I have 3 chickens hatched in an elementary classroom where I work. I was happy to take the
chicks home as pets since I had chickens when I was growing up. (They lived at least 13 years.) I don't remember too much about them other than they were
fun, they were bantams and we got eggs.
I now have three chickens, no idea of their breed, One white, one black with white markings and one interesting brownish gray with "muffs."
My daughter thinks she has heard them sneezing. Is this common? They are eating start and grow food they are now 5 weeks old. Is there something else I should be giving them? I still have them in the house, although I don't keep the light on now, as room temp is about 70 degrees. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks!
You can email me at RMoore2255@aol.com

I'd keep them on Start and Grow until they are about 5 months of age. I'm not sure about the sneezing. If they act normal and eat, then they are probably okay. You may check for a runny nose or other signs of a cold then perhaps put them on some antibiotics in their drinking water (but don't give them antibiotics if they aren't sick, you'll be contributing to the bacteria that are resistant to your antibiotic).

thanks so much for the advice. I wasn't sure about the antibiotics, because they seem otherwise very healthy. The only other concern I have is that the one black and white chick almost seems to be 'breathing' from its' vent. I know that is not true but it is always pulsing. Is this something to be concerned about? I have no idea of the sex or breeds of my chicks and would also appreciate any suggestions for identifying either. How ill I know if I have a layers or meat chickens...I want layers! Thanks again!

The B&W striped one sounds like a Barred Rock (also called Plymouth Rock), which is a good 'dual-purpose' bird, i.e. a good layer and also good for meat. If the one with 'muffs' has them near the 'cheeks', and eventually also grows a 'beard' and has no comb, it is probably an Ameraucana, also a good layer - of green-shelled eggs (fun!). As for the white one, I couldn't say, as we've never had white ones. A Leghorn? Check out this site for photos of different poultry breeds: http://www.cyborganic.net/People/feathersite/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html#Chickens.
The 'vent pulsing' is quite normal...we often notice it with our chicks. As for the sex of the chicks, 'rooster chicks', as our kids call them, usually 'stand taller, with a more sloped back, and are often more aggressive at an early age. You haven't got much to compare them to, with only 3 chicks, but the hens are usually rounder and calmer. Depending where you live, you could probably put your chicks outside soon, in a small fenced pen with a draft-free little coop for night-time with a heat-lamp on. They would probably enjoy getting out to peck and scratch at something besides newspaper and shavings. Just watch for neighbourhood cats and other predators. Enjoy!

Thanks so much! We built a pen which we let them run in outside now, we are in the process of building their coop now,and then they should be able to be outside. We are in Northern New Jersey. We truly are having FUN! Wen went out to a wedding the other day and when we came back 2 out of 3 had 'flown the coop' and had free run of our home! What a sight! They didn't go too far luckily! Thanks again for your help!

I noticed one of our layers with a sneeze problem. After observation we noticed she only sneezed at feeding time. She is always one of the first ones to ram her head into the feed and ends up with feed dust almost to her eyes. Most of the other birds do the normal peck then look around. Not this lady. She insist on the shovel technique which results in the daily routin of sneezing. Her head is little but hard. Maybe this is what you are observing. Give it a look see and have fun.