2018 Newbie Chat!

[BBZZZZTT]

So sorry to hear about your chick
I'm glad the others are okay.

I've come to realize that death is something chicken people have to deal with on a far more regular basis than with other pets/animals.
(Unless you're as bad at keeping fish alive as I am)

 

[llombardo]

Thanks! We bought this coop from TS and made a few modifications to help it last, we still need to reinforce the nesting boxes so they won’t droop.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...hicken-resort-for-18-20-chickens?cm_vc=-10005
I believe the coop is plenty big, I wish the run was larger. We are going to build an additional chicken yard/run on the side of the house that receives shade all day. That way next summer in this high desert Southern CA heat should go much smoother!
View attachment 1475363

I'm actually modifying the pre fab I got too. I needed to see what it would be like first. I am going to place plywood on the opposite end of the area they sleep and make a second sleeping area, so they can choose whichever side they want. It should be rather simple, but then again I always make things harder then what they are.

 

[Melissacoop]

My babies are 4 weeks old now. Their feathers are changing. What is the earliest age they could start laying eggs??

Welcome!
Chicken wire will not keep out predators.
It will keep chickens where you want them so it has its uses but it won’t keep them safe from predators, especially night predators.
It’s flexible and predators like raccoons can reach through the holes and will literally pull pieces of the birds off.
You want to get hardware cloth that is at least 1/2” or less.
It’s also important to dig an area around the coop and put down an apron of hardware cloth down 12” to discourage digging predators.
Chickens are always on the menu and pretty much everything likes them unfortunately.

I didn’t see if your set up has protection from rain or excessive sun but you’ll want to address that.
Some chickens will lay their eggs out in the open occasionally but mostly they prefer a fairly private safe spot.
Cute chicks!

Thank you for your advice. We didn’t consider predators too much since we live in the city. Do opossums pose a threat for my babies?

 

[PNW_Peepers]

View attachment 1479070 My babies are 4 weeks old now. Their feathers are changing. What is the earliest age they could start laying eggs??

Thank you for your advice. We didn’t consider predators too much since we live in the city. Do opossums pose a threat for my babies?

The earliest I’ve seen a pullet lay is 18 weeks, many heritage breeds don’t start laying until they are close to six months old! Opossums are a huge threat to your feathered babies. Basically everything and anything will want to eat them!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

View attachment 1479070 My babies are 4 weeks old now. Their feathers are changing. What is the earliest age they could start laying eggs??

Thank you for your advice. We didn’t consider predators too much since we live in the city. Do opossums pose a threat for my babies?

I am in the middle of the city. Possums and raccoons are a huge threat. Raccoons can open door latches and pull apart chicken wire with their little hands.
We also have foxes in the park near my house, believe it or not. Foxes will dig under fences to get at chickens.
In the city dogs are also something to consider. They get out, and even my nice dog that lets kids and cats climb all over her really wants to eat my chickens.

While not really a direct predator, rats are another big problem, no matter where you live, but particularly in the city. I have never seen them around, but there is evidence of them all around my neighborhood, so I know they're there. Rats can chew through wood and plastic and even a wall to get into a coop full of warm dry bedding, chicken food and poop to snack on. They'll also tunnel through the ground and can squeeze through any little nook and cranny. From what I read, they usually leave the chickens alone but might pester them and chew their feathers.
One of my neighbors warned me to have a plan for rats once winter comes.
I'm still figuring that one out.

I would suggest browsing the predators and pests section of this site, and also the coop building page. We learn a lot from the experience of others here, and this site is a wealth of information.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

As far as laying goes, it depends on their breed to some extent. Some breeds tend to lay earlier, but I usually hear the average is 20 weeks. (5 months old)
My welsummer started laying at 18 weeks, my last EE just started laying at 22 weeks.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

In other news, there is a 5 chicken pile up caused by likely DUI - dustbathing under the influence of zucchini

 

[JMotuzick]

Been very busy with work and around the house projects. Very little time to spend with the chicks. Our February batch has been growing/crowing. I’m not sure if the girls are laying out there or not as they are in with other hens. The youngest batch is roosting on the pool for the first time that I’ve noticed. The meat batch should be going to market soon.

 

[Chickassan]

@ketojenn, Hey what are your faverolle babies looking like now? Asking because mine is a flipping giant.

 

[imneva]

I missed posting 1week pictures so here are 1 week plus 3 days. They are so healthy and active! I could not be more pleased!