A Newbie!

[Tongy]

Hi - I'm a newbie in the chicken world! My first ever chicken coop arrives this week and am preparing to order some chickens! So excited because this has always been a dream of mine. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on whether to get started pullets or baby chicks? We're planning on having six chickens, maybe eight...

 

[Melabella]

Welcome Tongy!

I am just a little further down the road than you are. I received my very first little flock a month ago tomorrow. I thank heavens for this website every day when I sit down in front of the computer and ask away and within minutes have an answer, or many answers! I had the same dilemma about which to order first. Initially i thought pullets, as I have a 10 year old daughter who is helping and learning with me. I was afraid that if I lost a chick or two, she would surely be upset as what is cuter than a tiny day old chick? I figured I would have eggs sooner, and if I did manage to mess up, perhaps I wouldn't be too attached. The more I thought about it though, I realized I want this experience to be more than just getting eggs from my hens, I want them to be part of our tiny farmstead to add to our 4 horses, two dogs, 3 rabbits, and a wonderful little girl who I wanted them to be able to be calm enough for her to handle. I went with the chicks, figureing that they would get to know us, and we could handle them from day 1. I also thought that being the summer time, I woudn't have to worry about the cold, and raising little ones. Now, it's going to be Thanksgiving before we have any fresh eggs, but heck, that's ok, just another thing to be thankful for!

Good Luck, and let us know what you decided!
and again, Welcome to BYC!

MB

 

[Tongy]

Hi! Oh gosh how lovely to get a reply so soon! I thought the same about having the babies - I have three children and I would love for the chicks to be tame and used to handling but I didn't want to have to wait too long for eggs and am also a bit worried about the chicks still being young when winter comes. I'm wondering about getting a mix - maybe three started pullets and three baby chicks. We're all so excited - we haven't even got them yet and the children are already thinking of names! ;-)

 

[Kevin565]

. If you have children then I would say the chick route. Brooding can be a very fun and educational experience for kiddos.

 

[Tongy]

Ok so that's two votes for baby chicks so far! Eek! Perhaps I should do some research into setting up a "brooder" then...

 

[Dwkuska]

Hi - I'm a newbie in the chicken world! My first ever chicken coop arrives this week and am preparing to order some chickens! So excited because this has always been a dream of mine. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on whether to get started pullets or baby chicks? We're planning on having six chickens, maybe eight...

Me myself personally I prefer baby chicks. #1 they are just so darn cute #2 you know they are raised right(assuming your not a mass murderer too busy with plans to take over the world..) oh and

!!! What kind of chickens were you planning on getting? Dont worry about 6-8 "Chicken Math" occurs and in no time youll have 20 lol

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard.

 

[Tongy]

Hi - nope no plans to take over the world! ;-) I'm just researching different breeds right now - am thinking of Buff Oprington, Rhode Island Red and maybe Barred Rock...I'm looking for chickens that can handle the cold weather too. Any tips? The plan was to get two of each kind and stick with all females - which hopefully means we would avoid hitting the 20 mark! Lol!!!

 

[Melabella]

Those sound like great choices, I did two of 5 different breeds myself. I ordered 10 fully expecting to lose a few, but so far, 4 weeks into it, they are all healthy and happy! I too researched the breeds and wanted the most docile and friendly, cold hearty, and I wanted breeds that didn't tend to go broody, as for at least now I don't have a rooster and just want friendly, sociable egg layers. I went with Golden Buffs as I had heard from a friend that Orpringons can go broody. I also wanted to get breeds that return a hefty amount per week. I have two Barred Rock, two RIR, two Black Austrolorp, and I couldn't resist the Columbian Wyandotte, I love the white with the black accents. All of them are cold hearty as well. I ordered from Meyer, and didn't have an ounce of trouble. I liked their varied offering of breeds. Seem to have a lot to choose from. You'll be busy caring for the chicks, those 20 weeks are will fly by, and you'll have eggs for Christmas. Fresh Egg Nog! What a great thing to be excited about for the holidays!

My chicks are growing like weeds. The man who is going to build a run around my coop is so busy, it still isn't done. I have them in a second larger brooder pen,, that first one I had was obsolete after two weeks, boy they can fy when they are young!

One suggestion if you do go with the chicks. Invest if you can(its a bit pricey) on a Brinsea brooder heat source instead of the light bulbs. I have my chicks in the feed room in my horse barn and could not run the risk, even a remote one, of a fire. You plug it in, and boom, it's ready to go. It also is not a light/heat source but a radient one. Apparenty it is far cheaper to run than a light bulb. It's so cute to see them sleeping under it at night. I also adore that from night #1 the chicks learn what night time is, and when the sun goes down, they are tucked in for bed.. Also helps them with pecking issues getting a rest from the constant light of a heat lamp bulb. If you type Brinsea in the search box above you can read up more about it fromother members who have used it.

www.brinsea.com

Keep us posted!
MB

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

If you get chicks you can raise them and bond with them, which is awesome. If you get pullets you'll get eggs sooner. So, if you're willing to wait a bit for that wonderful first egg I'd say go for chicks.