I just started with a six flock of layers from My Pet Chicken: 1 easter egger (Americauna), 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Plymouth Rock, 2 Red Star, 1 black star
They were born March 16 and arrived March 17.
They are in a coop (moved from the brooder 1 week ago), in our garage with 250 W heat lamp. They are eating starter crumbles from Tractor Supply mixed with 20% grit. They have fresh water at all times.
They are feathering out nicely, flying a bit, perching a bit and generally happy. We have been very careful to keep the litter (Non-aromatic oil cedar shavings) clean and dry and changed 1 a week and we use hand sanitizer before and after we handle them.
They were vaccinated for Marek's but that is all. I have not given them any supplements, medicated feed or yogurt or anything else because I don't know what to do!
So my question is...what do I do to keep them healthy?! I have read a lot of topics on this forums about all kinds of problems, worms, mites, lung diseases, pox, and it is scary.
But I have no idea what vaccinations or medications I could give them to help prevent some of this. Can someone give me some basic info on what to do as a newbie?
I will move them outside as soon as it is warm enough in PA. I think if it's consistently above 45-50 at night if I keep the heat lamp on, that should be ok to move them (maybe late May).
Is that about right? I did leave them out when it was 65 or so last week in a small enclosure of chicken wire for about 15 min. Then right back to the heat lamp coop, is that a bad thing? It was a sunny day and I thought they might like it but I guess they could have picked up something from the ground (they are all fine and not sick, I just want to ask if they are too young yet to go outside).
I am most concerned about insects and diseases and what I need to do. Should I take them to a vet or can I do this myself?
Thanks!!
They were born March 16 and arrived March 17.
They are in a coop (moved from the brooder 1 week ago), in our garage with 250 W heat lamp. They are eating starter crumbles from Tractor Supply mixed with 20% grit. They have fresh water at all times.
They are feathering out nicely, flying a bit, perching a bit and generally happy. We have been very careful to keep the litter (Non-aromatic oil cedar shavings) clean and dry and changed 1 a week and we use hand sanitizer before and after we handle them.
They were vaccinated for Marek's but that is all. I have not given them any supplements, medicated feed or yogurt or anything else because I don't know what to do!
So my question is...what do I do to keep them healthy?! I have read a lot of topics on this forums about all kinds of problems, worms, mites, lung diseases, pox, and it is scary.
But I have no idea what vaccinations or medications I could give them to help prevent some of this. Can someone give me some basic info on what to do as a newbie?
I will move them outside as soon as it is warm enough in PA. I think if it's consistently above 45-50 at night if I keep the heat lamp on, that should be ok to move them (maybe late May).
Is that about right? I did leave them out when it was 65 or so last week in a small enclosure of chicken wire for about 15 min. Then right back to the heat lamp coop, is that a bad thing? It was a sunny day and I thought they might like it but I guess they could have picked up something from the ground (they are all fine and not sick, I just want to ask if they are too young yet to go outside).
I am most concerned about insects and diseases and what I need to do. Should I take them to a vet or can I do this myself?
Thanks!!
