2018 Newbie Chat!

[aimwad]

My black sexlink Dahlia

my RIR Rose

My EE Daffodil (Daffy)

 

[aimwad]

I guess we are weird here? 6 chick minimum state law.

What are other states for minimums?

In Texas it’s mandated by the city. I’m in an urban area northwest of Dallas. I cannot have more then 6 hens, no roosters.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

At work checking on the chicken cam. I'm glad they sometimes go outside when I'm not around now, they get a chance to get some sun then.
Excruciatingly cold spring here
I wasn't planning on getting a heated waterer until next winter but now it's been freezing every night. I guess as long as I get out there to change it and it's not freezing during the day it's alright.
They are 100% weaned off the MHP though and that has been taken out of the coop for a few days now.

I gotta make some playground equipment for them to climb on in the run! It's just been so cold I've been shutting myself in the house and playing video games.

They did get some Chia sprouts the other day. They were a little hesitant because it was just in one big blob of sprouts. But later I checked on them and found absolutely no sign of any sprouts. Not even a few mixed in the shavings. So those were obviously a hit, once they got brave enough to try them out.

 

[ghostsnare101]

Never raised chickens before but I am down for the journey. We went to the local tsc and got 7 Rhode Island reds (one of them looked like a rooster with the white spots at the base of the wings so we got 7) then 6 barred rock and one black sex link (because my wife just wanted a sex link to call ‘her’ chick lol) we started them out in a big plastic tub with pine shavings laid down and a waterer and feeder and then after a few weeks I moved them over to a used large metal water trough I found out in the barn because they got so big. Now one of the barred rocks I’m calling Houdini because every time I go into water and feed them she/he jumps up on the waterer and then jumps out of the bin. So I’m going to get some hardware cloth to lay over top of the bin to keep them all in there.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Hi everyone! I am new to keeping chickens. We got four chicks from TS last month and they are now 6 weeks old. We just brooded them in a cardboard box with pine shavings, with a heat lamp. Now they are out in the coop full time, with supplemental heat at night, although I am weaning them off it. We have a portable pen that they go in during the day.
The kids named them. We have two Buff Orpingtons named Penny and Peaches (although I don't think we are going to be able to tell them apart for much longer), and two black sexlinked named Star and Stormy.

 

[Cbarr00]

I have been sick with a cold for the past week and leaving chicken duties to my Hubby and kids. We also got a small cold front in dropping our temps from the 90s to 60s. I finally feel well enough to go out and spend time with the chicks and they're so big! I feel like I don't even recognize them anymore! They've finally learned to get in and out of the coop by themselves. They know we are the food source and when it's time to free range they run to the door in anticipation when they see us coming. They're so funny. I'll have to get some pics later when it's time to free range.

 

[EastTexasHen]

Hey there everyone! Not a completely newbie here since i started some chicks before but they are long gone and i haven’t had any chicks in a few years so i feel new all over again! A trip to our local tractor supply ended with four silkies, one polish, and three mottled cochin bantams. It is so intimidating taking care of something so tiny.

Currently they are in a large cardboard box with pineshavings and paper towels on top. Standard feeder and waterer and another tray with chick grit. I keep a heat lap beside the box, would have loved to try MHP method but we just moved into our new house so I haven’t had time to hunt down a heating pad without the auto off feature. Our new home has two chicken coops already on it that need a bit of sprucing up, but i think i still have time before i have to move the chicks out into them. Temps here in east texas have been fluctuating between the 70’s and high 80’s although hubs tells me there is a cold front coming, yay. I guess it’s a few more days in the garage for these little guys/gals.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I had a bonding moment with Lilo today. Lilo was the chick that always wanted nothing to do with me. I coaxed her onto my lap with a dried mealworm and then she just sat there staring at my face and looking super closely. Yes Lilo, I am the bringer of worms! Do not fear me! XD

 

[ghostsnare101]

I think one of my barred rock “pullets” is actually a rooster with the way his comb is way more red and bigger than all the other barred rock chicks we have. What do you guys think?

 

[SummerLynn]

ooh great thread. hoping to read it in its entirety when i'm not exhausted lol

I'm new and i admit it. learning as I go