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Most of the images of the chicks we have are videos. This is a couple of pictures of the chicks in their brooder.
They start out at one week old needing the temperature at 95* and then each week you take the temperature down by 5*. With a minimum of 55*. We got our babies in spring, at the end of May, so when the temperature outside reached the temperature they should be at, I turned off the heat lamp in the day and only used it on cool nights.
We used an electrolyte powder in their water and gave them Chick Start Crumbles (Medicated). The crumbles are important to use, versus the pellets because the chicks can’t eat the pellets well enough yet. Important to note: the feed we used was medicated, so the goslings cannot eat it. The medicated part of the feed helps the chicks fight against coccidiosis. Some chicks are already vaccinated for coccidiosis. If you are buying chicks from someone/someplace find out if they are already vaccinated for this.
Another thing to know before buying chicks is whether the chicks will be de-beaked or not. My Pet Chicken does not de-beak. De-beaking is sometimes cruel if not done correctly. They cut or burn off the tip of the beak and if not done correctly, the chicken can be in pain all its life or not be able to eat well or defend its self. Clara and Nugget are de-beaked because that’s how they were when I found them. The 7 other chicks are not de-beaked and I worried that if one was getting picked on, and it shed blood, they may kill it by pecking it to death. De-beaked chickens cannot peck other chickens to death. So far, because all the chickens have ample space, there has not been any fighting.
Winter treats for your chickens:
- Dried cracked corn
- Warm oatmeal
- Scratch grains
- Scrambled eggs (never give them raw eggs otherwise if one of theirs cracks, they can learn to crack and eat their eggs)
- Nuts (unsalted)
- Squash or root vegetables
- Suet
Summer treats for your chickens:
- Cool Watermelon
- Cold cucumber slices
- Berries
- Small amount of yogurt
- Peas and other vegetables, fruit or herbs (such as Mint) frozen in water filled ice cube tray
Predator tip:
We have heard that all black hens (like the black Australorp, which is also a great egg layer), fake out hawks. Hawks flying above see the black hen and often mistake it for a crow (which is an enemy of the hawk) and are more likely to leave your flock alone rather than tangle with a crow.
You would need to have crows in your area for the hawks to have that relationship towards a crow, but if you do, it can deter a hawk attack.