How often should I change out the baby chick food? And other questions.

[mtmynatt]

Hey there! My name is Margaret and I just got 5 baby Rhode Island Red Pullets for my birthday. I’ve been wanting to raise chickens for some time now. We have a coop in my back yard. Right now, I’ve got them in my garage in a crate with a heat lamp, chicken feed and water. My question is, how often should I change the food? I did it after 24 hours because they had pooped in it. I also scrubbed out the food tray and water container (had cedar shavings in it)Is this overkill?

Also, can i hold them? I don’t want to stress them out.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Margaret, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Get the cedar shavings out. They can be toxic to chickens.
Chicks poop in their food. I'd change it daily.
Yes you can handle the chicks. Just not so much that you stress them out.
You can also fashion a chick waterer rather easily from an old sports water bottle and a horizontal nipple. You adjust the height by hanging it on a chain and raising it up as they grow.

 

[mtmynatt]

Thank you! I’m really excited about my babies!

 

[sourland]

Hello, Margaret, and welcome to BYC. Try to arrange the feeder so that they can not poop in it. Try raising the waterer up so that it is more difficult for them to soil it. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!
Best Wishes & Be Well! ❤

You said you cleaned out cedar shavings......Cedar is very toxic to chickens!!! Change it out ASAP and replace with pine. Sorry, I don’t want to scare you.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Margaret and welcome to BYC. Maybe a little overkill on the cleaning but it can’t do any harm. I’ve read on BYC that cedar shavings are not the best idea (those with more knowledge will chime in, I hope). Nipple waterers are a good idea. Of course you can hold your chicks Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue
• Good link to read before building a coop / run - Space requirements

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats on your Birthday present nothing better. You have been given excellent info. Welcome to BYC

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[mtmynatt]

Hello, Margaret, and welcome to BYC. Try to arrange the feeder so that they can not poop in it. Try raising the waterer up so that it is more difficult for them to soil it. Good luck with your chicks.

Thank you so much! Will definitely do this!