[tegfryn]

Hi, This is our first time rearing chicks...they came home last night and we believe are about a week old. Would everyone agree, as I cant find any week by week pics on the web that detail growth (can only find in the egg pics).

Can anyone offer any advice on rearing for a novice, or any websites with good articles?

Many Thanks

[Casey76]

I would agree at about a week.

This is one of mine at a week



Looks like you have a boy there too... if they are all the same age.

[Roughlee Handled]

Just a question do you have them inside and under a heat lamp or electric hen?

I would suggest you get a book
"Incubation: A Guide to Hatching and Rearing"
Katie Thear; Paperback; £6.49

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Incubation-Hatching-Rearing-Katie-Thear/dp/090613725X

I have it and it is very useful.

[tegfryn]

Thanks for the replies...

Casey76- which one do you think is a boy? they are supposed to be sex-linked light sussex hybrids - meant to all be hens.

Roughlee Handled- i have them in an unheated outbuilding, with a 175w infrared heat lamp. Is this ok?

[Roughlee Handled]

Yes that is fine.

If they are huddled together then it is too cold lower the lamp, if they are wide apart then they too hot raise the lamp.
I can not remember what temp they should be kept at at 1-2 weeks.

[chuckie.egg]

I think the temp is supposed to be 32 - 35 degrees for young chicks.

[tegfryn]

i currently have it at about 29c, it says on the lamp not to go lower than 0.5 metre due to fire risk.

they seem to use the whole of the brooder unit...

i'm worried after what casey76 said that i may have a boy 

[GrannieAnnie]

temps should be 32-35 for the first week then lower it by2degrees each week until 4-5 weeks old depending on outside conditions.

to save wasting your heat from teh lamp, they should have a brooder ring around them the lamp and their food and water to help keep them and the heat in.

my brooder box which I have 5 chicks in at the moment is about 2ft x 4ft.

they look lovely chicks!!!!

[tegfryn]

i have them in a converted bbq...i'll go and take a pic, be easier than explaining, it is roughly 2.5ft x 1.5ft

[tegfryn]

Pic of brooder unit

[Casey76]

If they are all the same age...



The one circled in red, I would guess to be a boy based upon feather development.

What kind of sex-links are they meant to be, as i was under the impression sex-links were either red or black at hatching???

[tegfryn]

We were told they will end up looking like light sussex hens, a male light sussex was used and brown hen (not sure what).

Does the brooder unit look ok?

[kitkat]

Hello, i'm sure you would know if they were cold, but with open sides like that and heat up high, they aren't getting enough heat, others will be along to correct me if i'm wrong

[tegfryn]

the lamp is about 50cm above the floor...this is lower than the manufacturers recommend...the bulb i have says it is the equivalent of a 250w infrared.

can i have some suggestions on how i could make it warmer without creating a fire risk?

[Casey76]

You could block up the mesh sides - either cover with cardboard or drape an old towel or two around the outside to keep the heat in and any draughts out.

Do you have a thermometer you can put inside the brooder?