Chook Me!

How do you hold baby chicks?

Please hurry!!! Tommorow I have 6 baby chicks arriving and my dad has to pick them up from the post office because I will be on a class trip. He will have to care for them and I cant describe to him how to hold them.

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1. chicks need feed, water, heat, light and space to grow into healthy chickens. If you're purchasing your chicks, read "How to Purchase Chicks" or "How to Hatch Chicks." Things You’ll Need: Chick Feeders Chicken Waterers Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder Ground Cobs Rice Hulls Untreated Wood Shavings 250-watt Light Bulbs Light Fixtures Thermometers Quik Chik Water Additive Baby Chick Grit One Day to Four Weeks Old Step1To teach chicks about feed, put a piece of newspaper under feeder, sprinkle a commercial feed on paper and fill the feeder the first day you get your chicks. Step2Sprinkle baby grit on feed after the third day. Sprinkle lightly, as if you were salting your food. Step3Dip each chick's beak into water before you place it in the cage. A 1-gallon chick waterer will water 50 birds. Step4Provide a heat source (a light bulb) for chicks. Use one 250-watt bulb for 50 chicks in cold weather and one bulb for 100 chicks in warm weather. Step5Place the light bulb about 18 inches above the floor. Step6Leave room in the cage for chicks to get away from heat if it gets too hot for them. Step7Maintain a temperature of 90 to 95 degrees F the first week; reduce by several degrees each week until you get to 70 degrees F. Step8Place cardboard or empty feed sacks around the outside of the cage for a while to keep cool air from blowing on chicks. Step9Place an inch of wood shavings, rice hulls or ground cobs on the bottom of the cage. Step10Provide six square inches (1/2 foot) of space for each bird. Four Weeks and Older Step1Increase floor space to nine square inches (3/4 foot) of space per bird. Step2Add another waterer. Step3Use a grit feeder to feed free-choice grit. You may need to go to the next size of grit - check with your feed store or pet store. Step4Allow chickens to go out into a fenced pen on warm, sunny days. Tips & Warnings Use an additive in the water to ensure a healthy start for your chicks. Watch for sick birds, and treat them or remove them from the flock. Do not use cedar chips, sawdust or treated wood chips for bedding. Never let chicks run out of water. Holding a baby chick is like cupping the chicken in your hand.
2. Settle down Settle Down! Put you left hand straight and firm and then cup your hand around there little heads Do not choke them just tight unof the cant run away. P.S. Kekio the Vet Things You’ll Need: Chick Feeders Chicken Waterers Grit And Oyster Shell Feeder Ground Cobs Rice Hulls Untreated Wood Shavings 250-watt Light Bulbs Light Fixtures Thermometers Quik Chik Water Additive Baby Chick Grit One Day to Four Weeks Old Step1To teach chicks about feed, put a piece of newspaper under feeder, sprinkle a commercial feed on paper and fill the feeder the first day you get your chicks. Step2Sprinkle baby grit on feed after the third day. Sprinkle lightly, as if you were salting your food. Step3Dip each chick's beak into water before you place it in the cage. A 1-gallon chick waterer will water 50 birds. Step4Provide a heat source (a light bulb) for chicks. Use one 250-watt bulb for 50 chicks in cold weather and one bulb for 100 chicks in warm weather. Step5Place the light bulb about 18 inches above the floor. Step6Leave room in the cage for chicks to get away from heat if it gets too hot for them. Step7Maintain a temperature of 90 to 95 degrees F the first week; reduce by several degrees each week until you get to 70 degrees F. Step8Place cardboard or empty feed sacks around the outside of the cage for a while to keep cool air from blowing on chicks. Step9Place an inch of wood shavings, rice hulls or ground cobs on the bottom of the cage. Step10Provide six square inches (1/2 foot) of space for each bird. Four Weeks and Older Step1Increase floor space to nine square inches (3/4 foot) of space per bird. Step2Add another waterer. Step3Use a grit feeder to feed free-choice grit. You may need to go to the next size of grit - check with your feed store or pet store. Step4Allow chickens to go out into a fenced pen on warm, sunny days. Tips & Warnings Use an additive in the water to ensure a healthy start for your chicks. Watch for sick birds, and treat them or remove them from the flock. Do not use cedar chips, sawdust or treated wood chips for bedding. Never let chicks run out of water. Holding a baby chick is like cupping the chicken in your hand.
3. Cool so u hav got chicks well so hav i and at first i didnt no what to do but after a while we go tips on who to handle them and looking after them. When handing them, pick them up, slip one hand under the chick's tummy, and put the other hand on top of the chick to hold it gently but firmly. Hope u hav fun with ur chicks good luck Alice .x