to provide some heat source? We will be traveling about an hour to pick them up.
Many thanks for your advice!
Deb (and Lizzie, the future chicken keeper)
A chick question
It depends on how old they are, but in general I would say, yes. I found those "chemical" hand warming packets they sell for hunters at sports stores work well. You just slip it in the bottom of a small box (the smaller the better as long as the chicks fit in) cover it with a towel or cloth and put the chicks in and close the top (make sure there are air holes of some sort). It takes a few minutes to warm up, so I would do it a few minutes before you pick up the chicks.
I found that that is what they use when you order a special "small-order" from the hatcheries.
Thank you Catscan. Thats what I was thinking of. The chicks will be only a few days old. I'm proud of my kid for doing all of the research etc. to get this project going, but I'm the one doing most of the legwork. I havent' raised animal babies for a long time and I can't remember much. Do you think the chicks in brooder are better off in the house or in the unheated garage? Liz wants to keep them in her room, but doesn't want to hear them peeping all night - I'm sure they probably will! Any suggestions?
We are enjoying everyone's pictures of the chicks and getting really excited!
Even with baby chicks, they create a lot of dust, often unseen til it piles up. I would recommend the garage, but thats just my person opinion. Tell your daughter we all wish her the very best. Hay
Well, I do keep them in the house.....and it probably would be a good idea for the first week or so. You can monitor them closely, see whose eating and drinking, who has pasty butt. Also, I've had the bulb in the brooder burn out twice in the last two months and almost lost the chicks.
But Hay is right, they do produce a lot of feather dust. It is not so bad the first couple weeks, but about week three I begin coughing and wheezing. In addition, the light is on 24/7 and even with a red bulb that bothers some people. And they do peep...but not so much if they are happy. So, in a way, if they start peeping madly in the middle of the night, if they are in the house, you can hear them and set things right.
mine are currently in my bedroom and as Catscan says, The light is on 24/7 so I place a towel on the tank to block some of it which riles up the little critters.. Last night they were very active, and so since our weather is turning nicer, I am thinking that in a week or two I will be putting them in the outside pen that is blocked from wind and has a red light for warmth.... Then hopefully I will have another batch of babies, and this time I think they will go in Billy's room to keep him company..LOLOL
Congrats to your daughter
Well just as long as you know the latter advice came from a not so normal, lady...I mean princess...LOL. Hay.
OH me it seems as though the ladies are ganging up...Shucks I forgot this is mostly a ladies forum, Yeah for softies they will always be in the house I guess...I guess I forgot the garage was kind of a man-cave I guess...LOL
This message was edited Mar 15, 2010 11:28 AM
I have trouble finding the handwarmers when I need them, so my sugestion os to take some empty bottles that will fit into your bax. Ask the people to fill them with as hot water as possible, cover them with a towel, and, voila, instant incubator :)
Hope you enjoy them!!
Oh what I'd give to have a garage with power! Wow.. I could build more coops and put these dusty lil critters out soooo much sooner!
The dust is getting bad already..
I'm wondering if I can sleep without them now.. I find myself waking up making sure the blanket hasn't fallen on them.. Yeah, they are right next to my bed. not for long though.. they need to move..
Oh gimme a break Hay.. you come struttin in here just cause there are so many females! We keep you in line though...
Our Rooster LOL...
for sure!
That's a great idea catmad.. a lot cheaper too! You can fill them at home and "pre warm" the box, or tupperware, or ice chest.. LOL
I think I have a few left from the last freezing craft show I was in..... Gotta look around. Now I've found out that we have to spend $50 on a permit and go before the board of health to state our case - for 4 chickens!
Yikes!
Oh that is bad tamberlin, I would not do good in front of any board, since I am a firm believer that I live on my place they dont and they dont know what kind of life I lead. It should not be up to people to tell me what I cant have and can have... Given the price of food, you would be supplementing your grocery bill while letting your daughter learn about life. Just think this is better for her then out running the streets (Not saying she is going to) I believe with Billys animals he wont have time to run the streets when he grows up..
I'm a bit worried about the board meeting. They are going to "interview" my abutting neighbors as well. I don't have any problems with them. On one side is a retired doctor who is quite the plant enthusiast. He loves my garden and we gave him honey from the beehive for the holidays. On the other side, I dont know them all that well, but have had no problems...
My DH is going on 16 and has some chronic headache issues in the past 2 years. It's caused her to have a pretty negative look at life lately. Her grades are not good at all. I'm considering this to be "Chicken Therapy". I'm hoping to teach her responsibility and accountability and give her a good reason to get going in the morning....
Chicken Therapy is good actually animal therapy is good, You could research that and use it as part of your argument as it is recognized as a treatment program... I would say just what you said..
Good luck.