- Mar 7, 2008
- 143
- 6
- 131
I have a been a hen tender for about 5 years now but have never started with babies. I remembered this website from when I first got started with chickens, so of course, now I am back as I enter a new chicken experience.
I am down to two hens and have moved from the city to the country and am ready to expand my flock. I have always wanted some tiny babies, and I think now is the time. I am a kindergarten teacher and would like to have my chicks at school for my kids to experience. Our classroom guniea pig just died (sob, sob), so I have a cage availble and I just got a classroom gecko that came with a warming light, but I would like to switch to a heating pad of sorts. To make a long story short, I have a cage and light, even extra bedding. I saw on this sight a set up for chicks that looks like all of the stuff I have, even the waterer with the red bottom. I just need to get the feeder.
So here are my questions-
Is the wire cage with deep plastic bottom and narrow spaces (chicks can't get stuck heads) between wires with heat lamp a good brooder? What is the preferred bedding for little ones?
Will they be okay left alone for the night at school for a few weeks ( I figure they will stay until Easter), bringing them home for the weekend?
I saw a post about buying chicks at TCS company and it sounds like this is a good option if they have the breeds availlble that I want? I have to check and see if they have them in yet, but I bet they do.
Any other advice? I know I need to get them special chick food, possibly medicated? I also know I will need to keep them warm until they get real feathers 5-8 weeks?
I would like to let my faithful silkie hatch some chicks to fulfill her broody destiny, but I think at this point buying already hatched chicks is the best options because I think it would be really cool to give my students the experience of 'Easter' chicks (I will keep the chickens ultimately).
Thanks!
I am down to two hens and have moved from the city to the country and am ready to expand my flock. I have always wanted some tiny babies, and I think now is the time. I am a kindergarten teacher and would like to have my chicks at school for my kids to experience. Our classroom guniea pig just died (sob, sob), so I have a cage availble and I just got a classroom gecko that came with a warming light, but I would like to switch to a heating pad of sorts. To make a long story short, I have a cage and light, even extra bedding. I saw on this sight a set up for chicks that looks like all of the stuff I have, even the waterer with the red bottom. I just need to get the feeder.
So here are my questions-
Is the wire cage with deep plastic bottom and narrow spaces (chicks can't get stuck heads) between wires with heat lamp a good brooder? What is the preferred bedding for little ones?
Will they be okay left alone for the night at school for a few weeks ( I figure they will stay until Easter), bringing them home for the weekend?
I saw a post about buying chicks at TCS company and it sounds like this is a good option if they have the breeds availlble that I want? I have to check and see if they have them in yet, but I bet they do.
Any other advice? I know I need to get them special chick food, possibly medicated? I also know I will need to keep them warm until they get real feathers 5-8 weeks?
I would like to let my faithful silkie hatch some chicks to fulfill her broody destiny, but I think at this point buying already hatched chicks is the best options because I think it would be really cool to give my students the experience of 'Easter' chicks (I will keep the chickens ultimately).
Thanks!