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What have we gotten ourselves into??

{ 01:51, Wednesday 15 March 2006 } { 3 comments } { Link }

40 chicks are HARD to take care of!! It's only been 24 hours and these chicks have us hopping. Last year was the first time we had chicks and we only got 8. I thought that I had this whole system worked out so we could take care of so many.. and although it's working fine for right now, I can see that in a few weeks when they are bigger this is NOT gonna work. My biggest problem is, I'm way to pregnant to help, so the kids are doing all the work. They are doing really well, and for right now are happy to do it. But I can see that this isn't going to be fun for very long.
We'll have electricity out at the coop in the next week or so. I'm thinking they'll have to be moved out there in a few weeks.

OK, edit.. matsmom wanted more info.
Well see we use this HUGE rubbermaid bin as a brooder. I have a second bin too, to switch the chicks into when it's time to clean the brooder. This way they won't be out from under the lights too long. Just fill the second bin, switch chicks.. put it back in place and go clean the first bin to use for next change. This is all well and good.. but 40 chicks poop more and spill more water already than I expected. So instead of us completely changing bins every few days (just changing top layer of paper towels every day) we will have to do this whole brooder cleaning EVERY day.
The chicks are just 3 days old.. in two weeks there is no way they will fit in just one brooder so this clean and switch thing won't work unless I buy 2 more bins. (I am willing to do that though, because my sanity is worth much more than 2-$10 plastic containers.)
It' also more trouble to do poop on butt patrol with 40 chicks. Cleaning chick behinds took the kids a good half hour.

more specific

{ 02:28, Wednesday 15 March 2006 } { Posted by matsmom97 }
Can you be a little more specific so others (LIKE ME!LOL) can learn from your mistakes??

more Qs from the stupid chicken wanna be raiser

{ 03:05, Wednesday 15 March 2006 } { Posted by matsmom97 }
Why do you have to check their backsides? I really only remember having adults and my memory is vague at best.
I get the brooding thing. How long before they dont' have to be under lights? Will the electricity take care of some of this situation? You can email me or PM me if you'd rather!LOL

Okay ... simplify!!

{ 05:02, Wednesday 15 March 2006 } { Posted by spinninggrandma }
Where have you heard THAT before? Get a huge cardboard box ... or make one out of many boxes by taping them together ... no bottom ... get a piece (or several) of plywood the same size or a little bit bigger than your box. The box needs to be big enough for the chickens to roam freely for several weeks.

Now, if it's big enough, put them in half the box and separate with a wall of cardbord. Doesn't need to be pretty. Put your chicks in half ... clean the other half, lift the wall and swoosh them into the clean half, then clean the dirty half the same day. Poop control, by this time is not too necessary --- just keep an eye on any that look 'droopy' or are off by themselves...

Simple? Yah! With that many, it's too hard to handle them like you do - plus, hendling them too much will not be good for them.

Good luck! e-mail me if you need more details.

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What have we gotten ourselves into??

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Okay ... simplify!!

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