A small rant people buying chicks and not knowing the basic care.

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I must know did any of you think for one second this would be an easy task did you think that chickens come out of the egg pushing out eggs for you to eat did you think that chickens were a clean pet?
think of them as this they are a barn yard animal so first off that should tell you something right there second did you not need to clean up after your child or your dog or cat or any other type of pet you may have well chickens are the same thing..
Even after you move them outside do you think oh well they are outside all I need to do now is throw some feed to them and water them now and again while collecting the eggs sorry to say this but the answer is NO!
Chickens are alot of work you need to keep the coop clean, the poop board if you have one clean, the feeder/waterer clean all the time.
The same way you would for a dog/cat you need to clean up after them.
So if you don't want to clean up after the chickens don't buy chickens

As for mine they have been outside since day one I have a brooder (I made it myself) floor to ceiling covered in cardboard all but the door is I have a single heat lamp with a 90 watt bulb that I ran all day and night till the weather got warmer and they started to get their feathers now they are in the big coop during the day and brooder with the heat at night so I don't have a smell in my house nor do I have the clean up either, when I need to change out the litter in the brooder I simply take one wall off and slide the litter out into the trash can and haul it off to my compost heap (chicken poop and pine shavings makes for great compost) so before you or any one you may know decide to take care of chickens without doing the research please don't until you do the research and are ready to take care of them the right way.
As well do the research of your area's law and regulations regaurding poultry in your yard and neighborhood I hate to see when someone didn't check the laws and have to give them away... One last thing You DON"T NEED A ROOSTER TO GET EGGS a chicken will lay with out a Roo around so if you don't want the crowing don't get one and if you end up with one their is ways to deal with it without haveing to cull (kill) it.


So enjoy your new pet's they are alot of fun but please just do the research before getting them just because they are so darn cute...
Thank and good luck.



If I have offend anyone I am sorry, it is just that I see so many people getting chicks and not haveing a clue about how to raise them so I felt it was High time to say something about it. I feel that you need to know is the basics such as they can make alot of mess and they do stink after awhile, things such as that..

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

All I know is I did a full year of research before I got chickens...learned about all the fun and the evil about them and hubby and I went into chicken keeping knowing WHO would do the feeding/watering and WHO would do the killing if it needed to be done. We kept to our word and it's been two years now that we have owned chickens and never a day goes by that we regret it at all

SO I totally agree that people who rush into this may get a surprise as to how much work that's involved but to chicken lovers it's not like work at all. I never see it as a chore but as something I enjoy

So yes people do your research

 

[RThomas]

Are all these people complaining, or just asking for advise? Even those who do thorough research will still have questions. I think the best we can do is offer help, advise, and encouragement. We were all new to chickens once.

 

[redhen]

Never mind..its not worth it...

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
I was a noob myself but I did alot of research I am not saying not to ask for advice I'm just saying before you go into TSC or a feed store and say oh how cute are those and thenm decide to get them not knowing anything about them and then complaining about how nasty they are or how bad they stink know what you are doing before hand the basics at least (Ie don't bring them home and ok what do I do with them now, what's a brooder? things such as that)

Even with a child you have nine months to learn so take the time to learn and find out if it is right for you and just like Hangin Wit My Peeps it is not a chore it is a love so let's not make it a chore if you don't wanna do it don't buy them no matter how cute they are that is all I'm saying.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

In Steve Martins famous words.... "EXXXXXCUSE MEEEEEEE!"

 

[Alaska animal lover]

I don't go into any venture with a living creature until I read all I can about them. I still ask questions after two years though.
I agree that some people just don't do the research. The local Wasilla hatchery sells the dyed chicks, and it is just a huge invite for people to buy them because they're cute, or their kids want them, and they don't have a clue as to what they're getting into.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Red hen I am not saying I don't have questions we all still do have them I just wish people would take the time to learn the basics yes chickens do stink yes they do kick their bedding out of the cage unless you have it covered and they poop alot which you are gonna have to clean up instead of buying them not knowing a thing such as did you know that chicks needed grit before they get treats I didn't know it till I researched it and found out but now someone who walks into a TSC store and see's little chicks and decides to take them home not knowing anything about them and the person at TSC didn't tell them anything about them those people are the one's I can't stand and I feel they need to do research on what they are buying, like the easter chicks how many are gonna die because people have no clue about them......

 

[texasgal]

All the reading in the world cannot beat actual experience..

I was surprised at how messy they were .. and the dust!! LOL. You just don't know 'til you experience THAT!!

On the flip side, I never really understood the feeling of getting that first egg .. 'til I actually got one.

Somethings you just have to EXPERIENCE FIRST!!

I hope I never forget what it's like to be a beginner .. so I can compassionately help others ..

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
Exactly!!!!! Thank you