advice for first timer

[stuck-on-red]

on may 14th with fingers crossed we will close on our first farm with 4 chicken coops and 2 runs already there. and like always i jump right in.... i bought 6 rhode island red pullets on saturday april 17. they were born, to the best of my knowledge, on april 12/13. any advice, hints or tips on how to raise these chicks up to be healthy hens to start my flock with would be greatly appreciated. when i figure out how to put pics up ill post some of the new chicks and the 4 coops with runs. i know that i will have to refurb the coops a little. as far as i can tell they have not been used in atlease 4 or 5 years. i do have some wild ideas for the for the setup. first refurb the coops and runs. 2nd add a 1,000 gal pond for ducks and as a water supply for the chickens. the idea is to pump water form the pond to each coop/run in series with water in the last coop to return to the pond, i think you could call that a multi open loop system. one ? i have is, will chickens drink from running water or does it have to be still. i have already found the DYI 5 gal chicken feeder on BYC and made one for a friend that has 20 chickens but no feeder, he was just throwing the feed on the ground for them. but i was wanting to see the feeder in action so i made it for him. the chickens wanted nothing to do with it until i ripped some grass form the yard and placed it on the feeder. so i was happy to know that it worked. ill be making a few more soon. TY for and info

 

[abanjaf]

Great ideas My guys love when the hose is running and happily come up and stamp around and drink the water. However, running the hose on low and having running water are two different things. Maybe someone else has some thoughts?

 

[possumblossum]

1) Scour the learning center and coop design pages for the most succint advice and examples on both raising your chicks and refurbing your coop.

2) Go to the "Where I am, Where are you" thread, Chickenstock thread, and breed thread for RIR. Find folks in your geographic area and meet them. Attend a chicken swap or two in your area. Talk to folks that are experienced with RIRs. There are so many idiosyncrecies with each breed that it will help to talk to folks that have and love RIRs. If you're really lucky, you'll find a RIR person who lives near you and is planning on attending an upcoming swap. That is hands down your best source of information.

3) Ask as many specific questions on the pertinent threads as possible. The best part about BYC is that the members are hungry to see "New Eggs" like you and I succeed...it only makes chicken raising better.

I'm really glad for you, your family, and your chickens that you've found this website. I hope everything goes well with your closing and I look forward to seeing you around the message board.

Justin

 

[stuck-on-red]

abanjaf ty i was hoping that they would love running water, so i can't wait to install the pond and the loop for fresh running water for the chickens. i will have to wait until after the 14th but i am trying to get my ducks in a row. my goal is to get the coops and runs refurb in two days and install the pond with loop in 3 days. fine tune the runs with dirtbaths with some roosting poles on the 6th day. as for the 7th REST!!! i have been reading all that i can off of BYC. i did not think about the where i am, where are you thread and will do. i know a few that raise chickens in my area. were mostly farmers in this area. few chickens and lots of cows. ty again and i ll see you around the boards!

 

[stuck-on-red]

ok so i went out to the new house to measure the 4 coops and 2 runs. advise on their size and number of chickens in each. 1st coop was 9'2" x 3'4" with no run. i am thinking of tearing this one down. 2nd coop was 7'3" x 7'4" with a 32' x 8' run. it has 9 nest boxes and 2 roosting poles. i plan on keeping this one. 3rd coop was 11'10" x 7'5" with a 42' x 18' run. 6 nest boxes and 3 roosting poles. its a keeper too. last coop was 7'4" x 3'5" i am also thinking about tearing this one down. while i was out there i ran across a 4' black snake. im thinking that it would not be to good for the chickens. should i relocate it or let it be? now if i could figure out how to post pics, i would post some of the 6 RIR's and their new setup. i have a 3 gal double wall waterer and just built a 32 oz feeder ( smaller version of the DIY 5 gal bucket feeder) my thoughts were to train them as soon as i could to use that style feeder, since that will be the style feeder i use with them later in life. i also built 2 roosting poles for them to get used to. they should be one week old today so the temp in their happy little hut (36" x 18") is now 85 degrees

 

[abanjaf]

My coop is 15x8x7 and houses 15 birds, including 5 bantams, but my darlings are allowed to free range every evening. Second coop (DH just finished for me to house all the "new additions"

You might want to keep the other two coops, you never know what uses you might come up for them. Think of the possibilities: a coop just for bantams (I am totally gaga over my Sebrights, they've stolen my heart!) or perhaps a separate coop for when you decide that you're ready for babies to put your broody mama in might be more your style! You may say no now, but you may say yes later! Believe me, two innocent conversations with the hubby and kids led to the now 15 adults, four 7 week olds, ten 4 week olds, and ten newly hatched babies!!! If the coops are structurally intact, you might want to wait a while before decide to tear them down

All snakes are either relocated far away or meet their maker. I don't mind snakes, but I love my babies.

 

[stuck-on-red]

i hope this works!!! pic of my 6 RIR's.

i will add a pic of my 40 gal breeder tank turned into a brodder soon

 

[stuck-on-red]

here is the pic of the 32 oz feeder to get the girls ready for the 5 gal DIY feeder later on. also the roosting poles. hope you like. feed back is welcome.

 

[abanjaf]

Cute babies Have you decided on when and what you will be adding to your flock (chicken breeds)? Oh, to be able to have all of those chicken coops!

 

[stuck-on-red]

im thinking with 4 coops i was going to do 4 diff types: Rhode Island Reds, Buff Oripingtons, Ameraucanas, and Danish Brown Leghorns. maybe some Silver Lace Wyandottes... wait O heck i want them all. 6 RIRs and ive already got the fever!!! pics of the 4 coops coming soon