Pay Attention to Your Day Old Chicks.

Pay Attention to Your Day Old Chicks!

Life is busy and we often get distracted with all of the chores necessary on our homestead. However, making the investment in a batch of baby poultry isn’t just about the financial cost. You also need to invest your time and attention.

Check on the chicks often. Make sure the temperature in the brooder doesn’t drop to dangerous levels if the weather turns or a bulb burns out.

Don’t let the water run out and keep food in their dish at all time. Little chicks create a big mess and you will need to clean their brooder on a regular basis. Be prepared to pay close attention to your peeps while they are young and vulnerable.

Bedding

Don’t use newspapers or anything that is slippery to line the bottom of your brooder.

Once the chicks are moved to the barn, use wood shavings for their bedding. They are easily raked away and replenished as the chicks soil them.

What To Do If Your Chicks Are Sick

Sometimes when day old chicks arrive they’ve had a rough trip. Make sure they are actively drinking and eating.

Be sure to use probiotics or apple cider vinegar in their drinking water (2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per quart).

After a day, give them electrolytes in their water.

If you notice signs of pasty butt (droppings sticking to vent), be sure to gently clean the feces off with a warm, damp cloth. Don’t rub too hard and make sure you aren’t irritating or removing any skin.

Give them a small spoon full of plain yogurt with probiotics to jump-start the good bacteria in their digestive systems. You may also use Sav-a-Chick probiotics or another brand, but make sure they have not expired.

Yours in the garden Farm2Markt.