Topic: Baby Buff Orpingtons arriving tomorrow (Read 4123 times)

lilhill · « **on:** May 05, 2009, 10:36:55 AM »

I broke down and ordered 15 BO pullets which are due to be delivered tomorrow. Now I have to make sure I can keep them alive. Never have tried raising tiny chicks before, so don't know how they will come out. Today I'll be gathering all the stuff to make them a comfy home. Any advice would be helpful from those of you who have experienced this before.

trob1 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:53:05 AM »

When they arrive have warm water ready and dip their beaks into it one by one as you get them out of the box. The warm water really seems to help them warm up quicker than cold water. Enjoy them and you will be addicted I do it every spring and just love raising them.

Chaty · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2009, 12:44:05 PM »

When my babies arrived the instructions said warm water with a tablespoon of sugar in it ...mine loved it and didnt lose any...good luck and remember a heat lamp with the red bulb. I also had a thermometer in the tank with mine to check temps so they dont get too hot. I also got the larger waterers because you will need them later and the smaller type gets to small to soon. Good luck

lilhill · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2009, 01:17:01 PM »

I had read about the sugar in the water to give them a little boost. Going to get the red bulb today and a thermometer for the brooder. Thanks for the suggestions, and I'll be having fun shopping for the little buggers this morning.

helmstead · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2009, 01:58:04 PM »

Yep we do 1/3 cup of sugar per gallon of warm water.

Line your brooder with newspaper. Baby chicks are dumb, and esp if bedded on shavings, they try to eat the shavings instead of the feed. Scatter some feed crumbles over the paper for the first couple days, too...they find it easier.

Be prepared for pasty butt. It's pretty common in shipped chicks. We use a small bowl, fill it with warm water, dip their pasty bottoms in there for a short soak and then gently pull the yuck off. Some people just yank it off dry in the theory that it rips the feathers out that the stuff gets stuck to in the first place, but I don't like to do that!

Also, if any arrive weak/near death...don't give up! Our last order (2/1) was stuck in the mail for FOUR days. Many seemed near death on arrival, but with constant beak dipping in the sugar water, most of them pulled through.

lilhill · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:34:26 PM »

Y'all, I really appreciate all these tips!

The post office said they would call me at 6:30 in the morning. Good thing I'm an early riser! Can't wait to get them here. I think I'm all ready for them now.

I ran to Tractor Supply to get the chick starter and more supplies. Looked at the red heat lamp bulb and it was $4.76. I thought to myself, I have to go to Walmart anyway, so I know they will be cheaper than TSC. WRONG! Their red heat lamp bulb was $9.97, so had to make a run back to TSC to get one of theirs. Don't ever assume that Walmart is cheaper ... lesson learned.

Chaty · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2009, 09:14:21 PM »

Yep the red bulbs are easier on their eyes than the other clear type and I forgot about the pasty butts...I obly had 2 do that thank goodness...easy to remove also like Kate said...not a fav job ...Yep they will eat anything...mine loved it when I would cut grass and cut into teeny pieces and drop in the tank...when they get older I gave mine boied egg and tomatos all cut up... Mine liked yogurt also...
Noisy critters as mine were inside for a few mths as it was cold and rainy outside. I used 70 gallon water tanks and chicken wire on top...

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2009, 11:21:20 PM »

I use a heavy duty cardboard box and a wire top ( you'll be suprised how soon they can flutter up and out )
or one half of a plastic dog kennel with a card board end.
I have a few different sizes so the have room to grow.

lilhill · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2009, 10:42:12 AM »

DH went to the post office at 6:30 yesterday morning and picked up the chicks. They all arrived in great shape and I had everything ready for them when they got here. My mini poodle, Maggie, woke me up at 4:30 this morning (I'd planned to sleep a bit longer) pretending she had to go out, but all she wanted was for me to open the door to my office so she could see the babies again.

Chaty · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:21:24 PM »

GoatTalker · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2009, 02:05:38 PM »

helmstead · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2009, 02:52:23 PM »

Too funny! Aren't they adorable?? Congrats!

Our cat, Ezra, guards our new chicks for at least 2 weeks after they arrive. We have an open brooder room in our basement (2x4 frame with chicken wire walls to the ceiling, about 7' square)...and she does not leave that room of the basement for that period. She also loves it when we're hatching eggs upstairs, and sleeps under the hatcher. Yet - she wants to eat my finches. Go figure!

GoatTalker · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2009, 02:57:47 PM »

Too funny.

lilhill · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2009, 10:20:47 AM »

My baby Orps have already started getting feathers and testing them out and they're only a little over a week old. Wow, didn't know they'd start this early. Cool!

Chaty · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:21:14 PM »

Yep it dont take long and soon they will be flittering all over the place and trying to get oout...mine did and sometimes they were ontop of the water container...they can be real escape artists too...very fast.

lilhill · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:11:39 PM »

I've got a much taller brooder box just waiting for me to have time to set it up and get them transferred.

GoatTech · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2009, 09:58:12 PM »

Ahhhhh,...do you have pictures yet?

lilhill · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:13:21 PM »

Okay, here are the big girls. Caught one sitting on top of one of the sides of the brooder this morning, so had to move them to a taller one this afternoon. Sheesh, these little twerps grow fast. See the feathers already? They are just too cute!

GoatTech · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:17:49 PM »

Oh my Gosh!! They are just too cute!! They look so healthy!
Little twerps, I love it!

lilhill · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:26:25 PM »

Yeah, I was really surprised when they arrived and were so healthy and vigorous! And they haven't slowed down since.

GoatTalker · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:15:57 AM »

lilhill · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2009, 01:08:35 AM »

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2009, 01:26:00 AM »

AWWWWWWWW I love peep (aka little twerps )

GoatTech · « **Reply #23 on:** May 24, 2009, 09:54:41 PM »

How are the chicky-poo's doing?

lilhill · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2009, 11:18:49 PM »

They are doing great and growing like weeds. Every one of them! Everyone asks me how many I've lost, and I can proudly say none. (Knock on wood)

Chaty · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2009, 02:45:38 AM »

lilhill · « **Reply #26 on:** June 25, 2009, 01:05:20 PM »

Here's my babies today. They are 7-1/2 weeks old.

helmstead · « **Reply #27 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:16:56 PM »

Growing very nicely!

GoatTalker · « **Reply #28 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:21:13 PM »

So cute. Is this breed friendly?

helmstead · « **Reply #29 on:** June 25, 2009, 11:39:49 PM »

Yes, very friendly and often broody =)

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Author Topic: Baby Buff Orpingtons arriving tomorrow (Read 4123 times)