I've seen the light and going for it...

[sheena]

with my eye's closed I might add!

Thinking of getting some day olds. (I say some but preferably only want one or two at a push)

I'm totally unprepared and need to know what I need to do to bring these cute little things the best start in life.
I know they need lots of water and chick crumbs, but a break down would be good at this point.

The other question I have is... Which one(s) to get, maybe one of each who knows!
But the choice is Light Sussex or Black Silkie!

Am thinking having little one's will help get the dog's used to them a little better. Probably not my wisest decision, but anything would be good to stop the whining at the garden gate.

[MaureenHall]

They need heat for the first couple of weeks, somewhere safe and secure with a light bulb to keep the temperature up at night. I used a converted vivarium, and I think Snadger used a converted aquarium for his chicks. One thing I'll definitely do next time I hatch some is buy some cheap towels (50p each from Asda) and use them on the bottom of whatever they're being raised in. It's far easier to wash them out daily than keep sweeping up the poo-ey shavings that get mixed with their food and water! (Bit like babies and nappies isn't it I did try using newspapers but they kept eating them and it was just as much mess when they'd had a paddle in the water then scratched up the paper - instant papier-mache

[sheena]

Ahhh... well I got an old fish tank that my son used for he's Triops (weird things they were) and it's sitting doing nothing, so I spose that may be good enough for a couple of weeks. Can keep a light above it for heat for them. I thik the tank is 18" but that should be ok should it? I know they grow at an astonishing rate, but i'm working on getting an indoor cage (guinea/rabbit) for them after that. (PS I don't have them yet, so no need to panic!)

I got plenty of towels I can use, as my dogs are often dragging them to the floor for comfort (but I don't like using them on dishes after that, but they should be ok too).

What about feeding, how long do they have to stay on crumbs, and then it's onto mash after that isn't it?

[bluemoon]

I'd have thought you'd have needed more than one or two, Sheena. Also unless you can keep a cockerel you might be better off going for one of the auto-sexing breeds (you can tell girls from boys at hatching). Both silkies and Lt Sussex are notorious for being difficult to sex until they are quite old BUT a Silkie crossed with a Lt Sussex can be sexed at day old (girls are gold, boys are lemon) they are also seriously cute. Or there are some of the pure breeds where it's possible, Crested Cream Legbars are a possibility and they lay blue eggs, which always makes a nice change. An alternative might be to find a company who will sell you day old hybrids, these are quite hard to come by, but they will have been sexed.

[sheena]

They are just 2 breeds that this breeder has in stock at the mo, but what I really want is an Orpington! *cries*

Breed isn't really important to me, but I have found a couple of localish breeders that I can contact... I haven't contacted anyone yet until I know I can accomodate the new arrivals.

Ideally I would love to have more than 2, but don't have enough room out in the run for them otherwise I would of hatched my own (not personally I might add). But the prospect of having to cull the excess is a task i'd rather not do.
However if I only have 2, and one turns out to be a cock then I don't mind keeping hold of him til he starts to crow, and then he would make an excellent dinner after that! (Sorry to the squeemish).

[MaureenHall]

But what if they're BOTH boys? 2 dinners?

[sheena]

Oh sorry guys, I thought I had mentioned it but obviously was getting confused with my other posts.

I already have 4 ex-batts, so the raising of them indoors is only until they are old enough to go out with the other's, hence why I said I don't have room for any more than 2.
I know it sounds unkind of me to only want 2 at most, but if I could have more I really would. My girl's have served me well and continue to do so, but having a chick or 2 is hoping that the dog's will eventually get used to them in house and will feel at ease with them, and eventually they will just look at the girl's in the garden and think the same thing.

I think it's just the fact the girl's aren't used to the dog's and vice versa.
But having a chick grow up with them will be turn around for them I think.
It seems to have worked with the parrot we have, we can now leave the dog's and parrot in the same room and they are ignored.

There is a logic to my madness, just hope I get hen's that is all. So to go for auto sexing breeds is probably the better option for now. My orpy can wait, seeing how I might have to get one POL.

[Snadger]

The Light Sussex lay creamy white eggs which would add a bit of colour to your eggbox but not be outlandish like blue or green!
They are also a good table bird........which can't be said for the silkies!

[sheena]

Thanks Snadger, I think you just made up my mind. I should of gone with that in the first place. Before I got the girl's I was gonna go for the light sussex, and they are more a dual purpose bird, but I think what drew me to the silkie's was the cute factor.
No good being cute when your eventually gonna end up on me plate!

[Hilary B]

I would still get at least half-a-dozen day-olds. Not only does that give good odds of at least a couple of hens, it also means that if one or more don't make it.......
I don't think baby chicks like being 'just one or 2' either. I reckon any local breeder willing to part with a small number will take surplus growers off your hands, either as hens or 'dinners' once they get big enough to tell.

[sheena]

Well I bit the bullet last night and decided to go for it!

Managed to get a couple of lavender pekin's (they so beautiful), they are settling in well. They are 2 weeks old, and no idea what sex they are... so fingers crossed I got hen's.

Sorry but my heart melted when I saw these guys/gals, and that was it! I'm sure you will agree too...

[MaureenHall]

awwwwwwwwwwww they're so cute

[bluemoon]

Not much meat on a Pekin though............. I'll get me coat.

PS, they are cute.

[sheena]

Not much meat on a Pekin though............. I'll get me coat.

PS, they are cute.

I know, just don't tell the old man! I haven't told him how big they don't get!
Not to mention he's already complaining about the feathers on their feet, saying they gonna get wet and muddy. (They can be cleaned)
But they are just the most adorable things you could imagine.

Even the kids have taken to them, never seen 3 boy's go gooey eyed over something before (except for sweets and ice cream of course).

[di]

They are rather beautiful!!!...can see why you couldn't resist!