It's a dangerous place.

They call it Chicken Math…

I'm not sure what happens when we walk into the feed stores in the spring but it seems we don't leave there without little boxes with little creatures inside.

Or we enter planning to purchase oh maybe three new chicks and we leave with 17 and five ducklings.

Whatever adorable creatures we buy they must be cared for like newborn babies. They must have food and clean water at all times.

Chick grit. Chickens don't have teeth so they use tiny stones to help them digest their food. Little chicks need little tiny stones so chick grit is made specifically for that purpose.

Secure shelter. Indoor is best until they outgrow their container. They need to be protected from cats, dogs, unsupervised children, lizards, snakes, and even from themselves.

Safe heat. Remember that they would have had Mama Fluffy's to snuggle under so the best heat comes from a product called a brooder plate. They go underneath until they're warm and comfy and then they come out and play again until they get cold.

NO HEAT LAMPS. THINK ABOUT BBQ. JUST SAY NO.

Baby ducklings need a way to dunk their beaks in water as they eat. A little kid swimming pool is okay as long as you have steps or a ramp so they can get in and out safely. I've seen people use old canoe or rowboats or half barrels or even kitchen dish pans. Whatever you have on hand is helpful. It's not the swimming they need as much as they need to dunk their beaks.

Getting Ready for Chicks. https://youtu.be/oq0sJvurArw

Ducklings https://youtu.be/vmy951Dg-PU

NO HEAT LAMPS. THINK ABOUT BBQ. JUST SAY NO.

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