New to chickens with new chicks!

Hi there,

I usually hang out on the rose board but thought I would come over here and introduce myself. I'm Laura, mama to 4 kiddos (4xthefun).

We have wanted chickens for a long long time but didn't think it was possible because we live in the city. We found out if our neighbors don't mind we can have them. yeah!

So we got our first chicks today. 10 total. 3 white leghorns, 3 black australorps, 3 buff orpingtons and 1 brown leghorn that we call Regis (because the first place it pooped was on a picture of Regis in the paper).

They sure are noisey! We have them in a guinea pig cage set up with water, baby chick feed, newspaper and a bedding made from newspaper that we use for our gerbils. I have a heat light and so far the temp seems to be ok. They don't seem to be huddling or trying to move away from the lamp. My thermometer isn't working so I am not positive on the temp.

So, am I missing anything? They keep kicking litter into their waterer, I am changed it a few times and we have only had them a few hours! Any tips?

Thanks!
Laura

Awww , dont you just love them! Is that little chipmunk "Regis"? If so , I now know what my Chipmunkys are! Brown Leghorns, Awesome!
Hon, one thing thats a given , with babies, Changing the water! They will even lay in it if they can! I like to give them warm water to drink ,when they first arrive to keep them from getting internally chilled, but that just makes them "Hug" the waterer all the more! So I cool the temp down over a period of about 16 hours, they seem to get the message then, that its not a Hot water bottle! Enjoy!
E.

Yep, the chipmunk is Regis.

I have another question, do I keep the light on at night? Do they need any dark time?

Thanks!
Laura

Keep the light on all the time , but have a place where they can cool down if they want to. feed them a good chick starter and watch their little butts, their poop will stick to their butt and harden making it impossible to "GO" clean them with a warm cloth, this condition dont last long but I have killed a chick picking it off with my fingers. GOOD LUCK, you have some nice hens. I have almost 100 hens and a LOT of them are Buffs and aussies.

Hi, Ditto on watching for pasty butt. I clean with a wet qtip and sometimes add a drop of cooking oil to encourage the chick to clean its butt. Usually they out grow the problem in a couple of days. I place the waterer on either a small piece of 2x4 or some other scrap wood. This elevates the waterer above the litter a bit . Just make sure everyone is tall enough to reach the water ok. I am expecting 60 chicks to arrive next Tuesday. I can hardly wait.
Linda

Thanks biggered. We already had to clean off two little chick butts this morning. I used a damp paper towel. One chick looks to have some waterey poop. I am feeding them medicated chick food. They all seem perky and curious. The one with watery stool doesn't seem to be acting any different.

One chicken book I have says to put electrolytes in the water? I haven't done that. Is that a must do?

Laura

NO, I don't think so. it is a pick me up. I've never done it, but if you are worried, go for it. I won't hurt.

EUfaula ~ I wouldn't be so sure about the brown leghorn chick. Pretty much all my chicks have come looking like that! Speckled sussex, aracauna. wyandottes and barred rocks look just like that too, but black. On murray-mcmurray they have chick pix if you want them :)

You are so right,BBH, Here are two of the little brown Red ones, as you can see one looks like a Chipmunk with the stripe on its back and head the other is more of a rough coat with the color changing like velvet , no stripe!

Here is the "velvet", (Hmmmm , Good name for Her too)! Her wing feathers are almost a checkerboard! Toooo pretty! Could this be a Sussex?? I know it isnt a RIR.

As you can see ,on the "Chipmunky one", the wings are so much shorter and also have a pattern but not as definite as the other!

Now here is "Tipsy" , her wings are starting to "Bar", She is going to be a beautiful Barred Rock!

Im such a pretty Girl!!!!

4Xthefun, Since you chose Regis for your Roo, Ill just have to name my little girl,"Kelly"! then they can be long distance best Pals..... Hmmmm. Internet buddies!!!! LOL!!

Eufaula,

That's cute! My Regis is a girl (Roo is for rooster?). Kinda like a boy named Sue, a girl named Regis ;-)

Your babies are so cute. Your Barred Rock looks like my Australorps. One of them has a lemony face with a black mask. I can't wait to see what they look like when they grow up. They have such pretty patterning now.

Laura

Hey Laura, I have a couple of the baby Astralorps too, I would post a pic but they are napping right now! they do look like the barreds but they have all black wings!

Welcome to the poultry forum, Laura! So glad to have another Texan around.........you will find chickens to be one of the most fun thing to raise. They are precious and grow so very fast. :-) Also, you will love everyone around here - - - they are all very helpful and a wealth of knowledge. Sounds like you are on the right track with the little ones - - -mine had a three-day trip from the hatchery and were a bit weak, so I did give them a bit of a "pick me up" in their water and it seemed to help tremendously. I added 1/2 C. sugar to a 1 gallon waterer. They loved it. But, as long as yours are all doing ok - - I wouldn't worry about it. Be sure to keep them feed and water 24/7, plenty of warmth and you will be amazed at how quickly they grow!
Good luck!
Belinda

It's so amazing. Every time you leave, they grow a new feather, once they get started. It is my yearly springtime meditation on the wonders of nature. I love chicks so much.

You got it right, BYC. I too think it is the best medicine for meditation. LUV it!

Eufaula,

What and adorable picture of your napping babies. I think it is just too cute how they sleep. Mine stretch out all over each other, kind of like my kids do.

