Things You Wish You Would Have Known?

RodBrandt

Songster
7 Years
May 16, 2016
27
19
114
I am new to the forum and just learning. My wife has chickens and has taught me some things. But, I thought I would come here to get input from all of you, too.

I am doing research for a project and this is what I'd like to know: what are the "Things You Wish You Would Have Known?" (before you got chickens for the first time). Think back to when you first got your flock. What mistakes did you make? (Or see others make?)

Would appreciate your input. The more responses, the better - even if they are duplicates. Thanks in advance!
 
Just because you've gotten away with leaving the pop door open (into the run) for months without predator losses, that doesn't mean that a predator won't come along tomorrow night and wipe out your whole flock. Always secure your flock at night.

Brooding chicks with a heating pad, OUTDOORS, is far superior to using a heat lamp or brooding inside.
 
Last edited:
That most pre-fab coops are not worth the money and are usually too small for the eventual flock you will have (although the one we bought did last long enough to get them into the coop/run we built a couple of months later)
 
That chickens' wings aren't ornamental and that a chicken can actually leave the ground if she has a mind to. (I really did think that they just walked about)

That they can be mean and not friendly to other hens.

That they do caecal poos.
 
I have been brooding in my workshop. I cannot believe how much dust they stir up. I have a fine coat of dust over everything now! When I move them out to the coop next week (if I can get it finished by then) I will have to pull everything out of my workshop to give it a good thorough cleaning top to bottom.
 
1. I wish I had known about curling toes before I got chickens.
2. Also wish I had done better research on the breed/hybrid temperament. The breed I came home with has been known to not take well to other breeds :smack This could potentially be a disaster when I add to the flock since I have picked what I'm getting next year.
3. Nipple waterers. Oh how much time and cleaning these would have saved.
4. Don't get the chickens before the coop. My chicks were about 2 weeks old when we got them. Between work schedules and mother nature it took all of 3 weeks to get the coop finished enough to move them in.
5. I really wish I had found a local breeder instead of rushing to get whatever was left at the feed store.

Lots more stuff I'm learning along the way. I started making notes so hopefully I don't do any of these things again :)
 
When I got my first batch of chicks, even after reading every book my library had, and lots of content on this site, I did not know about cecal droppings, and I kept thinking my chicks had coccidiosis. The illustrated poop chart I found on this site solved that problem - very useful to have!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom