2018 Newbie Chat!

[JMcNeal]

I just joined today! Started with 7 Rhode Island chicks, ended up with 4 hens and 3 roosters, lost 1 hen to the dog... Rehomed 2 of the Roos, and just the other day picked up a mix of 7 chicks!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Currently working on getting them to go into coop at night. They prefer to sleep in the run. ugh.

I am worried about that myself! I often work until after dark so I am hoping I can get them into the habit of returning to the coop on their own quickly.

I like your coop, did you get instructions for it or just build it yourself? I know I should have built mine beforehand, but I am handy so putting something together around April/May will be fine.

My city allows us up to 12, I have 9 on order. Let's see what happens here!

I used some free plans I found online. They were a bit wonky (some measurements off etc) but I had never built anything before so I wanted to make sure I had good instruction.
What kinds did you order from MPC?

I just joined today! Started with 7 Rhode Island chicks, ended up with 4 hens and 3 roosters, lost 1 hen to the dog... Rehomed 2 of the Roos, and just the other day picked up a mix of 7 chicks!

Is it a mystery mix or did you pick them out?

 

[nine9d]

Here is a copy & paste from my order screen.

3 x Day-Old Chicks: Easter Egger Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: White Silkie Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: Barred Plymouth Rock Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: Buff Brahma Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: Welsummer Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: Black Frizzle Cochin Bantam - Females
1 x Day-Old Chicks: Porcelain d'Uccle - Bantams - Females

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Awww. Part of me wants bantams. But part of me wants a good supply of big eggs too. XD
And I'm not allowed enough to have a good mixed flock.

 

[nine9d]

I hear you there, I just like smaller breeds of animals is all. I am the only one in the house that really eats eggs, and daily at that. So if I can get enough for say, 2 large eggs a day I would be happy. Now I know they lay small eggs, so it may be 2-3 of theirs to 1 large egg. Hopefully, with the 9 of them, I will be able to satisfy my taste buds!

If need be I will get 3 standard the next year as I can have 12 in total.

 

[Eilsel]

Getting chicks in March, but it's hard to hold off- the hatchery I plan on using starts local chick days at feed stores in February and just recently released their schedule!! It's just too cold here for me to want to worry about chicks in Feb... plus I'm a teacher so I plan on doing their first week "at home" over spring break. I still have work to do on the coop (shed conversion) to keep me busy- I feel like I'm nesting! It will be fun to share the experience of new chicks with other newbies!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Getting chicks in March, but it's hard to hold off- the hatchery I plan on using starts local chick days at feed stores in February and just recently released their schedule!! It's just too cold here for me to want to worry about chicks in Feb... plus I'm a teacher so I plan on doing their first week "at home" over spring break. I still have work to do on the coop (shed conversion) to keep me busy- I feel like I'm nesting! It will be fun to share the experience of new chicks with other newbies!

I don't have that kind of self control. I am waiting for my local feed store to call to tell me chicks are coming in. They said it's usually late feb-mid March, but I have everything set up so I am ready whenever. Hahaha.
Waiting until you have time off work makes sense though. I work 10 hour shifts as an RN so I usually work two days in a row and have a day or two off etc. And on my work days I have a retired mom who wants to play with chicks.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

What is everyone using as a brooder setup? After my first batch of chicks I’m doing things different this time. Just curious what you guys are using/doing?

 

[Ferrit47]

Hey!
I made this thread as a place for all us first timers to get together and share our experience!
I saw there was one for 2017 and it kept going all the way until those chicks were grown up and laying!
This year will be my first year raising chicks (Or chickens at all). I got my coop built in fall before it got too cold and snowy here. My local feed store gets chicks late Feb to mid March so now I'm not so patiently waiting for that! I live in a city so I am only allowed "4" hens. I think I'm going to get 5 or 6 chicks though just in case.
My brooder is almost ready to go, just waiting on heating pad from Amazon for MHP.

 

[Ferrit47]

Hey Im abit late But Happy New Year Everyone.
My Brother is a Meat Chicken Farmer up at Pukekohe & he has done it for about 5 years now. My wife & I were up there recently & saw all the chickens. He loves it too. I wish that there was a chatroom so we could all have regular catchups with each other. I used to work for a Poultry Farm helping out with The delivery side of the bussiness 3 times a week. I was also Company Mershandiser and put all the eggs out into 2 Supermarkets. But I left as The people who owned it Promised me lots of things that never happened. Then I started up my own Egg Round selling to private people. But I stopped doing this after many years as I got a Job emptying Rubbish Bins at 2 Shopping Complexes & I do it twice a day everyday & I love it. Wouldnt have had time to do my egg round & plus prices went sky high & couldnt charge my Cilentell anymore than what I was selling them for. Fun why it lasted.