The chicks can slip and slide on newspaper which can cause spraddle leg, so you want to avoid that as their top layer of bedding. I use newspaper underneath everything to be able pick it all up and roll it up for trash. NOW, having said that, ideally, the first few days you want their bedding to be something they won’t slip on or try to eat. I use bounty paper towels or old terry cloth towels and pitch in the wash at least once or twice daily. Paper towels are more convenient, but can get costly if you have lots of chicks pooping their brains out………..and this they do!
After the first few days, you can use a shredded wood bedding or corn cob or fluffed bedding……….by then, they know what to eat and what to drink. I do use newpaper underneath the bedding to 1) absorb spills of water and 2) enable me to roll up their dirtied bedding for the trash. NO CEDAR shavings. Cedar has a heavy oil content, which is why it smells heavenly in a closet and repels insects, but it is also very hard on the respiratory system. It is never recommended for animals in a confined space, not even horse stalls. The only place I use cedar shavings are INSIDE a zippered dog bed………but, that is neither here nor there. Pine shavings and
I always start my chicks, one at a time coming out of their shipping box…….first a dip or two of plain water and then I sit a plate of grow gel plus down for all of them to devour………it is full of vitamins and minerals and the B vitimins increase their appetites, too. It is colorful and attracts them.
As far as electrolytes, don’t use them everyday. It is better to use them for 2-3 days, then plain water. While electrolytes have lots of good minerals and vitamins, they can be hard on their little kidneys.
You will hear differing opinions and advice………..for peace of mind, get a good book or read the directions the hatcheries give. You can weigh the advice and try different things on your own.
My suggestions work for me, but admittedly, I am not the most experienced poultry person here. Also, there may be several correct ways to do something, which means differing methods are not necessarily incorrect.
Keep the temperatures where they need to be, allow room for them to get away from the heat and plenty of ventilation without a draft. Keep them dry.
Feed a chick starter crumble. I do not feed medicated feed. I only medicate if they need it.
Good luck. It is a learning process and it does get easier, although I still get very upset when a chick dies despite trying to save them. Unfortunately, by the time they look and act sick, they are usually too far gone. Same with grown chickens. Actually, same with lots of animals.
Laura
Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
From:
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 7:53 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] sick chick--NOW Shavings?
Thanks for your reply. I did loose that chick before I went to work this morning. I got some electrolytes/vit. to put in thier water.
another question ----are wood shavings OK to use as bedding? I read it was, but someone at work that keeps chix says not to use it. now I am confused. they use newspaper which I don't have. thanks for your help.
Kathie
What lies behind us and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to what lies Within Us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
----- Original Message -----
From: CathrynTherese Fitch Walden
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] sick chick
Kathie, I'd get to the store asap and get meds and poultry vitmains to put into their water asap. Minutes count. Moving is stressful- not your fault. Also check the date on your chick feed. You do not want to buy feed more than 3-6 weeks old. Hurry, ok?
Cathryn rainbowsilkies MI
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment