Newbie - Electrolytes & Probiotics

[Melanie Midyett]

Hi! I am a newbie, ordered my 15 chicks, and they will be here by Friday. I think I have almost everything needed to start. But I am making a trip to Tractor Supply, and want to make sure I have everything needed before they arrive. What do you all recommend as far as electrolytes and probiotics? I seen the Sav-A-Chick stuff, and was going to purchase these, but says to mix one envelope with 1 gallon of water, and change everyday. With only having 15 chicks, with them being indoors with a heat lamp would these directions still apply? How often should I give them the powder in their water? Do you suggest probiotics? I read about apple cider vinegar as well. But think I read somewhere not to give that to baby chicks.

Just want to make sure I have everything needed. I have a brooder house indoors for them until they are big enough to go into my outdoor coop. I have the waterer and feeder, pine shavings (paper towels to place on top of shavings), & heat lamp. I am going to purchase the Chick Starter food and a thermometer for the heat lamp. Do I need to purchase Grit for when they are over a week old? And is there any other supplies or food items I might need for my new babies?

Thanks for all your help, in advance. I am searching all my questions on this forum, but wanted to post my questions as well.

~Melanie

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

There is some kind of green gunk that you can give them from Save-a-Chick. Just put down however much you want...

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have never given my girls added probiotics or vitamins since I got them at 2 days of age.
They are now 15 months old and I've never treated them for illness or worms.
I gave them a start and grow feed with prebiotics and probiotics in the formula.
I gave them a layers feed when appropriate, also with prebiotics and probiotics in the formula.
Read the bag and tag to find a brand with them.
I also cleaned the waterer daily with white vinegar. Do not use vinegar on galvanized steel waterer.
I got my chicks locally, if yours are coming in the mail. I would get, for good measure, Save a Chick. If they eat only chick starter, no Chick Grit is needed. GC

 

[lazy gardener]

If you have a new heat lamp, I'd consider returning it and switching to a heating pad cave style brooder: Much safer, much more natural, much less likely to inadvertently over heat your babies, much more economical. Check out Blooie's article on Heating pad cave brooding. She also has a thread. Do a thread search for Mama heating pad brooder.

I never start chicks without using Poultry Nutri Drench. IMO, it's the second MOST important product to have when brooding chicks. (the first being the heating pad cave). You can easily make your own electrolytes. Save your money there.

Homemade Pedialyte Recipe #2

1. 4 cups water.
   
   
2. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
   
   
3. 3 tablespoons sugar or honey (remember that babies can't have honey until they're at least 1 year old)
   
   
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt.
   
   
5. optional: 1/2 packet (old fashioned) unsweetened Kool-Aid.
   

And as for the probiotics, yes, they are helpful, but again, you can do better: I give my chicks a plug of sod from an untreated lawn. It gives them: first grit, first greens, minerals, first insects/worms, first seeds, dust bath, plenty of chickie games, and a load of beneficial bacteria and fungi to jump start their gut flora and immunity.

Be sure to give your chicks plenty of room: IMO, 1 s.f. per bird for the first week or two, then 2 s.f. there after. By the time they are weaned off heat at 4 weeks, they should have the same amount of space allotted for adults: 4 s.f./bird in the coop.

 

[andreanar]

You will not need grit until they start eating things other than their feed. If you give them treats, then youll need to put down some grit.

 

[lazy gardener]

You will not need grit until they start eating things other than their feed. If you give them treats, then youll need to put down some grit.

While that's the "party line" I don't buy it. Birds were created with a gizzard. That gizzard is designed to take the place of teeth. And grit is required to do that. Sure, they can eat the starter feed, and it passes through their guts, but digestion will be enhanced by having grit available. Also, chickens are instinctively wired to seek grit. If chicks don't have access to grit, they will seek out what ever they can find to fill that need, and behavior. IMO, that is why so many BYC members complain that their chicks are eating the shavings.

 

[andreanar]

While that's the "party line" I don't buy it. Birds were created with a gizzard. That gizzard is designed to take the place of teeth. And grit is required to do that. Sure, they can eat the starter feed, and it passes through their guts, but digestion will be enhanced by having grit available. Also, chickens are instinctively wired to seek grit. If chicks don't have access to grit, they will seek out what ever they can find to fill that need, and behavior. IMO, that is why so many BYC members complain that their chicks are eating the shavings.

I agree that if chicks/chickens have access to outside ground they seek and find their own grit, and you may be onto something re: shavings eating. It certainly cant hurt to keep a dish of grit in the brooder.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

My opinion follows. It's not gospel.

The gizzard being a wad of muscle, it makes sense to me to give chicks a little something to help exercise that muscle. Each chick needs only a scant amount, so I literally fed each of my 25 two or three grains of day three or four. They are still only on starter feed at just over one week of age, but if they actually manage to eat any tiny flecks of shavings I feel they won't come to any harm from it. I did mix about a cup of grit into the bag of chick starter as well. While too much might not be good, I can't imagine that small ratio can hurt. They are all doing great and I've suffered no losses so far.

I gave them electrolytes and vitamins in their water from the start. At one week I also started offering plain filtered water in an additional waterer. They seem to prefer the water with additives, but drink both.

I used something similar to the mama heating pad cave, but used a seedling heat mat that is waterproof, thermostatically controlled, and gets up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit easily. It's quite large and made a roomy cave for them all. Worked great, once I got the temp dialed in by observing their behavior.

Good luck Melanie! I hope you enjoy this experience and get the satisfaction of raising happy and healthy birds.

 

[kitkat5505]

The only time I've used the save-a-chick was when one of my new chicks had wry neck, in addition to the vitamin e I gave her I put a small bowl of the save-a-chick in the brooder and they all drank it. Since I did not need a full gallon a day I just dumped the packet into a baggie so I could split it about in half to make up a half gallon and honestly I just used that until it was gone, a few days.

If you've got a safe brooder with heat, bedding, and food and water you are good to start out.

 

[Melanie Midyett]

Thank you everyone, great advice here. I went out and purchased my items today, my chicks should be here tomorrow. I was given a heat lamp from a friend that had chickens before. So I have that as a back up. However I am going to attempt to make my own heating cave. I purchased 2 different heating pads (going to research and see which one is better, and return the other one), a roll of press n seal, a wired shelf (for a kitchen cabinet), and some plant hanging chains to hang it from my brooder cage. I plan on reading through more posts on here to see the best ideas of how to put it all together.

I did buy the save a chick packets, I think I will try it when they get here. I also purchased the Nutri-Drench (to have on hand in case needed). I bought chick starter, chick grit, a chick treat log, and the waterer and feeder containers, and pine shavings (will use paper towels to cover them).

So hoping I have it all, and things go well. I am addicted to this forum already!

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions!
~Melanie