A Peep at Teenage CHICKS

A Peep at Teenage CHICKS, a set on Flickr.

ONE MONTH OLD CHICKS are considered TWEEN chicks in chicken world...
At Four weeks, my chicks hit the GAWKY stage and the inquisitive age!

They were more fun than a barrel of moneys to watch and play with :)

As they learned to spread their little wings and fly, they learned how to roost on the stock tank edges...and when chicks roost, they *poop*!

Chicks escaping in our home was the catalyst that got my hubby and I to start building the Chicken coop...FAST!


Some CHICK CARE tips to follow:

       
CHICK CARE AFTER FOUR WEEKS:

	1.	Increase floor area to 3/4 square feet per bird.
	2.	Increase feeders to provide 2-1/2" to 3" of space per bird.
	3.	Increase waters to one 5-gallon fount per 100 birds.
	4.	Make sure grit hopper is filled with proper sized grit. Check with your feed man.
	5.	Install roosts at back of brooder area. Allow four inches per bird with roost poles six inches apart.
	6.	Open windows in day-time. Leave only partly open at night.
	7.	Prevent water puddles around founts. Place founts on platforms.
	8.	Birds can range outside on warm, sunny days, but only if clean range is available.

Chick Play

Chick Play, a set on Flickr.

Chicks need room to grow and they grow fast. So before you start scratching your head wondering what to do next when the Fluff-Ball-Flock has outgrown your brooder at 2 to 3 weeks old...
 I first used an old wood paneled dog pen, keeping a EAGLE-eye out for hawks.


Play Time 
Chicks are insatiably curious - after the first week or two, they can be put outside for short periods of time if the temperature is warm. They MUST be watched at this age, however. Chicks can move fast, squeeze into small spaces, and are helpless against a variety of predators, including the family dog or cat. If they have bonded to you (the first large thing a baby chicks sees is forever it's 'mama', this is called "imprinting"), they will follow you around. Chickens become fond of their owners; some will come when you call them (and some won't!).
http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html


IF, I raise a new batch of chicks, I would consider this CHICK PLAY Pen and Cover...it is everything I needed to allow the chicks to play and learn to scour for insects...
"Chicks need room to grow and they grow fast. Let your chickens pick up weeds and bugs anywhere you need it. This playpen offers great construction and allows safe temporary enclosure for chicks, pullets, hens and can be helpful in introducing new fowl to the flock."  


http://www.treatsforchickens.com/indoor-outdoor-pens/

Home Sweet Brooder

Home Sweet Brooder, a set on Flickr.

Fragile New Chicks..."Handle With Care"

My own photo documentary of bringing my new baby chicks home from the TRACTOR SUPPLY store, showing the equipment I used for the brooder.

I knew NOTHING about raising baby chicks until finding the website and group called
BackYardChickens.com
The online forum became my BEST FRIENDS for months, always there to answer my questions :)

This info below was written by Back Yard Chickens :)
Thanks!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html

WHAT is a BROODER?

Definition: A brooder is a temperature and humidity controlled enclosure that bird breeders use to house newly hatched birds and keep them in a safe and warm environment.

General Hints 
So, now you have cute baby chicks...
what now?? The main things to attend to for the first 60 days:

• housing
• temperature
• food and water
• cleanliness

Chicks should be kept indoors (or in a heated brooder) until they have their feathers, about 5-8 weeks.

Brooders
The chicks' first home is called a "brooder". For one-time or once-in-a-while use, a cardboard box works just fine. A cage suitable for a rabbit or guinea pig is terrific and easy to clean (see picture). Some people even use an aquarium! The bottom should have a layer of clean litter (pine shavings or similar) or newspaper.

Newspaper print ink can get the chicks dirty though, so we've never used it, and it can also be slippery. The litter should be changed out every couple of days, and never allowed to remain damp - cleanliness is VERY important at this stage. Baby chicks are prone to a number of diseases, most of which can be avoided with proper sanitation.

The size of the brooder depends on how many chicks you have - the chicks should have enough room to move around, and to lay down and sleep. You also need to have enough space in it for a waterer and a feeder (see below).

When the chicks are a month old, add a low roost - a stick or piece of wood dowelling about 4" off the floor of the brooder. The chicks will jump on it and may even begin sleeping there. Don't put the roost directly under the light, it will be too hot.

Temperature
The brooder can be heated by using a light bulb with a reflector, available at any hardware store. A 100-watt bulb is usually fine, though some people use an actual heat lamp. The temperature should be 90-100 degrees for the first week or so, then can be reduced by 5 degrees each week thereafter, until the chicks have their feathers (5-8 weeks old). A thermometer in the brooder is helpful, but you can tell if the temperature is right by how the chicks behave. If they are panting and/or huddling in corners farthest from the light, they are too hot. If they huddle together in a ball under the light, they are too cold. You can adjust the distance of the light (or change the wattage of the bulb) until it's right.

