I just got off the phone and I pick up My chicks on Friday afternoon. HOORAY. I get them at about 1 week old. 5 Buff Orpingtons.
I got feeders & waterers (both for chicks and fully grown chickens) today at a local feed store and they recommended and introduced me to a man who has about 1600 chickens for pets. He orders them and sells for a hobby but has his own flock 1600 of them, various breeds (Buff orps. barred rocks, sexlinks(spelling), barenecks?????, polish something, and others) I really am only interested in the Buff orps and barred rocks. but i think I am goingto stick to 1 breed, the B. Orps for right now.
Did I mention I am getting them this coming Friday afternoon? I was planning to start purchasing things first over time and when everything was obtained, then get the chicks, but here I was talking to someone who was willing to give them to me right then and there. I wasn't prepared for that. So, I took his number and called him tonight and we talked and he shared and well I get them on Friday afternoon after I go and see his flock. He does medicate his chicks but gives them no hormones. If any do get sick he said he seperates them from the flock.
OH---- it is moving fast. I have so much to do. They are chicks 1week old or maybe 2 by then so I can keep them in a cardboard box (like a computer box)) right? Or a 10 gallon fish tank? For at least 1 or 2 weeks? Until I can get a tractor or house built. Payday is next week. Feed? Is medicated starter feed okay? Cost needs to be low, but if I waste it on gas driving all over to get this then that then this and that; well then just spending a little more now would be the same? Any one's advice is helpful here??????????
calvin
This message was edited Aug 31, 2006 8:45 AM
So Excited Hard to contain it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also just read someone ( it was eufaula on another thread)used a tent? I have a little 4 manner tent would that work( for holding the chicks or is it for mature birds)?
This message was edited Aug 31, 2006 8:41 AM
Okay, now I have slept on it. I am calmer now.
now, any advice on things I should be looking out for when I go and get the chics? such as the birds themselves and the conditions they are living in. Are there any warning signals I should be looking for that might say think twice before you get this chick or chicks. I don't want to come home and they plague my backyard, preventing me from buying others for a long time.
Congrats! It's so exciting to get new chickens!!!
Okay, the only way to assuage my jealousy is for you to report how it's going so I won't make the same mistakes! HA!
Hi there!
Okay, first off, all of my babies have lived in a fish tank or a large cardboard box for a few weeks until they are ready to go out. Good thinking. Eventually they will start to fly out of the tank, so you will need a screen lid sooner or later. Sooner if you have cats.
Go to your local feed store and get starter mash, that will be fine.
Pick chicks that are alert, or quickly becoem alert and fuss if you go to pick them up. Really lethargic chicks should be avoided ( okay, but all chicks can fall asleep at the drop of a hat and will sleep with their faces right in their food! LOL!) If there is anyone who can't settle back down, avoid that too. You want chicks that won't die of exhaustion.
Look at the feet, make sure they don't have any weird discoloration on the bottoms and that they can walk correctly. Oh, and use shaving or something else that is really gripable for the bedding in the box. Slippery paper canmake chick legs splay out.
Other than that, food, water and nice and warm with no breeze in the box should do the trick. The more you handle them, the friendlier they will be when they grow up. I do love my buff!
Backyardhen, thank you so much. I never new to look for those things. That just is not in the books. Experience is knowledge and thank you for shareing.
I have written it down and will try to memorize it before I get there to get them.
And I will start a new thread for updates. I will start with the Fish tank and as they grow will move to a large box.
calivn
How many chicks are you going to keep in that 10 gallon aquarium? Remember, there is no ventilation in there so you must keep it super clean or the ammonia will get to their lungs.
Personally I prefer an open wire type cage with a towel over about 1/3 of it. I use those small electric heaters with fans to move the heated air so they can get close to it or move away as they like. It also means you don't have to have a light on them constantly. Remember that with their mothers they do have days and nights. They are not constantly under her for heat at 1 to 2 weeks of age. In fact, they are out running around with her as soon as they dry off most of the time. It depends on the temps of course. The closer to natural you can give them for environment the more healthy they will be.
I'll be watching this thread for updates on everything.
