Spring 2017 first timers post!

lazy gardener said:

I just viewed your profile, and your order list. You've ordered some nice birds. I love a mixed flock. you're gonna have a lot of fun with them. Do you have your coop yet? How do you intend to brood them? If you haven't considered it, I'd suggest that you look at heating pad brooding. So very much better than using a heat lamp.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

Other topics to consider: fermented feed, deep litter in both coop and run. Enjoy your little flock.

Click to expand...

I do not have a coop up yet, The plan is to convert a dog run we have that is 10x25 into the chicken run and build 4x10 raised coop inside of it. I plan to put them in a large container with an ecoglow inside of our spare bedroom for a week and then move them into the garage into our rabbit hutch along with the ecoglow until they are feathered out and ready to move out to the converted dog run. Luckily, we have semi mild winters where the lows are 40ish and high 60s/low 70s during the day. I have thought about fermented feed (will do more research on that!) and going to use a fodder system as well since my babie wouldn't be able to free range more than a couple supervised hours a day here in the suburbs.I am really excited to get them!

IdyllwildAcres said:

Next weeK!

Are you brooding in the coop?

We must see pics when u get them

Welcome


Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

Click to expand...

I'll be brooding them for a week in the spare bedroom and then moving them into an old rabbit hutch in the garage until they're old enough to move outside (and we finish the coop!) I will most definitely post some pictures as soon as their fluffy butts arrive!

urbanchickening said:

I'll be brooding them for a week in the spare bedroom and then moving them into an old rabbit hutch in the garage until they're old enough to move outside (and we finish the coop!) I will most definitely post some pictures as soon as their fluffy butts arrive!

Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing the new coop pics too!

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

My goodness they'll be arriving in the next day or two!! We must have pics, and updates.

I've finally convinced my husband that chickens would be a great investment! I'm waiting to see what local chicks are available in February before ordering. I'm wanting golden buffs and barred rocks to start with. I live within the city so I can only have 5. I might throw in a silver laced just because!!

This will be my second spring with chickens- I started last June with 6 chicks. 2 BO, 2 EE, and 2 GLW. One of the wyandottes turned out to be a rooster and we rehomed him a few weeks ago. We can have roosters but he was really rough with the hens. I have loved them even more than I thought I would. They seriously make me happy. We got our first egg on Thanksgiving day (Easter egger was first!) and they are all laying now. I am planning to add 3-4 more chicks this spring but haven't decided whether to let one of my girls brood hatching eggs or just get chicks again.

I do have some advice from a 1 year veteran...
I live in a very cold climate so YMMV.

Water - this is the biggest pain. Those tiny chick waterers are super gross. As is any open water type system. You'll end up washing it 17 times a day. Get them used to a horizontal nipple type waterer asap. If you live in a mild climate the vertical nipples are fine but I had a lot of trouble keeping the vertical nipples from freezing once it got cold. I have a bucket based 4-horizontal nipple waterer with a bird bath de-icer now and it's perfect. Easy to fill, super clean, doesn't leak.

When brooding - keep them close to your house if you have cold nights when you get them. You will want to check on them a lot (uh, 17 times a day) and the closer they are the better. I used a puppy playpen in the garage until 5 weeks. I'm also a freak and got a security web cam so I could check on them from my phone.

Also when brooding have a plan for power failures. Our power went out when they were a week old and that heating pad went cold fast and they started shaking and huddling up. I ended up putting them in a box on the front seat of my car and driving around with the heater cranked and a bunch of handwarmers in a pillowcase in there with them. Maybe find a neighbor/friend who wouldn't mind you bringing them over with their heating pad until the power comes back!

I got lucky and bought a house where the previous owner had already built a coop, so no advice on coop building. But bigger is better..I already need to expand it for new chicks

citychicks17 said:

I've finally convinced my husband that chickens would be a great investment! I'm waiting to see what local chicks are available in February before ordering. I'm wanting golden buffs and barred rocks to start with. I live within the city so I can only have 5. I might throw in a silver laced just because!!

Click to expand...

Oh my, I must be doing it wrong because I am already upside down it would take years and years and thousands of eggs before I could call this an investment... Or at least a good financial investment, but I am investing money, and time... Lol, chicken math means so may different things I am finding out. Glad to hear Hubby is on board!! So you have a coop built?

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

mcclucker said:

This will be my second spring with chickens- I started last June with 6 chicks. 2 BO, 2 EE, and 2 GLW. One of the wyandottes turned out to be a rooster and we rehomed him a few weeks ago. We can have roosters but he was really rough with the hens. I have loved them even more than I thought I would. They seriously make me happy. We got our first egg on Thanksgiving day (Easter egger was first!) and they are all laying now. I am planning to add 3-4 more chicks this spring but haven't decided whether to let one of my girls brood hatching eggs or just get chicks again.

I do have some advice from a 1 year veteran...
I live in a very cold climate so YMMV.

Water - this is the biggest pain. Those tiny chick waterers are super gross. As is any open water type system. You'll end up washing it 17 times a day. Get them used to a horizontal nipple type waterer asap. If you live in a mild climate the vertical nipples are fine but I had a lot of trouble keeping the vertical nipples from freezing once it got cold. I have a bucket based 4-horizontal nipple waterer with a bird bath de-icer now and it's perfect. Easy to fill, super clean, doesn't leak.

When brooding - keep them close to your house if you have cold nights when you get them. You will want to check on them a lot (uh, 17 times a day) and the closer they are the better. I used a puppy playpen in the garage until 5 weeks. I'm also a freak and got a security web cam so I could check on them from my phone.

Also when brooding have a plan for power failures. Our power went out when they were a week old and that heating pad went cold fast and they started shaking and huddling up. I ended up putting them in a box on the front seat of my car and driving around with the heater cranked and a bunch of handwarmers in a pillowcase in there with them. Maybe find a neighbor/friend who wouldn't mind you bringing them over with their heating pad until the power comes back!

I got lucky and bought a house where the previous owner had already built a coop, so no advice on coop building. But bigger is better..I already need to expand it for new chicks

Click to expand...

I just had a 12 hour outage and was thinking the same thing...

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

Oops double post

OK y'all,I just got my email and tracking number...my little fluffy butts are on their way home!!! I'll be having them stay in the 50 gallon storage bin for the 1st week or two in our spare bedroom . I'm so excited!