Welcome to Debby10's Page
Why does my chicken coop have two doors? Because if it had four doors it would be a chicken sedan!
Why does my chicken coop have two doors? Because if it had four doors it would be a chicken sedan!
They're here! They're here! I'm as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.
Privitt Hatchery shipped them out on Wednesday and they came in early Friday to my post office. Boy was I thrilled to hear them peeping. I really didn't expect to be so excited. They are vigorous and clean, vaccinated against Marek's and there's a extra rooster. Twenty-two hens and three roosters (I hope--there could be more roos). All barred rocks.
These are my first chickens, poor dears. They will have to put up with my mistakes. I didn't get their beaks trimmed, so I will be especially careful to watch for signs of over crowding. I'm going to feed one bag of medicated starter/grower and then switch to unmedicated.
Privitt Hatchery shipped them out on Wednesday and they came in early Friday to my post office. Boy was I thrilled to hear them peeping. I really didn't expect to be so excited. They are vigorous and clean, vaccinated against Marek's and there's a extra rooster. Twenty-two hens and three roosters (I hope--there could be more roos). All barred rocks.
These are my first chickens, poor dears. They will have to put up with my mistakes. I didn't get their beaks trimmed, so I will be especially careful to watch for signs of over crowding. I'm going to feed one bag of medicated starter/grower and then switch to unmedicated.
Day 3.
48 hours later and they are eating, pooping, sleeping and racing around like water bugs on a pond. Their crops look full and they spread out to sleep. A few have a tiny bit of dried feces pasted around their vents. But I'm able to clean a lot of that off. So its going pretty well--even though the weather has turned cold and I had to run out and get a second heat lamp to keep the "brooder" temp in the ninties. Now I feel I should have built a brooder.
With the red bulbs, they look as though they are at a dance club. Cha, cha, cha.
Day 12.
The chickies are going on two weeks old and are out of the swimming pool "brooder." They now have free run of the coop and were very excited today to get a new toy, their first roost. The bars are starting to show on their little wings, which can create some lift, so they really get buzzing around. Mashed up hard boiled egg is chickie manna. They love it.
3 WEEKS
And growing like weeds:
Their bars are showing and they are smack dab in the middle of the pterodactyl stage. They don't seem so fragile now. The brooder temp is around 80 degrees and they are eating grit. I give them some hard boiled egg, lettuce and grass clippings. That has taught them to come running to me if I have anything in my hands, but only one of them likes to be picked up. I'm happy as a clam and they seem to be, too.
5 WEEKS
They are starting to get big and are eating grit, and treats like lettuce and egg. They are also roosting more at night and fully feathered. The coop temp is at 65-75 degrees, which is pretty close to the seasonal temps around here in a normal year. This spring has been exceptionally cold and rainy, so they haven't been out side yet. But they want to! Just look at the way they are curious about the door.
Tomorrow is my day off and I have all the supplies to build a run. They have a big surprise coming!
8 WEEKS
The chicks are really chickens now at 8 plus weeks and they are on grower feed instead of starter.
Also they have a temporary pen! I say temporary because they will be free range when they get full sized. 10 of the hens went to their new home at my friend's house. So there are only 15 left and the coop is nice and roomy at that number.
The pen can be moved to four different locations and still be attached to the coop. So the grass is holding up well. Happy chickens and happy owner.
48 hours later and they are eating, pooping, sleeping and racing around like water bugs on a pond. Their crops look full and they spread out to sleep. A few have a tiny bit of dried feces pasted around their vents. But I'm able to clean a lot of that off. So its going pretty well--even though the weather has turned cold and I had to run out and get a second heat lamp to keep the "brooder" temp in the ninties. Now I feel I should have built a brooder.
With the red bulbs, they look as though they are at a dance club. Cha, cha, cha.
Day 12.
The chickies are going on two weeks old and are out of the swimming pool "brooder." They now have free run of the coop and were very excited today to get a new toy, their first roost. The bars are starting to show on their little wings, which can create some lift, so they really get buzzing around. Mashed up hard boiled egg is chickie manna. They love it.
3 WEEKS
And growing like weeds:
Their bars are showing and they are smack dab in the middle of the pterodactyl stage. They don't seem so fragile now. The brooder temp is around 80 degrees and they are eating grit. I give them some hard boiled egg, lettuce and grass clippings. That has taught them to come running to me if I have anything in my hands, but only one of them likes to be picked up. I'm happy as a clam and they seem to be, too.
5 WEEKS
They are starting to get big and are eating grit, and treats like lettuce and egg. They are also roosting more at night and fully feathered. The coop temp is at 65-75 degrees, which is pretty close to the seasonal temps around here in a normal year. This spring has been exceptionally cold and rainy, so they haven't been out side yet. But they want to! Just look at the way they are curious about the door.
Tomorrow is my day off and I have all the supplies to build a run. They have a big surprise coming!
8 WEEKS
The chicks are really chickens now at 8 plus weeks and they are on grower feed instead of starter.
Also they have a temporary pen! I say temporary because they will be free range when they get full sized. 10 of the hens went to their new home at my friend's house. So there are only 15 left and the coop is nice and roomy at that number.
The pen can be moved to four different locations and still be attached to the coop. So the grass is holding up well. Happy chickens and happy owner.
Check out my coop. I'm having a lot of fun with it.
debby10s-coop
I now think a built in brooder would be really neat! Maybe one that can be hung on the wall like a kitchen cabnet and removed when not needed. Hmmm. That sounds like a fun project for next winter.
Thanks for stopping by, Debby
debby10s-coop
I now think a built in brooder would be really neat! Maybe one that can be hung on the wall like a kitchen cabnet and removed when not needed. Hmmm. That sounds like a fun project for next winter.
Thanks for stopping by, Debby
