2019 Newbie Chat!

[Cyprus]

I've had both Wyandottes and Brahmas. I much preferred the Brahmas.

 

[thecaped]

Hello newbies! I'm a second-run newbie, so technically, I don't belong here either

I owned a small flock of 3-6 birds (a Lavender Orpington named Casper, a couple Marans, and an Americana were our longest friends) for several years when my children were young. At the time we were in the mountains (zone 6-7).

We moved to an area for several years so for my work where chickens were not allowed, and after a stint with no fuzzy butts in our lives, my boys and I are ready to revert! We've recently moved to a new area (zone 8) where chickens are allowed. I've placed an order with McMurray for ornamental layers and we're working on our tractor coup which will be an adaptation of a popular A-Frame style. I'm using automatic gravity water cups in a PVC pipe instead of the nipples that I used last time, and I'm working on PVC feeders as well. I'm too excited to stay away from BYC for more than a day at a time, as this is the best community around!

I'll be sure to take photos once the coup build happens (late March - April) and when the chicks arrive (April 2-3rd), I'll post a "what breed is this" thread. I'll only be able to keep 6-8 of the 16 chicks that are on their way, so I'm also making arrangements for the others to have good homes. I'm interested in keeping a few new breeds this time around (Cochins, Wyandottes, Langshans, Faverolles, etc), but I have no idea when we're going to get

Nice to meet you all!

 

[Cyprus]

Hello newbies! I'm a second-run newbie, so technically, I don't belong here either

I owned a small flock of 3-6 birds (a Lavender Orpington named Casper, a couple Marans, and an Americana were our longest friends) for several years when my children were young. At the time we were in the mountains (zone 6-7).

We moved to an area for several years so for my work where chickens were not allowed, and after a stint with no fuzzy butts in our lives, my boys and I are ready to revert! We've recently moved to a new area (zone 8) where chickens are allowed. I've placed an order with McMurray for ornamental layers and we're working on our tractor coup which will be an adaptation of a popular A-Frame style. I'm using automatic gravity water cups in a PVC pipe instead of the nipples that I used last time, and I'm working on PVC feeders as well. I'm too excited to stay away from BYC for more than a day at a time, as this is the best community around!

I'll be sure to take photos once the coup build happens (late March - April) and when the chicks arrive (April 2-3rd), I'll post a "what breed is this" thread. I'll only be able to keep 6-8 of the 16 chicks that are on their way, so I'm also making arrangements for the others to have good homes. I'm interested in keeping a few new breeds this time around (Cochins, Wyandottes, Langshans, Faverolles, etc), but I have no idea when we're going to get

Nice to meet you all!

How exciting!! I love ornamental breeds

 

[flygirl1973]

Hello everyone! I’ll be getting my chicks here soon, I’m in middle TN. Not sure how to link my scared Tennesseean newbie post but it still applies. Grew up in the city, live on a farm now and these will be our first farm animals. We go through a lot of eggs so I plan to get only australorps. It is odd to me to see people get such a variety of birds, I understand people want them for pets....but seems like you would get a parrot? Guess I’ll find out! Silkies do look pretty cool...they would be my other “for fun” option. You can bet I’ll be posting and asking a bunch shortly!

 

[BelleHartChicks]

My 8 day old chicks shipped yesterday. I’m a bundle of nerves waiting!!! My poor babies living in the mail all alone. USPS says they’ll be here by Thursday afternoon but I’m hoping they show up early. I keep refreshing the tracking page wanting an update. I should probably go to work to distract myself...

 

[Cyprus]

What breed(s) are they again? and for safe travels.

 

[MallardMomx2]

Hello everyone!
My family got chickens last year (Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and Black Sex Links) and I personally got ducks as a last minute decision when at my local Rural King. I got two baby mallards in May of 2018. Mallory and Quackers.

I knew absolutely nothing about ducks and figured that it couldn’t be that hard (HA) and that they would co-live with the chickens. Well that didn’t work so I threw together a last minute coop. (Check out my article!)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-last-minute-peeper-palace.74783/
Fast forward to this last week and they hatched their first clutch all by themselves! I’m happy to introduce Pip, Pongo, Puddles, and Pallas who are now 5 and 6 days old

 

[BelleHartChicks]

What breed(s) are they again? and for safe travels.

Three Buff Orpingtons, three speckled sussex, and two black jersey giants! We only have room to keep 4-5 once they are grown, but we have several friends interested in adjusting their own chicken math.

 

[RevRico]

Well I'm guessing it's their 2 week birthday today. Except for that silverlight in the back. Not sure if it's older or a male, it did come straight run.

Pasty butt seems to be all cleared up, and they're all happy and playful. They don't like me or the child at all though, since the pasty butt went away I haven't been able to touch them.

They're eating treats now too, meal worms and scrambled egg. Digging a lot in their bedding too. For all the food they've dumped I'm seriously thinning of leaving the feeder empty and letting them scratch around for it instead.

 

[Cyprus]

They're eating treats now too, meal worms and scrambled egg. Digging a lot in their bedding too. For all the food they've dumped I'm seriously thinning of leaving the feeder empty and letting them scratch around for it instead.

I do this for a few hours when the feeder is empty.