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!

Laura

Good Blessed Morning to you all! Spring Is Here!!!!! I introduced the babies to the out side Yesterday. I took a roll of chicken wire and made a little corral for them and turned them loose. Whooo Hooooooo!!!! I laughed so hard! At first they were just stunned! Too much open space at on time! Then , like an exploding rocket, Whoooosh, off they all ran..Jumped.... flapped....rolled...and scooted!!! It was better than anything on Television, I Guarantee!!
We Are All , definitely, a different breed of People, Chicken People, Yep we are really ! I sat out side in my Chair watching and snapping pics for at least 2 hours! I had no idea that I had been there that long, til I tried to get out of the chair, LOL!!!! Toooo Funny!
Sorry about the fuzzy picture, I forgot to adjust the focus!

Ooooh Whats that, dont move , be still, Gotta figure this out!!!!

That is too cute! How old are you babies?

Here is yesterday's entry in my garden journal. Sounds like we had similar entertainment! I had a movie rented for the kids and they never even watched it! Too busy watching the chicks.

Apparently the way to a chicks heart is through the stomach, just like with men and dogs :)

The chickies are a week and a day so we decided they were ready for some big chick food. Mealworms! Oh my gosh, I have never had so much fun with bugs before in my life! I wasn't sure the chicks would even know what to do with the worms. I put one in the palm of my hand and one brave little chick ran up and snatched it out of my hand. As soon as the other chicks saw what she had they all started squawking and chasing her. One chick would steal it and run off and then another would get it and on it went until the poor little mealworm was no more.

The kids and I took several worms breaks today. It was so funny. Normally the chicks all run away squawking when the BIG SCARY HAND reaches into the brooder. The leghorns are the worst. They try to fly away and get all worked up. Since BIG SCARY HAND introduced yummy mealworms all the chicks come running towards me when I get close to the brooder. They peep "me me me me" and no longer seem to be afraid of me.

The Leghorns are the worm hogs. They are fast and hardly let the other girls have a chance at the worms. They are learning though. The early bird really does get the worm.

I havent tried the meal worms, but I have found several earth worms , while digging in the garden! I had to share some with the chicks. Now That was Funny! The acted as if They knew exactly what they were for! Instinct, for the right food , is almost immediate! They also love Grubs! And I dont mind giving them all they want of those critters!!!

Great story Laura. And yes, watching chicks with worms is fantastic fun. Great family fun. If they get tired of mealworms, give them a whirl on waxworms. Little different taste and they won't tire of the mealworms so quickly. :-)
Eufaula - I am still LOL @ your little ones outside. I bet they were more than shell shocked! lololol I SO agree with you about "us" being different. In fact we are very different - - - sort of our own breed you could say. I have found chicken lovers to be one of the most kind, helpful type out there. :-)
Happy SPRING to everyone!!!!!!
Belinda

Oh Im Sorry Laura, I missed your Question! My Chicks were hatched on the12th and I got them on the 14th of this month , so they were a week old yesterday! Already , they have new feathers forming and are getting "Leggy"! They still have some of the baby fuzz but not for long!

Ok, mine hatched on the 11th. I have noticed mine are getting leggy too and their feet are getting big. My white leghorns have cute little tail feathers now too and most of them have lost the fuzz on their wings. The leghorns like to fly too. They are always fluttering out when I take the wire top off their box. One little leghorn likes to fly up on top of the feeder jar.

Did I mention that my daughter took all her pennies and coins (with a few quarters from Daddy) and went back and got a Rhode Island Red? She named her Ruby. She is so pretty. We are up to 11 chicks now.

Laura

I think reading what you have all put down it has been fab-to read, This is the first time I have been on your site, it is nice to have somethings in common. Weimac

Well Hello there Weimac, and welcome! so you are a Chicken person also? We are a happy group and the more the merrier! You never know just what will amuse us , when it comes to "ChickenTalk". We adore hearing about each others Chickies , and will gladly share stories. So , How about you? What are you raising? Do you have a lot of Chickens or are you in the planning stages? Join in,I'm sure, everyone here would love to hear all about you .

Hi all,
I have four Aylesbury Ducks and two Indian runners Ducks, in the pond in our field, a Dachshund and a parrot, blue headed Amazon. This is the first time I have went for Chickens, I am really looking forward to it, and I will need a lot of help from yous guys.
I am just going to set up my incubator it says 24 hours before use in case I fry them so the temperature is correct, I will send you all photos from beginning to end , I hope ? if thy come through their ordeal latter I will try my Duck eggs when I feel more confident.

Hi Weimac,

Welcome! Everyone here is super friendly!

Ducks? Lucky you. My son really wanted ducks but we live in the city with just a regular backyard. No ponds.

So you are going to hatch your own eggs? That sounds like fun! I want to do that next time.

I can't wait to see the photo diary of your hatchlings.

Here is a picture from yesterday. One of my Autralorps (Lemon Drop) trying to catch the strap on my camera.

Laura

Welcome weimac! Hop right on in with all of us chick lovers - - - I would love to see pics of your ducks. I am seriously considering adding ducks to my feathered friend flock, but unsure as to what type just yet. Now about that bator, what type do you have? What type of eggs are you hatching? And did I mention pics? We all love pics! :-)

Laura - Lemon Drop is precious. And Ruby's story was great, thanks for sharing.

Belinda