A few pics of my first chickens.

[danab]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I really do appreciate it. It doesn't really make sense that MPC would sell just 3 or 4 chicks, and then tell a customer ordering 8 that they should not be separated. So maybe my neighbor is just afraid some would die, or some would be roo's, and then he would have less then what he wanted. Any way, I can't complain as he is giving me these at no charge. So I will just have to take what he chooses to give me, when he chooses to give them too me.

He had originally wanted to raise all 8 until they were old enough to go outside, but I told him that I did not want to miss out on the experience of raising them, and bonding with the little girls. So I am glad I got the four from the local store yesterday. They are so fun to watch, and since photography is a passion of mine, I will be sharing a lot of pics as they grow. Thanks again to everyone that responded and gave me a warm welcome to this forum.

 

[danab]

More Pics of the chicks

Today my neighbor, who is a contractor, came over and started helping me with the coop.
We sunk 6 posts today. In a few days we will begin to frame it up. I will grab some photos
of that when more progress has been done. So far just 6 4x's sticking 6 feet out of the ground.
The landlord is gonna have a fit when he comes by and sees what I am doing. Probably should
have ran it by him first.

 

[cmom]

and congratulations on your new chicks!!!

I agree with the other posts and would get the 4 from your friend now and put them all together. If you wait there may be more pecking issues as they establish their pecking order.

 

[heronz]

I have been told that 4 is fine and I did just that no problem.

 

[danab]

Well the chicks are all doing great. They are spending the first day outside today in a temporary run my neighbor made out of pvc and plastic netting.

The coop is coming along great. We should finish it up this weekend. Wednesday the chicks will be 3 weeks old, so I was thinking about trying them outside at night next weekend. It has not been getting below 60 here at night.

The neighbor building my coop for me, and for just a few six packs, got his MPC order in Wednesday. It looks like he may end up keeping all 8 of them, but I don't know how he is planning on doing this with the small coop he built. I have just the 4 and he is building me a large coop.

Here are a few pics of the coop as it stands after todays work.

 

[happytxchick]

I keep chicks of different ages together...right now, in fact. You should have no problem joining the group. Plus, as long as you have a lamp on them in the brooder, just 4 chicks alone would be fine...thought MPC's recommendation was a little strange (sure it was MPC's rec. and not the neighbor just wanting to hang onto them?).

 

[TheDuckCrew]

awww!! they are so cute!

 

[MaggieRae]

I ordered 8 chicks from MPC and I NEVER read or was told anything like that...

 

[danab]

Turns out my neighbor did not want me to take the 4 chicks right now because he is worried that some would die or end up being roos. I think he is going to add onto his coop and keep all of them. So I went back to the store last night to see if I could get a few more chicks, but of course they had just sold the last three. My four are going to have such a huge coop to live in. They are 2 1/2 weeks old now. They spend all day outside in a temporary run. I even let them free range a bit when I am in the yard with them. It is so funny to watch them leave the small run and enter the giant backyard, because they stick so close together. When I let them free range today I will take some pictures and post them tonight.

 

[Lovesilkty21]

Your chicks are so cute and the coop is going to be great!!!

And if you wait tell spring of so you might have a broodie hen and she might like some eggs and you could grow you flock that way, best of luck can't wait to see more pic.!!!