Water
Clean, fresh water must ALWAYS be available to your chicks. Get at least a medium size waterer - chicks drink a LOT of water. We like this plastic kind, it's easy to clean, inexpensive, lightweight and they can't tip it over. They also poop everywhere including right into their water; clean the waterer at least once a day (depending on how crowded it is, even twice a day).

Feeders and Feeding
Even baby chicks will naturally scratch at their food, so a feeder that (more or less) keeps the food in one place is good. The feeder shown is a popular design made of galvanized steel; the top slides off to clean and fill it. Again, cleanliness is important; the chicks will poop right into their own food, so you must clean and refill it often.

Chicks start out with food called "crumbles". It is specially formulated for their dietary needs; it comes both medicated or not. We know people that use either kind. If you don't use medicated feed, you run the risk that Coccidiosis will infect and wipe out as much as 90% of your chicks. If you choose non-medicated feed, pay more attention to cleanliness.

The feed is a complete food - no other food is necessary. However, feeding your chicks treats can be fun. After the first week or two, you can give them a worm or a bug or two from your garden to play with and eat. Greens are not recommended because they can cause diarrhea-like symptoms. When droppings are loose, a condition may develop called "pasting up", where droppings stick to the vent area and harden up, preventing the chick from eliminating. Check the chicks for pasting often - if you see this, clean off the vent area (you can use a moist towel or even some mineral oil).

Warm Welcoming

Warm Welcoming, a photo by Catcher In My Eye on Flickr.

I bought my RHODE ISLAND REDS & HIGH PRODUCTION chicks thru TRACTOR SUPPLY's "Chick Days" last March in the Spring of 2011.

I followed the TAKING CARE OF CHICKS instructions from TRACTOR SUPPLY.
I knew nothing about chicks or chicken before visiting my Edmond, OK store.
Whether making a trip to my local store or a phone call to our store, TRACTOR SUPPLY managers were always helpful and answered all my questions.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/livestockcare/livestock_care_raising_chicks

Taking Care of Chicks

LITTER: To keep the brooder clean and sanitary, change the bedding at least once a week. Use 2-3” of wood chips, oat hulls or ground cobs (not finely ground). The box should be draft-free and cardboard is always a good choice.

HEAT: Pay close attention to how the chicks behave. If they're crowded together directly under the heat source, then they're too cold. If they're around the edges of the brooder trying to avoid the heat, then they're too hot! For the first week, the temperature should be 95°. Reduce the temperature 5° per week until you get to 70°.

WATER: A chick waterer is by far the best way to provide water for your chicks. Saucers or other make-shift containers spill easily, making the brooder wet and unsanitary. For the first hour after chicks arrive, provide them with water ONLY (no feed). Add ¼ cup sugar and 1 level tsp. of Duramycin per gallon. After the first hour, chicks should be ready for food. Continue the Duramycin at 1 tsp. per gallon for the second day (no sugar), and then clean fresh water after that.

FEED: Place filled feeders inside the chick pen AFTER the chicks have consumed water for 1 hour. Start the chicks on a 20% protein (24% protein for broilers) starter ration. At eight weeks old switch to 18-19% chick grower.

DRAFT SHIELD: When your chicks first arrive, make sure to create a shield of corrugated paper, baled straw or hay surrounding the starting area. Chicks MUST be able to get away from the heat source if they get too warm.

FLOOR SPACE: Each chick needs one-half square foot of space for the first two weeks. After two weeks, increase to one square foot per bird.

Two Hands

Two Hands, a photo by Catcher In My Eye on Flickr.

The three day old chicks loved the attention they got from our Grandsons.

I followed the Safe Handling instructions from TRACTOR SUPPLY given to me when I purchased my chicks...

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/livestockcare/livestock_care_raising_chicks

Safe Handling Instructions

It is important to care for and love your chicks, but you must also protect yourself. Salmonella, a common cause of food borne illness, can also be spread by direct contact with animals, like chicks, that carry the bacteria. Here are some tips to keep you safe:

Avoid contact with poultry manure. Adults should clean out cages frequently.

Carefully and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after handling chicks or anything in the chicks' environment.

Do not nuzzle or kiss chicks, ducklings, turkeys, etc.

Keep chicks outside, and especially out of areas where food is prepared.

Supervise children when handling, and ensure they wash their hands after contact.

Children under 5 years old, people with weakened immune systems and women who are pregnant or may be pregnant should not handle chicks.

Small Peeps

Small Peeps, a photo by Catcher In My Eye on Flickr.

On March 14, 2011, my Rhode Island Red chicks were born.  I picked out my three day old chicks at the Edmond, OK, TRACTOR SUPPLY store.

Grandsons held our new baby chicks a few hours after getting them settled in their brooder at home, following the CDC baby poultry safe handling instructions.

DO:

*Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.

*Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.

*If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

DON’T:

*Don’t let children younger than 5 years of age, elderly persons, or people with weak immune systems handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry.

*Don’t let live poultry inside the house, in bathrooms, or especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens, or outdoor patios.

*Don’t snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth, or eat or drink around live poultry.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/salmonella-baby-poultry.pdf