[organicbeanful]

Hi! I am incubating 4 eggs. It is day 11. I've candled them and two definitely have chicks in, not sure about the others because they're dark eggs.
My question is what can I feed them when they hatch, aside from chick crumbs? (my mum won't let me buy any until after they hatch because she doesn't believe they will, but until that time they'll be hungry!) I've heard hard boiled eggs yolk and chives are good emergency foods? or will I just have to buy some chick crumbs? And do I go for medicated or not? Also I've heard mixed things about chick grit- do they or don't they need it?!

Also any tips on raising them? I've never done this before, so I'm not really 100% sure what I'm doing. After 8 weeks I'd like to introduce them to my 2 silkie bantams. Until that time they'll be raised indoors under an infra red lamp. How do I go about introducing them to the outside, and our silkies? Do they need any vaccinations or anything, If so, how do I go about vaccinating them?

and just any advice on day 11->hatching to years in the future!

thank you! x

[gracie]

if you try some different pet shops you should be able to find a small bag of chick crumb, ours sells small bags for about £1.35. The first day or two they dont eat much anyway as they are still digesting egg yolk(thats the easy term for it). Dont give them anything else to eat for a few weeks, they dont need it. ALWAYS have water available.
Wouldnt think this time of year they would need to stay under a lamp for 8 weeks. Ours were hatched 1st April, after about 4 and a half weeks they started moving away from the lamp even though I had raised it.  so initially i turned it off in the day then a few days later turned it off at night. Obviously depends where you are keeping them, ours were in the utility room.
I gradually let them in a bottomless crate into the garden for an hour at a time, building up to days in the run, back in the house at night, then by 6 weeks they were in the run and coop full time.
As far as introducing to your silkies they need to gradually get used to each other but not in pecking range, so you would need mesh etc to separate them.
Good luck, look forward to seeing them when they hatch