Day Old Baby Chicks, mail order... what to do when they arrive

[Rock1554]

Cute They are...



[ilovelife160]

your babys r going to get spayed legs if there in newspaper

[HTCSWEOD]

@ilovelife160 Please watch the entire video before commenting... I discuss that issue. I've never had a chick with splayed legs (you say "spayed"...?) Thank you for your concern, you are correct in that they should not be reared on newspaper.

[ZenMaster1992]

What do you do with the chicks?

[HTCSWEOD]

@ZenMaster1992 I write about poultry and post information regarding their growth, development and behavior. We raise chickens free range in rural Pennsylvania and supply chicks that we breed to local backyard, 4-H and other free range flock owners...

[ANIMLLOVRZZ66]

AWESOME

[HTCSWEOD]

@ANIMLLOVRZZ66 Thanks!

[Lacey8246]

How can day old baby chicks be on the road for three days???

[HTCSWEOD]

@Lacey8246 First of all, it's very rare for them to take three days in transit, normally they ship Saturday and I pick them up Sunday (yes, our post office calls us even on Sundays). A baby chick is self contained as just prior to hatching, it absorbs the remaining albumen (egg white) this is adequate food and water for several days. A mother hen sitting on eggs remains until all her brood hatch, this absorption of nutrients allows all chicks to stay put until all have hatched.

[Uchchash]

i bought 4 baby chicks(around 2 days old i think)...2 of them died for diarrhoeah,1 of them is still hanging by a thread,but the other last one is quite well...very naughty though!

[drawinglegogames]

Yah don't want one in the corner starving when u could put his beak in water and have him live and it's hard because we got a feeder with only 12 holes and they are dumb and have to fight over one hole so we are out there a lot getting the ones not eating to eat

[drawinglegogames]

And we didn't even show them

[drawinglegogames]

I just got 12 fuzzy babies there 2 days old and found the food and water in the first 5 mins

[HTCSWEOD]

@drawinglegogames True... generally baby chicks will explore and immediately find water and food... chicks after going through shipping may at times be weakened and not do their normal exploring, so it can be a great benefit to those individuals that may otherwise simply sit in a corner and worst case scenario, expire. So, my motto is, it certainly doesn't hurt them to have their beak dipped and can indeed be a help. Nothing to lose by doing that. But you are correct, most find it just fine.

[PichusaysRawr]

3:20 is so cute :)

[Ieatedurhamster]

There adorable.  What breed are they? Were getting about 15 chicks in a few days though they should be in overnight shipping.

[MrLuke6593]

never ever use news paper for baby chicks its just common sense unless you want splayed leggs !!!!!

[HTCSWEOD]

@MrLuke6593 For larger breed chicks this is true that they may have problems getting their footing and leg difficulty may result. i always start on news paper for the first couple of days (many layers deep) to insure they understand what their food is. By the second or third day, they are on pine shavings. Thank you for all the exclamation marks, but all my practices are sound and you will never see improperly developing chicks or adults and I have been doing this for a very long time.

[andrewtambling]

how much do they cost each and where can i buy them ?? :)

[HTCSWEOD]

@andrewtambling Please watch my other video on How to Order baby chicks... all the information you need is in that video... purchasing from Murray McMurray hatchery....

[HTCSWEOD]

@andrewtambling tell them Fred from Fred's Fine Fowl sent you!!! ("> ("> they are friends of mine...

[andrewtambling]

@HTCSWEOD ok thanks :)

[reptileboy63]

which state do you live in

[gokory]

is that your son? cool to see that hes helping you

[HTCSWEOD]

@gokory yes, his name is Justin and he enjoyed the chickens, he also used to do his homework in with Emu flock... "bird boy"

[gokory]

@if he did his school work with the emu's we can call him a bird brain?

[HTCSWEOD]

The chicks in this video are from Murray McMurray... I normally simply hatch my own from my breeder flock. I did this for educational purposes.

[CVersailles]

Truly remarkable...

[giggygiggygoo77]

i hope your chicks are ok

[HTCSWEOD]

thank you, yes they did fine and have fostered many generations... (">

[markoilic123]

nice vid.

instead of using newspapers for the first few days in the brooder can i use towels?

[HTCSWEOD]

Yes you can, just be sure there aren't any loose threads the chicks can pull out and swallow ("> towels are great because you can just launder them and re-use. Thanks for your comment!

[markoilic123]

ok thanks and how about hay for a bed (i will add pine shavings later)

[HTCSWEOD]

hay and straw are not a good choice for bedding.. not absorbent enough and may cause respiratory problems... also prone to mold and matting.