Okay, I don't really have an oen meshed cage. All this happened so quick and in my excitement I went for it. For now i have the tank. Course I also have the tent and a dog kennel sized for a shepard( I am sure that they could climb through the bars). I will purchase materials for a tractor and cage this weekend. Oh, and I will keep them in the house for awhile too. Let them outside under my supervision. Is 76-78 deg.F okay or should I place a 60watt light over them when in the holding tank/cage? I do want to mimic outside but don't want to over do it. At night can I jst let them be at house temp or use like a blue or red heat lamp. I think I still have those on hand after the snakes and lizards.
hahaha....... I sit here thinking to myself "You have done your homework read the books and look at yourself.......... acting like you haven't done a thing asking all these questions.......hahahhaa
I geuss I am nervous, to nervous to think about what I have read
calvin
I had some half grown chicks in a dog crate ( 8 of them) and that worked out fine. So that is an idea for later.
If you are worried about the chickens not having enough darkness, cut a shoe box down so that there is a shaded spot in the tank. leaflady brings up a good point, the tank is only short term, while they are really tiny.
I don't think you can really screw it up toop badly. You know what to do, and chicks are way tougher than they look! You'll be fine. You may lose one along the way, which will break your heart. I cried like a baby when I lost one a couple of years ago, but you'll be fine :)
They are home. 5 total.And very talkative. this picture is in the makedo box for now. I am trying to keep the draft of the AC off of them.
They were ready to eat and drink after the ride home.
The Kiddos, well I think everyone knows their reaction. Kids love little chicks. My daughter was afraid to hold one at first, but after pretending that she needed to take the one in my hand quickly "cause I had to do something fast" she got over the fear even faster. hehehe. Now that is all she wants to do is hold them.
hear are some pics. The man said they were Buf Orps, but I don't now how to tell?
welcme home little ones.
could this help for an ID?
This message was edited Sep 1, 2006 5:52 PM
taking a stroll.
this one thought the camera was food.LOL they are interested in food, food, and food. hahahaha
I have a sense of comfort listening to them cherp as I sit here and load the pics. I will keep photo udates as they grow.
Any more suggestions? Keep them coming. I find that even though you may read, read, read...life experience (wisdom) is even more valuable.
Thank you all for the advice.
calivn
http://www.feathersite.com//Poultry/BRKRaisingChicks.html
Saw this site and thought of you.
Here is a pic of my buff orpington when she was a chick. You can compare. They look similar to me!
COngrats on your new flock!!
Your set up looks good to me!
Only 5? I thought you were talking about upwards of 20 or so. For just 5 that tank is plenty big enough for a week or so. I think a 25 watt bulb should be enough heat for them.
Just saw this thread - How awesome!
Well hello Nivlac and every body!!! just saw your thread and I am so excited for you!! Yep I was in a quaundry about what to do about my babies too when I first got them!! I put them in a wading pool with a screen door laying over them for a short while til I got to the Wally world and bought a very inexpensive one man tent with a rain fly! I filled the bottom with play sand 1 bag did fine! Then I added a tiny little home made roost to which I attached a light ,the kind with the pinch type hanger! A waterer and feeder and my babies were set! The tent keeps in the heat and you can adjust the humidity and the temp by unzipping the door . It has a net screen so little ones cant get out and small predators cant get in! Because the little ones do get messy and smelly I would advise putting them out side ,but close by. I had mine on the porch then out to the yard when they got to be about 4 weeks!
congratulations on your new family and have fun!!
Congratulations, Calvin! That's wonderful. Now I'm thinking about not waiting until spring. But still have to get the chicken tractor built. I did find a little feed store up the road that will order as few as six for me.
Keep posting pics!
Brigidlily, Just do it, you know you what to , its what you want, so go ahead and do it........ now is as good as any other time........... get them.......their small,cute,and can be cared for in the house................ just do it get the little ones a home with some tlc, it is affordable now, not much cost in feed and water, little space is needed right now and as they grow then you can build the space (you know, over time) get them now and by spring you will have eggs.............
Okay, hahahahaha, is that enough peer pressure?
update after a few days:
I was going through a cardboard box a day and decided that I would just go ahead and move them into my dog kennel. Heat lamp, blankets drapped over to retain the heat and chicken wire (1/2") tied around so they don't excape through the bars. It is too much space right now but it will give them a home for at least 3 more weeks.
I am soooo excited still. They do seem to grow overnight, hehee. I try to sleep and after about 5 hours I wake up and jump out of bed to go and see them. I come home after work(the graveyard shift) and go straight to see them. I think my wife is going to start thinking that I am putting her second to the chicks, lol (she is already up and getting ready to goto work by the time I get home). I worry while at work if I will lose one overnight, but am elated when I look into the Dog kennel and see and here 5 chirping at me.
Kennel is so much easier to clean and they aren't wallering in their feces as much as when in the boxes. Kiddos love them and play with them daily. Wife even is trying to bond with them (I am very suprised at that--- she was against the whole thing to start with---- I just am hard headed). although, she expressed a worry and fear about when they grow up. she said she had a fear of pointed beeks and asked if they were going to peck at her freckles.......... will it hurt? I couldn't say yes or no.........I just don't know.
I am holding out on pictures for weekly updates. they grow so fast it will be interesting the big changes in pictures.
thanks for visiting everyone and sharing inmy excitement,
calvin
HEy Calvin
Yes, tehy will peck her freckles. I am very freckled, but they will probably get over it by the time they get up. It hurts a little but they are very easy to redirect :)
Isn't it amazing? When they are little it seems like every time you go away for an hour or two they grow a new feather! I'm so glad you love them like I do!!
Plus, are they named yet?
Backyard, yeah they are named. The kids just could not resist, hahahaha.
I had named the loudest one- Mayble- from the first day I picked them up. Though I am a little worried now that she might be a He not a She. (s)he-Mayble- is from what I geuss a couple of days older than the rest. Tail feathers are starting to come in and the comb is a lot bigger than the rest. even when Mayble was at the stage the others are at now, Mayble's comb was not as small as theirs. I will have to give it more time. If Mayble is a He then mayble will have to be culled. I can not have a Roo. Bummer!
I just bought a 50lb. bag of play sound.
Can I add a little to the cage for them to bath in. It would not hurt them would it? I mean I know they will probaly eat a little of it, It is the same color as the feed and I don't want them to eat it over the food and die from no nutrients. Is it oky for me to pile a little in a corner fo them to play in?
calvin
Sand will be good for them. They will eat some for grit and learn to scratch in it. Great idea.
1 week later and they are still alive....wohoooooooo....................
They got a little lost and confused trying to run from me bck into their cage. hehehehehe
On Exploration....
New feathers are poking out
Time to clean the kennel...oops, I'm slack'n
WOW! What a difference a week makes! Nice little Buff Orpington wings going on there! They grow fast. Looks like they're fat and happy, so you must be doing something right. They're great. Are they happy enough in the dog kennel? Have you built the tractor? Or are they going to turn into house chickens, LOL?
Yhey sure act happy in the kennel. Plenty of room. I think if I had them outside they would be safe, but for now to control the temp I have them in the house. I haven't started the tractor yet. I have a friiend who sayed they have some left over 2x4's that I could have and when I get them I plan on starting. Though, I don't really know when they are going to give them to me.
I think I might be ending up with 2 roos. I don't know . talked to the Man who I got them from and he said if they are he would switch them out for hens no charge, yesssssssssss.
I would think that introducing new chicks at that age 3-4weeks would not cause aproblem.?
calvin
Hey there.
Yes, new chicks will be fine, especially if there is more than one. At first they will peck them and you will chew on your fingernails, but eventually everyone will get along fine :)
I introduced 4 bantam pullets to my 2 hens, plus 3 standard pullets this year, and 3 months later, they are all one happy family.
Please help - I have a twelve week old partridge rock pullet whom I love. I got her as a birthday gift with her 3 other rocks.
She was smaller, quite lethargic and her eyes bulge. I am quite concerned and want to do all I can to take great care of her. I am a bit new at the chicken raising, about a year and a half, and I love it and them. If anyone has any thoughts as to what is going on with her, I would love to know. Her name is Jewel. Yes, I name my chickens. All twelve of them. Thanks to anyone who might have an idea. LaDonna
Ladonna, Could it be that she is backedup, constipated? I know nothing about it either. I hope you find the answer and help before anything bad happens. Good luck
calvin
how old were your buff orps when you got them
Hey, Calvin, how are the chicks? Need and update! I still don't have the tractor built, but the SE Texas State fair is this month, and I've told my son I need it by then. we'll see...