Advice for overwhelmed soon to be chicken owner!

[NaperLix]

Hamster cage is out.even a cardboard pen is better.good comfortable grip for feet as they grow.Rubber mat Even.
Should always build or get coop way before getting chicks.Rush jobs are bad ideas.
make sure you have thermometer near heat,close to chicks,don’t bake them.85 is good in my opinion.Too many die too much heat.

many chicks have coccidiosis When they arrive ,never having been outside,treat quickly if not eating,lethargic.
don’t wait.Many breeders use corid high levels,when they leave it emerges.
A touch bactrim/ sulfa in water with dropper will instantly get rid,usually one dose.Corid in water will slowly heal them as well.If they drink.Have dropper.
right temperature,medicated crumbles,NO EXTRA FOOD ANY KIND,CAN KILL THEM. You’ll be fine.
Just make sure don’t use chicken wire useless for predators,only hardware cloth,strong wood.

 

[CannedMonster]

Any suggestions where to get a coop if I can’t build one??

As long as you have a fenced yard and don’t have predator problems a prefab coop is fine. We have four coops total. We have two prefab and one has lasted 4 years now. The other is two years old.
We don’t have any predators around here other than hawks and owls.
People shoot predators where I’m at so they’ve been pretty much cleaned out of the area. They do cause problems for people in the more rural areas nearby but I’ve been lucky enough to get a really good spot.

 

[mnelle]

I’m getting 4 polish hens from a breeder in March. They will be 3 weeks old at the time I have them shipped. I’m thinking of using a large hamster cage as a brooder for them until they out grow it and then what do I use? I’d like to keep them in the house extra long because I heard that especially with polish chickens they can be sensitive to coccidiosis and a good preventative is keeping them inside longer to build their immune systems? So I need to figure out what to keep them in other than just my bathroom chicken proofed


Also does anyone have a shopping list? I feel like I need so much stuff yet don’t really know what. I’m getting a prefab coop to start. It’s got an attached run and should be plenty is space for 4 birds until we’re comfortable letting them free range in our yard while we’re outside.

If anyone has any advice at all I’ll take it! I’m definitely not new to owning animals or even expiring animals at that but chickens are a whole new area I’m not used to at all!

 

[mnelle]

I’m getting 4 polish hens from a breeder in March. They will be 3 weeks old at the time I have them shipped. I’m thinking of using a large hamster cage as a brooder for them until they out grow it and then what do I use? I’d like to keep them in the house extra long because I heard that especially with polish chickens they can be sensitive to coccidiosis and a good preventative is keeping them inside longer to build their immune systems? So I need to figure out what to keep them in other than just my bathroom chicken proofed


Also does anyone have a shopping list? I feel like I need so much stuff yet don’t really know what. I’m getting a prefab coop to start. It’s got an attached run and should be plenty is space for 4 birds until we’re comfortable letting them free range in our yard while we’re outside.

If anyone has any advice at all I’ll take it! I’m definitely not new to owning animals or even expiring animals at that but chickens are a whole new area I’m not used to at all!

 

[mnelle]

I’m getting 4 polish hens from a breeder in March. They will be 3 weeks old at the time I have them shipped. I’m thinking of using a large hamster cage as a brooder for them until they out grow it and then what do I use? I’d like to keep them in the house extra long because I heard that especially with polish chickens they can be sensitive to coccidiosis and a good preventative is keeping them inside longer to build their immune systems? So I need to figure out what to keep them in other than just my bathroom chicken proofed


Also does anyone have a shopping list? I feel like I need so much stuff yet don’t really know what. I’m getting a prefab coop to start. It’s got an attached run and should be plenty is space for 4 birds until we’re comfortable letting them free range in our yard while we’re outside.

If anyone has any advice at all I’ll take it! I’m definitely not new to owning animals or even expiring animals at that but chickens are a whole new area I’m not used to at all!

I can tell you from recent experience, keeping them in a bathroom is very messy. They create dust and it gets everywhere. I recommend a large plastic container that you can put a wire grate across. That will allow you to clip a brooder light. Use wood shavings and just top dress the shavings each day to cover the poop. You can always compost all the shavings and poop later. If you have a heat source, they can tolerate a colder room like garage or basement. Keep the water clean and in a container they cannot get into and drown. You will need to show them food and water by dipping their beaks in each. I also suggest you read about keeping chicks warm. They need heat in the 90s which should be reduced about 5 degrees a week. I put a feather duster in with my chicks to make them feel a bit more secure.

