Farm Baby chicks arriving in a day or so...

[KMR58]

We've decided to raise a few chickens. Since we moved I'm having a hard time finding fresh eggs and chickens at the store here are insanely priced. I grew up with chickens but haven't done anything with them for 50 years. Tractor supply was generous with their knowledge and I'm ready to go. 10 female Barred Rocks should be arriving in the mail either tomorrow or Wednesday. We are so excited. We have our brooder all set up and tested. Any tried and true hints for success are welcome. I figure that we will get started with the ladies and as long as I don't kill the little darlings after a few weeks I'll get some meat birds.

 

[China Connection]

Just make sure you have shell grit and other bone builders in their diet.

I use sprouted grains. I also buy liver for them a bit.

Fresh greens are very popular with them.

 

[Marie]

We've decided to raise a few chickens. Since we moved I'm having a hard time finding fresh eggs and chickens at the store here are insanely priced. I grew up with chickens but haven't done anything with them for 50 years. Tractor supply was generous with their knowledge and I'm ready to go. 10 female Barred Rocks should be arriving in the mail either tomorrow or Wednesday. We are so excited. We have our brooder all set up and tested. Any tried and true hints for success are welcome. I figure that we will get started with the ladies and as long as I don't kill the little darlings after a few weeks I'll get some meat birds.

Start stocking up on chicken feed now. It keeps going up in price

 

[phloydius]

Start stocking up on chicken feed now. It keeps going up in price

Yes. Always have spare. However, be aware it does not have the longest shelf life. The closest it is to natural, the quicker it will start sprouting bugs (which is just added protein as they eat the food) which is fine as long as you store it somewhere that you are okay with bugs crawling all over. It can also mold quickly (which can be dangerous). The highly processed heavily commercial feed lasts a lot longer due to added chemical, which you will have to make a decision on if you want it in your body or not.

 

[phloydius]

I am assuming that Tractor Supply told you about the differences in feed: Starter vs Grower vs Layer.

If feeding commercial feed only, the baby chicks do not need extra grit. They only need extra grit if you are giving them other things like bugs, veggies, or seeds. If you do give baby chicks git, it is best that the grit that be smaller than the normal chicken grit in the store (it is just ground up smaller). Chick grit is not as easy to find as Chicken grit, since most people do not use it.

Grit and Oyster Shell are often talked about as the same thing, but they are not the same thing.

 

[Marseydoats]

Put a layer of marbles in the bottom of their waterer so they can't fall in and drown.
I don't know where you're keeping them, but they need a fairly constant temp when they're so small. They may, or may not, need a heat lamp.
Good luck!

 

[phloydius]

They may, or may not, need a heat lamp.

During the first week, baby chicks need to be able to be at 95F. Every week after that, it should cool down. There are charts online. You'll be able to tell by their behavior if they are too hot or too cold, and if you want more details just ask otherwise I'll assume

 

[summerthyme]

During the first week, baby chicks need to be able to be at 95F. Every week after that, it should cool down. There are charts online. You'll be able to tell by their behavior if they are too hot or too cold, and if you want more details just ask otherwise I'll assume

Yes, this...
Although I've learned that they *can* tolerate lower temperatures sooner than the "official" stuff says... officially, you should drop the temp by 5 degrees a week, which means in our climate, we wouldn't be able to put our meat birds on pasture until they were almost ready to butcher!

The major key, once past the fragile newborn stage, is to make sure they always stay dry. No damp bedding, and never let them be exposed to a chilly rain.

In the early days, you can easily tell if they are too warm or too cold. Too warm, and they'll all be in the corners of the box or pen, away from the heat lamp. Too cold, they'll be huddled up directly under the lamp, and they'll be complaining loudly! Contented chicks are scattered around the pen, quietly chirping occasionally.

Summerthyme

 

[Troke]

Back in the olde days, I always got a charge out of picking up the mail at the PO and hearing the chicks chirping in the back room

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

Yes. Always have spare. However, be aware it does not have the longest shelf life. The closest it is to natural, the quicker it will start sprouting bugs (which is just added protein as they eat the food) which is fine as long as you store it somewhere that you are okay with bugs crawling all over. It can also mold quickly (which can be dangerous). The highly processed heavily commercial feed lasts a lot longer due to added chemical, which you will have to make a decision on if you want it in your body or not.

I love Indian meal moths! Chickens love em....

 

[KMR58]

Put a layer of marbles in the bottom of their waterer so they can't fall in and drown.
I don't know where you're keeping them, but they need a fairly constant temp when they're so small. They may, or may not, need a heat lamp.
Good luck!

I have a nice cozy set up for them on our sun porch. I have a brooder heater and smooth washed stones ready in the drinking water dispenser. I’ve been binging on YouTube videos.