Hello from North Georgia!

missjay13

In the Brooder
Jan 21, 2017
5
0
15
North Georgia
Hi, everyone!

I'm new to the chicken-keeping life, but I'm super excited to get started. Our new (to us) home has a chicken coop on the property, so my husband and I have cleaned it out and are in the process of making sure it's secure and building a run. We're planning on ordering three Buff Orpington chicks from a hatchery in the spring. From my poking around the forum here, it seems like a lot of people start with day-old chicks--are there downsides to a complete newbie (e.g. me!) starting with four-week-old chicks?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC - great that you have joined us. The only real downside to getting day old chicks is that you also have to get a brooder area set up. If you have power running to your coop, then it could be done there - if not, an indoor location will be needed (could be your garage, for example). You'd need a heat source - lamps (a bit of a fire hazard and possibly not the best way forward), brooder plate - https://www.amazon.com/Brooder-Elec...srs=13588394011&ie=UTF8&qid=1484978646&sr=8-1 (as an example), or a mamma heating pad - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update, some starter feed and a drinker that it is shallow (or put marbles, pebbles in it) to stop the chicks from drowning.

This link may be useful - https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/raising-your-baby-chicks

You'll find lots of info in the Learning Centre - https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center and if you have a specific topic in mind, just type it in the search box - there's a wealth of information on past and present threads.

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you


All the best
CT
 
Greetings from Kansas, misjay13, and
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! Pleased you joined our community! Looks like CTKen gave you some great links to explore so I'll just say best wishes and thanks for joining BYC!!
 
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You've already received some good information so I'll just say hello and best wishes!
 
Welcome from Middle Georgia, so glad you have joined us. And congratulations on your decision to get your own flock.

How lucky to already have a coop:)

The experience of starting with baby chicks is awesome, something I would not want to miss. But it does require having the space and equipment for this.

IMO it depends on what date you plan to get your flock - if early spring, it may be too cold there to place 4 week olds in the coop without supplemental heat?
Most recommend they be 5 weeks and the weather warm enough for them - the Learning Center should offer you information to help make those plans.

I love the BO's - but they do go broody often.

Good luck with the new adventure.
 
Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the tips and advice! This forum is such a wealth of information--I have a lot of reading to do :)
 
G’Day from down under missjay13
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Welcome!

As you have already received some great advice, I just wanted to add that I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. Unlike non chicken loving friends, family and colleagues, BYC’ers never tire of stories or pictures that feature our feathered and non feathered friends
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