A Big Hello from Central Queensland

Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by PlanetCamilla, Jul 27, 2014.

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  1. Jul 27, 2014 Post #1 of 13
    PlanetCamilla

    PlanetCamilla In the Brooder

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    Hi,

    I've always dreamt of having chickens free-ranging in the backyard and this year it became a reality!
    I currently have 4 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Black Australorps and 1 White Australorp (apparently) and they're about 3 months old - I've had them since they were about a week old.
    On Saturday, I add another 7 Isa Browns to my flock, and they will be 12 months old and happy layers.
    I honestly can't wait as I'm really excited about getting eggs.
    I'm a little bit nervous about how I'm going to transport them but I'm sure I'll work it out.
    As well as my 7 chooks, we have 4 puppies (2 labradoodles, 1 kelpie and 1 maremma) and 3 cows (2 in calf) and a bull.
    We're on 11 acres and just starting out, but Dave and I are loving our lives right now.
    You'll see me floating around the forums but I probably will only have questions for quite a while.

    **waves**

    Cheers

    Camilla
     
  2. Jul 27, 2014 Post #2 of 13
    Mountain Peeps

    Mountain Peeps Change is inevitable, like the seasons

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    Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

    Good luck with your flock and feel free to ask any questions.

    Oh yes. Awaiting those eggs is so "eggs"-citing!;). Make sure the birds are comfortable, safe and secure on the trip home. They travel desently well. Make sure they have clean and comfy bedding in their coop and that they have fresh water and food. It'll take them a bit to settle in so expect them to be a little out of sorts for the first few days.

    Remember to introduce the two groups slowly and quarantine the newbies for at least two weeks.

    Again, GLAD YOU JOINED and best wishes!:)
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2014
  3. Jul 28, 2014 Post #3 of 13
    PlanetCamilla

    PlanetCamilla In the Brooder

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    Quarantine the new flock? What do you mean? What should I do?


    Also, I was thinking about picking up the ladies in A4 Paper Ream boxes - I have 7 boxes for 7 chickens, is that okay?
     
  4. Jul 28, 2014 Post #4 of 13
    Michael OShay

    Michael OShay Crowing

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    Welcome to BYCl! Glad you decided to join our flock. You are going to have a great group of layers. Australorps are the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds, and Isa Browns are egg laying hybrid machines. Quarantining the new flock refers to keeping them separated from your present flock for observation for a couple of weeks to make sure that they don't have any illnesses or diseases that might be transmitted to your present flock. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your chooks.
     
  5. Jul 28, 2014 Post #5 of 13
    sumi

    sumi Égalité

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    Welcome to BYC [​IMG] Glad you joined us!
     
  6. Jul 28, 2014 Post #6 of 13
    petrel

    petrel Chats with Chickens

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    Welcome to BYC
     
  7. Jul 28, 2014 Post #7 of 13
    TwoCrows

    TwoCrows Bird is the Word

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    Hello there and welcome to BYC! [​IMG]

    Quarantining is a good thing to do to protect your present flock from illnesses. It also allows everybody to get to know one another from behind wire. So cage the newbies or fence them off, but keep them within the flock at all times. Everybody sees, nobody touches. Leave them this way for 3 or so weeks. Then you can mix them in. Put out several feeding and watering stations so the new birds don't have to compete. Here is a good article on integrating new birds into a flock...https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

    Enjoy this wonderful adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
     
  8. Jul 28, 2014 Post #8 of 13
    Kelsie2290

    Kelsie2290 Free Ranging

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    Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC!
     
  9. Jul 28, 2014 Post #9 of 13
    Mountain Peeps

    Mountain Peeps Change is inevitable, like the seasons

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    Yes, quarantineing means that you isolate the new birds for a time in case they carry diesease. You wouldn't want your whole flock yo get sick! So, just keep them seperate for about two weeks to a month with ACV in their water.

    Those boxes should work fine.
     
  10. Jul 28, 2014 Post #10 of 13
    PlanetCamilla

    PlanetCamilla In the Brooder

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    Jul 27, 2014
    I'm certainly glad I posted here. I was going to put them all in together as the new ladies are layers whereas my current ones are just pullets. I'm not sure how I'm going to separate them. Interesting times ahead :)
     
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