[markoilic123]

ok thnxm, but do you actualy need a bed when u put pine shavings in?

[HTCSWEOD]

thanks, I'm glad you bought it and enjoyed the information... congrats on your silky brood...

[teenmod12]

can you please make a video about hatching chicks with a broody hen. my hens have just started laying (during the largest snow storm long island has gotten in about ten years;3 feet) and i am hoping to have them hatch their eggs in the spring. the roosters are def doing the deed, so the eggs are fertile. the only problem is i know nothing about hatching eggs with a broody hen. thank you very much

[HTCSWEOD]

I already have... it's in the DVD titled Regarding Chickens, it's available all over the internet (">

Just type in a google search DVD Regarding Chickens

[mattboy908]

what about thr uk

[HTCSWEOD]

I recommend that you contact the poultry fowl trust... they have breed listings throughout the UK.... I wish you the best of luck!

[urgrad03]

These video's are so very relaxing. Makes me want to move to the country and live a simple life.

[HTCSWEOD]

Thank you for commenting and I'm glad you are enjoying them!

[csbarrett14]

I agree!!

[trooperx666]

do they really need bedding or can i just use news paper or cedar chips?

[HTCSWEOD]

pine shavings are best and yes, they ultimately need bedding. The shavings give them good footing and absorb moisture from their droppings. Then you can put it on your garden and so on. Bedding also gives them something to scratch through and sleep in. Some use wire cage bottoms, I've never liked that method.

[trooperx666]

oh ok ive got my brooder all set up in teh basement i just have to go to the feed store and order my chicks ,,ive got cedar chips in it though i may switch it out to pine shavings. thank you for making this videos :)

[HTCSWEOD]

I think changing out from the cedar chips is a good idea... the oils in cedar (which is why we like the smell) can be irritating to baby chicks. Also, as you may know, cedar doesn't break down in the garden as readily as do pine shavings. And you're most welcome!

[trooperx666]

well i was gonna use cedar chips cuz i bought a huge bag from the pet store like 25 lbs worth for my pet hampster but almost a week later he got loose and kinda uhh died so i got all this extra lol.i may just burn it . :P do you know where i cna find pine shavings?

[HTCSWEOD]

big pet store chains normally carry pine shavings also. You can also look up feed stores, they carry them cheap, by the bail around $5.00 each

[trooperx666]

oh cool sounds good ,thanks again :)

[azadiranman]

thanx for the video.

i am going to order baby chicks next month. i have a question , what are they going to eat for the first days?

what kind of food i should get?

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi, I'm glad you liked the video!

When you receive your chicks, you will need water of course ("> and your own supply of what's called Chick Starter rations. They come in CRUMB, or MASH. I prefer the crumbs. They will eat that ration until they are about 6 weeks old. Hope you really love rearing your birds.

[csbarrett14]

What kind were those?

[HTCSWEOD]

various breeds... dark brahmas, partridge rocks and a silver sebright...

[Johann0220]

Thanks for this video regarding baby chicks.

[poultrycrazy]

Exellent Job! We are going to mail order chicks so this has been really helpfull =) Don't you put sugar in their water to help them recover from the stress of the trip? Thank you so much for this video =)

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi thanks for posting... I have done tests with the sugar water and quick chick mixes... starting chicks with sugar water, quick and plain water. There was no marked difference in how quickly they recovered. So, it's important to give them water first, then feed... but the content of the water is up to you. Sugar gives them carbs, but then, they do have nutrition inside them already and chick starter crumbs will get them going. Have fun! Some nutritionally deficient chicks need vitamins.

[destroyahdes]

Wow that looks so cold! I'm glad all the babies made it.

[woodgate1234]

thanks for the vids, i'm looking forward to seeing how the chicks came out! did u purchase brahma chicks from murray mcmurray?

[vivace737]

Very informational video! Thank you!

[HTCSWEOD]

Thank you for taking time to comment.. much appreciated!

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi Debbie, thanks for much for your comments... and compliment about my video... very nice of you.

[HomesteadProvocateur]

Very cool Fred! BTW, I'm making your balm this weekend!! ~Monica

[HTCSWEOD]

That's awesome!!! I can't wait Monica.

I hope everyone clicks on your page to check out all the natural stuff you do!

[MadBadVoodo]

Five Stars!!

[HTCSWEOD]

Thanks Mad Bad...

so nice of you (">

[HTCSWEOD]

News Paper is placed on the floor.. just to start them off. This allows them to find their food and start off right. Then pine shavings are added as substrate, this provides better traction. Large breeds specifically, may suffer leg damage, if kept on smooth brooder surfaces.