1st time chicken owner

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cruzin4chicks

cruzin4chicks

Hatching
5 Years
Jun 21, 2014
5
0
7
Littleton, CO
Today I came home with 2 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Barred Rocks! I am so excited to finally have chickens! I read on here that they will need to stay in their coop for a week, and I just wanted to make sure that is correct. Should I leave their door open during the day and close it at night, or just leave it closed. I put their water and food inside the coop so they can eat and drink is there anything else I should do to make them feel at home? My girls aren't laying yet so I haven't put in a nesting box, any good recommendations for a cheap box? Thank you for your advice!

Nick
 
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Hello Nick and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on the new birds! You don't need to lock them in for one week. Two days is good enough. They bond with their environment when they survive the night sleeping in the coop. So 2 days should do it. As long as it is not overly hot in the coop. If it is really warm where you are, make sure to leave the door open, although you might screen it off, and use a fan to keep the birds cool.

ALWAYS lock the birds up for the night. ALWAYS. Predators are very sneaky and you don't want to lose your birds over something so simple as locking up the coop at night.

You can make your own boxes. Even a cardboard box will work. Or you can make one out of plywood. If you want external boxes, you can make a box and cut a hole in the side of the coop and mount it from the outside so it hangs outside and you will have more room inside the coop.

Good luck with your new flock and welcome to ours!
 


Welcome to BYC!
frow.gif
Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, lock them up at night so you don't risk losing any of them. Anything can really be used as a nest. Boxes, baskets, barrels, large tubes, etc. Here's a link on how to make a very simple one.http://beckyshomestead.com/chicken-nesting-box-plans Be sure to fill it with comfy bedding and fake eggs so the hens are drawn to them and feel secure. As far as making them feel at home, just make sure they are safe, comfortable and have plenty of food and water. They'll adjust fine.

Best of luck and welcome to the community!
 
Welcome to BYC! I like Buff Orpingtons for their beautiful feathers and calm, gentle temperament (they are good layers too). TwoCrows and Mountain Peeps are right about always locking them up at night. As far as nests are concerned, I have used tunnel nests for years now. They are cheap and easy to build, and because they have such dark interiors, egg eating is virtually eliminated (hens can't peck at what they can't see). You can read more about tunnel nests on the following BYC forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/119187/anyone-use-a-tunnel-nest Good luck with your flock.
 
Thank you all for the warm welcomes and great information! I am so excited about my new flock I can't wait to see them chasing bugs around their run, but most of all to get some tasty fresh eggs! There will be pictures coming soon!
 

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