 

[Iowajones]

I used a

I’m getting 4 polish hens from a breeder in March. They will be 3 weeks old at the time I have them shipped. I’m thinking of using a large hamster cage as a brooder for them until they out grow it and then what do I use? I’d like to keep them in the house extra long because I heard that especially with polish chickens they can be sensitive to coccidiosis and a good preventative is keeping them inside longer to build their immune systems? So I need to figure out what to keep them in other than just my bathroom chicken proofed


Also does anyone have a shopping list? I feel like I need so much stuff yet don’t really know what. I’m getting a prefab coop to start. It’s got an attached run and should be plenty is space for 4 birds until we’re comfortable letting them free range in our yard while we’re outside.

If anyone has any advice at all I’ll take it! I’m definitely not new to owning animals or even expiring animals at that but chickens are a whole new area I’m not used to at all!

large plastic tote with a screen on it. Chip clip holders to hold the top on. They then graduate to a dog kennel with the attachable waterer and feeder. Wood chips (large chips NEVER fine)
Prefab kennels take another 6-8 hours to add a floor with hardware wire, I reinforced where the nest box attaches, all hardware, roost poles and painting it was frustrating. After that I put it in a dog kennel using one panel to cover the top because coons and rats find its nothing but a supper keeper! The wood is very lite weight and my rodents would be in in 2 min flay
What you need, bedding a metal storage bin w a well fitting lid for storage
A heat source, I use heat pads you get from chewy for 39 bucks never a heat lamp
Be sure to leave an unheated area for them to get away from
Feeder, water and
A feather duster to hang for chicks to go under like they do their mama.
Polish are hardy and fun but they can not see an attack coming especially grow above so they cannot free range and beed overhead protection. Whistle when feeding them so you can retrieve them easily if they get out. It happens!
Best of luck.

 

[ANiceKaren]

I’m late to the party but hello! I can attest to “wasting money” on prefab coops. Before I knew better I bought a prefab coop which said (4-6 chickens) truth be told, it wasn’t sufficient for ONE chicken! I highly recommend finding someone local that can build you one? I am doing that currently to replace the prefab mixup! So much other good advice on this thread-good luck!

 

[MamaBsFunkyFlock]

Any suggestions where to get a coop if I can’t build one??

I just wanted to let you know that I have a prefab coop and have never had a predator get in. If you’re planning to free range your flock during the day then I would not be too concerned with it. What my husband and I did was got a large prefab, I think the same dimensions as yours, then built a fence a generous radius around the coop so they can semi-free range. When we are in the yard we open the gates and they get to run free for reals. I live in a mountainous area that has everything from opossum to foxes, bobcats to mountain lions, the occasional lost dog and even bears. Nothing has penetrated our prefab. To secure the run I put this hard plastic chicken wire on the bottom of it, secured by staples. Then I lined the sides with cinder blocks for added security which double as planters for chicken friendly herbs.

I say do your thing girl and just use common sense Polish chickens are so fun by the way, I only have one and she is the sweetest.

 

[joydix]

I wouldn't get a prefab coop unless you are going to reinforce and alter it a lot.

You might have to treat for coccidiosis, but you won't know until you get them and they start being outside.

I would find out if they are vaccinated for Mareks.

You will likely need a heat source since they will still be young. Chick feed, smaller waterer, large pine shavings work best and a cover for whatever you are keeping them in, unless you want them flying around all over

If you plan on keeping them inside for a while you might consider one of the heat plates rather than a heat lamp. Heat plates will not start a fire. Also the baby chicks go under it and they come out to get food there’s no light involved. That means they will go to sleep at night and keep a normal routine rather than be up all night chirping and eating. It kind of resembles being under a mother hen. It seems kind of hot to the touch and I’ve called the company and they said that is the temperature it is supposed to be I’ve used it many times now and it’s absolutely awesome and also saves money on electricity . The babies love it

 

[joydix]

I’m late to the party but hello! I can attest to “wasting money” on prefab coops. Before I knew better I bought a prefab coop which said (4-6 chickens) truth be told, it wasn’t sufficient for ONE chicken! I highly recommend finding someone local that can build you one? I am doing that currently to replace the prefab mixup! So much other good advice on this thread-good luck!

Highly agree! They are CUTE…but not functional at all. Any predator at all could easily get in.