2018 Newbie Chat!

[Shorty22366]

So far we are thinking Big Red is our backup but we will need to see how he does one on one with Casper. Our kids named Deadpool! They also named one of our pullets Lil Taco! Lol.

It's hard with the hormones being so new. I've read where people said it takes about a year for them to calm down. I think the same as you about culling too early. Dwight is a good leader and protective of his flock it's just his aggression towards my husband that's the problem. I don't know if he can outgrow that or if it will just get worse. Dh has already said the second it becomes a full on attack he's gone then and there.

We had our chicks outside since we brought them home back in March. The temps were a little cool but daytime was reaching 70s already. They did just fine with the heat lamp. They were about a week old. We moved them into the prefab around 2-3 weeks and they've done fine out there since. Do you have a dog crate you could lock up the boys in for a timeout when they get too aggressive? I see a lot of people suggest when boys or bully hens don't know how to behave to lock them away for about a week that way when they are reintroduced they have to work their way back up the pecking order and calm down.

I have two Silkie roosters that have their aggressive moments. If they come after me I grab them and hold them until I feel their tension drop and I never let them think they are too rooster. I make sure they know I am boss. When they come after my husband I pray he doesn't kill them Haha
He usually just goes back after them. He spanked Ben like he was one of the kids the last time and now Ben and Butch both avoid him. Just don't let them know you are afraid of them and that you and your husband are the boss.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Soon after I posted Elsa's egg I found a green egg in the middle of the coop!

I don't know which EE it was- Belle, Kida, or Nala. They are all showing signs of being close to laying. Though I saw Nala in the nest box yesterday so I would think she would know to lay in there.
Hopefully she figures out what the nest box is for :s
View attachment 1454186

So excited to have a green egg!! Now all I need is blue!
Hoping one of my remaining 2 EEs lays blue!

When my girls were still figuring it out, I had one lay on the droppings board. Currently I have three girls that lay an egg like clockwork same time every day. But they won’t leave afterward. They just sit, I’ve been physically removing them from the coop every day.

 

[Whitepinefarm]

Hi: I'm a newbie too and so pleased to have this forum ( as I haven't a clue what I am doing). I have 3 chicks, 1 is 2 weeks old and 2 are 10 days old. I can't believe I actually have them because my husband thinks the idea is ridiculous but did go ahead and buy me my coop at an Amish auction ( thrilled ). I am keeping them in a huge box inside a small shed. I was so nervous about the heat because our heat index in my area in Wisconsin was 110 Fahrenheit but they seem fine so far. I keep them well watered and fed. As the temperatures have been dropping to about 65 at night I turn their heat lamp on at night but off during the day with a small window open which keeps the room temp about 85 degrees. So far so good. I am tempted to bring the out to their coop for a couple of hours during the day when the temp is about 85 but not sure if they are too young yet.

 

[Shorty22366]

I have had chickens since November 2017. I started with 15 silkies. 2 died and 9 were roos. I rehomed 7 roos and kept 2 ( Ben and Butch). I bought 6 from TSC in March 1 died so my husband went back and bought me 5 more( he was dealing with chicken math haha) lost one of them and 5 were roos. Rehomed 2. All of them are Sebrights.Received 26 more June 18 from MPC. All are doing great. They are Frizzles, Favorellas, Polish, Cochin and Jersey Giants. They went in coop at 3 days. In a dog crate so they can see older ones and older ones can see them but not touch them. I am going to let them out in coop tomorrow so they can mingle with bigger ones. I also have a Silkie sitting and her babies are due to hatch July 11 or 12. Our first broody hatch. Ican hardly wait. Chicken math is a true thing. I have a lot of room for my babies and my neighbors love them too. I am also blessed with a husband who will let me go on my crazy adventures and go right along with me. I am so glad you started this forum. I love to read and see everyone's babies and all about their adventures.

 

[Shorty22366]

Some of my babies

 

[Shorty22366]

View attachment 1300683 I got the coop and the chicks the same day. I treated the coop and put it together, now I'm making the covered run and I got to get that done sooner then later.

My coop and my German Shepherd that knows something will be in there but doesn't have a clue what yet...lol

Okay thanks. I should just create a new thread? My only concern is the brown Ameraucana as of now she laid down like she’s trying to sleep but reached her neck out looks like she’s about to die.

I had a chick that did the same thing
My vet said it was a respiratory problem. Hers had not developed properly and she did die.

 

[Shorty22366]

Okay thanks. I should just create a new thread? My only concern is the brown Ameraucana as of now she laid down like she’s trying to sleep but reached her neck out looks like she’s about to die.

 

[CannedMonster]

Hi: I'm a newbie too and so pleased to have this forum ( as I haven't a clue what I am doing). I have 3 chicks, 1 is 2 weeks old and 2 are 10 days old. I can't believe I actually have them because my husband thinks the idea is ridiculous but did go ahead and buy me my coop at an Amish auction ( thrilled ). I am keeping them in a huge box inside a small shed. I was so nervous about the heat because our heat index in my area in Wisconsin was 110 Fahrenheit but they seem fine so far. I keep them well watered and fed. As the temperatures have been dropping to about 65 at night I turn their heat lamp on at night but off during the day with a small window open which keeps the room temp about 85 degrees. So far so good. I am tempted to bring the out to their coop for a couple of hours during the day when the temp is about 85 but not sure if they are too young yet.

I think 85 degrees with sun shine would be fine for an hour or two.
Be sure to let them out in the afternoon when it’s that warm.
You’ll really enjoy watching them!
Mine would immediately lay down in the sun to sunbathe as soon as I put them in their dog play yard.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Hi: I'm a newbie too and so pleased to have this forum ( as I haven't a clue what I am doing). I have 3 chicks, 1 is 2 weeks old and 2 are 10 days old. I can't believe I actually have them because my husband thinks the idea is ridiculous but did go ahead and buy me my coop at an Amish auction ( thrilled ). I am keeping them in a huge box inside a small shed. I was so nervous about the heat because our heat index in my area in Wisconsin was 110 Fahrenheit but they seem fine so far. I keep them well watered and fed. As the temperatures have been dropping to about 65 at night I turn their heat lamp on at night but off during the day with a small window open which keeps the room temp about 85 degrees. So far so good. I am tempted to bring the out to their coop for a couple of hours during the day when the temp is about 85 but not sure if they are too young yet.

Hey I'm in Wisconsin too! I'm in Milwaukee, where are you?
As for heat I'm not the best person to answer that. I got my chicks in February so they needed a constant heat source in my 50 degree basement. I also used a heating pad they could huddle under rather than a lamp, so if they were too hot they could always come out of the heat.
What kinds of chicks did you get?

 

[Whitepinefarm]

Hey I'm in Wisconsin too! I'm in Milwaukee, where are you?
As for heat I'm not the best person to answer that. I got my chicks in February so they needed a constant heat source in my 50 degree basement. I also used a heating pad they could huddle under rather than a lamp, so if they were too hot they could always come out of the heat.
What kinds of chicks did you get?

Hi: I'm in Richland Center which is half way between Spring Green and La Crosse. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know the breed other than they are brown laying hens ( that's how new I am). I did let the chicks out this afternoon for about an hour. All went well and it was a lovely experience for all of us until it was time to catch them and put them back in their box. Have to think a little more about that. The bigger chick is starting to almost fly out of the box so I had to put a screen door on top to keep her inside. I currently have the coop but am in the process of putting it on a concrete base and expanding the run for them so hope it will be ready in the next couple of weeks.
I'm concerned about our brutal winters and how to keep them comfortable and safe during that time. What are your thoughts about that as you will have the same situation?