Baby chick questions

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I have some 2-week old baby chicks, and am wondering if they can eat anything besides chick starter. That's what I've been giving them. Can I give them a treat of some fresh vegetables, like broccoli or carrot chunks, or is it best to limit them to the starter crumbles?

Also, at what point will they start wanting to roost above the floor as opposed to sleeping on the floor?

Finally, I got some tablets called Ren-o-sal at the feed store that they told me to put in their water. It says that the active ingredient is roxarsone, and also that it is poisonous to humans. What exactly is this, and do they really need it, and when if ever do I stop giving it to them?

Thanks for your help.

-- Tracey Lanier (trjlanier@cs.com), March 20, 2001

Answers

I give my day old chicks veggies and bread along with starter .I'M not sure why you bought the tablets and for what ? .I have never heard of them .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 20, 2001.

Patty, I bought the tablets because it is supposed to prevent coccidiosis (?) and because I figured the feed-store man knew more about what they needed than I do, since these are my first baby chickens. However, after I got it home and read the entire label, it didn't sound extremely great due to the "toxic to humans" line.... just hoping that someone who knows more than I do can give me some guidance.

Thanks.

-- Tracey Lanier (trjlanier@cs.com), March 20, 2001.


We feed table and veg scraps right away. Some chicks prefer them, some prefer the starter. At 2 weeks they should show interest in roosting if there is a perch with the right diameter for their little feet. We don't generally add anything to the water or use medications.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), March 20, 2001.

Try dropping a few earth worms in with your chicks and watch the fun. They will think it's some alien thing and be cautous at first, but once one grabs it the tug a war starts. All the chick starter I've had is medicated already, so you might want to check the lable on your feed sack. I'll feed starter for about the first 6-8 weeks and then switch to a maintenace ration till about 5 months, then a layer ration. Pellets are less wastefull then using crumbles or mash. Chickens arn't too picky about food and will eat just about anything.

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), March 21, 2001.

Tracy, I have used the Ren-a sal tablets before. My mother-in-law told me I had to have it in the chick's water when I first started raising them. I don't use it now unless it is a really damp and cold spring and am having some chick's die. I figure anything poisionous to humans can't be good to use in our chicken's water. Don't use this in the water of ducks or geese. It will kill them. My baby chicks always love the new grass pulled in early spring, especially if there was a little bit of dirt left on it. Good luck with your first chicks. Winona in MO

-- Winona in MO (thompsonwin45@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.


I've never treated for coccidia and have never had a problem , i use a medicated starter so I guess that takes care of it .Have fun .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 21, 2001.

Hi Tracy, 4 to 5 day old chicks can eat finely chopped grasses and other green feeds, I do not give them people scraps until they are several months old however, too rich for their systems, you risk getting pasted vent.

They won't roost above the floor until they have their flight feathers, several months away at this point, although they sure try, jumping up on their waterers, etc.

Use CIDER vinegar in their drinking water instead of non-organic additives, one ounce per gallon of water, I do this their entire lives, best cheap salmonella and disease prevention there is. I never give my food producing animals anything I would not consume myself, because that's where it is going to wind up eventually. Think organically at all times, even chicks, I have never even used medicated chick starter, there is no reason to with proper organic husbandry.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), March 21, 2001.


Tracy, Coccidiosis is severe diarrhea caused by injesting too much of their own poop. Baby chicks are curious and taste everything! Also traces will get on their food by accident and in the litter, it's unavoidable. If you are feeding medicated food, don't add anything to the water. Probably from a local feed store the feed isn't medicated. Adding the medicine to the water for the first 14 weeks is recommended. By then they will have developed a natural immunity to the disease. I had one chick get really sick once. Fed her the medicine, and she got better right away. Now I follow the routine. Haven't had a problem since. Also, I let the chicks outside after 2 weeks to eat grass or whatever for a few hours, and gradually built up the time. It has to be fairly warm out. Chickens don't have too many nerves in their feet so they won't realize their feet are freezing if they are having a great time. Don't let the chicks sit around with wet feet.

-- Mary Goias (mary43g@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.

Putting a worm in their pen is a great idea, but you can put in almost any kind of bug that wiggles or flaps wings and it's a riot to watch the "baby chick races" when one of them grabs the bug and runs with it! Also, pull up a small clump of grass, dirt and all for them to scratch in and they will have a great time picking at the grass and natural grit they find. Keeps them from picking at each other, too!! Enjoy.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), March 21, 2001.

Tracey, regardless of who told you, I would really be leary of giving the chooks something that's poisonous to humans! I know what it's supposed to be used for, but I don't know anyone who uses it. Scary! Do you really want the birds to grow faster? There's the possibility of bone problems if they grow too fast. I don't know how long you plan to use the product, but don't eat any of the eggs or chooks!

I don't think there's 2 stockmen who tend their critters the same! We all strive for the same end ~ healthy critters ~ but we don't all take the same path.

When I get day-old chicks from a hatchery, I don't give them water for 3 days; I give them Pedialyte. The electrolytes help them recover from the trauma of their trip. I feed 17% Chick Starter with Amprolium. The Amprolium is so they don't get coccidiosis.

== Coccidiosis is severe diarrhea caused by injesting too much of their own poop. ==

Actually, they'll only get the disease if they come in contact with the poop of a bird who already has the disease. My birds free range during the day, and of course there's plenty of wild birds, but I've never had a case of cocci.

I only feed Chick Starter, and that's all my whole flock ~ chooks and guineas ~ get for their entire lives. When the birds start laying, I add Diatomaceous Earth and oyster shell. This 'menu' has worked very well for me. I've never had a sick bird; the chicks grow up to raise healthy babies, and the generations after that are healthy.

Your babies will start flying to the roosts when they're ready; each breed is different. I have roosts at different levels for the different sizes of birds. The Cochins are small and they seem to prefer roosts about 18 inches off the ground. If their roosts are higher, they sleep on the ground. You might try putting in low roosts for the babies now and perhaps they'll use them. My larger birds prefer to fly up high.

Enjoy the little ones! :-)

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 22, 2001.



One other thing ~ I always keep food in the hoppers. Aside from having happy birds, I really believe that free feeding, and the fact that I feed nothing by hand, is why the roosters have never attacked the humans. Just my opinion, folks!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 22, 2001.

Tracy, the tablets are for coccidiosis or for the prevention and treatment of the disease. If these are your first chicks and they are in a new pen, you probably do not need it. the medication in the chick starter is for other bacterial diseases, and they won't help with an out break of cocciciosis. I have to admit that I do not use it, but do feed medicated feed to prevent other problems. You can switch to chick grower in a few weeks. I give grower to my chicks for a couple of months then switch to laying mash/granules unless they are meat chick, then I go to an my own grain mix that they mix for me at the coop. Be careful about letting the chicks outside unless it is sunshiny and warm, they get chilled easily. Also, give them extra treats sparingly until they get older. They cannot roost until they feather out, which will take awhile. until then, they are better off on the floor under the heat lamp. Remember if they huddle they are cold, and you need to lower the lamp, if they are panting and have their little wings spread out, they are too warm and you need to raise the lamp up higher. They feed store people sound like they are really trying to give good advice, but unless you are having problems with sick chicks I would stop the Ren-o-sal. I love spring and the new little fluffies and I usually order some new chicks. Have fun and good luck

-- karen (kansasgoats@iwon.com), March 25, 2001.

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