a few Qus on new chicks....

[Blue]

hello folks...

We have successfully hatched our first 7 chicks in the incubator (4 light sussex and 3 copper marans)
the oldest is a week today, the rest came out last thursday/friday

they are drinking and eating chick crumbs really well and are in a big cage under the heat lamp. just started to flap their stumpy wings and try to 'fly'

but there are some things I'm not too sure about....
when should we introduce grass, or corn and am I right that is when they should be offered grit?
and when should we try them with little perches or places to hop onto?

and remind me again about reducing the heat...

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

wouldnt take them off heat before 6 weeks ... and on to grass before 10 weeks... they dont need grit if on grass until starting to lay , even then not totally important.
i would perch them till after 15 weeks + as they are still growing and with soft bones the perches can cause damage to breast bone .

 

[Blue]

thanks
I'd read somewhere about giving them sticks to 'practice' perching on, but of course can't find where now!
when we got our pol warrens, they didn't seem to know what the rooster bars were for, so just thought it might help the little ones get used to the idea.

any more opinions much appreciated....