Hi! We just joined BYC and are looking forward to learning all we can. Santa is bringing chickens for our kiddos this Christmas and my husband and I are trying to figure out where we can buy healthy, mature, kid friendly hens. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Hallo!!
Oh I got excited reading this message, let me give you the basics ^^
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Reason!Whatever you are going to be raising the chicks for, I recommend always keeping in mind that chick gender is never fool roof. You never know which chick could crow when puberty hits XD
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NAMES! Have the kiddos pick names that match the chicks persona's
(If you dont want a boy chicken, I would say stay away from boy names. It really is a curse.)
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Baby Warmth!Having enough warmth during the cold season is always a priority. If you are buying day olds or week olds, have a large enough brooder set up and ready, with food and water in raised places
(The chicks WILL get the bedding and stuff in their containers), and 1 or even 2 brooder lamps depending on space.
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Adult Cooping! If you are buying straight up Laying Hens, at an age old enough to lay/breed, have a large coop ready with lots of egg boxes
(Even though they WILL only lay in one of them. Tis also a curse), food and water, again, in raised areas to avoid soiling the content, and lots of sand sand sand! Sand is key to good feather condition and happy hens. Alfalfa in their indoor section is also an amazing idea.
a coop like this, which is simple yet effective is a great idea. Easy to build too. -
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Feed! Make sure that during the summer, no corn in their feed, and during the winter, corn in their feed. Corn is hard to digest, and in the summer it can raise body temps to a dangerous point in your birds. However during the winter, corn, seeds, and other things that would raise body heat are both a treat and a way to keep your birds warm.
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Water and Feeding! Personally, I have 10 chickens at home and I change/re-fill/clean their waterer every 3 days. I have a plastic waterer, which although grows mold quicker, does not rust like a metal one does. I also feed them every day, the greedy little buggers. I have a 2 gallon hanging feeder, that I would recommend to anyone.
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Cleaning! Chicken poop is gross. But it is just as gross when your birds are walking/sleeping in it. I clean my coop once a week by raking the sand and sifting it with a hay rake that has a layer of chicken wire attached to it. This works amazingly to remove poo and scraps, and still keep the sand. Alfalfa in the top section is also good for their gullet, and is great for nesting material.
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Perches! It is natural for even flightless birds like chickens to perch. It helps them sleep and work on balance from a young age, as well as makes them feel safe. Predators lurk on the ground, therefore a high place is a safe place.
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Eggs! It is always egg-citing when you get you're first eggs. However with a large suburban flock (7 - 20) you will soon find even your breakfast protein loving family cannot handle/consume all of the eggs. This is where it would be a good idea to take up baking, or selling of eggs.Great project for the kiddos ^^
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Competition! Showing birds in competitions, either in Fair or a community Poultry Show, is both a rewarding and fun experience for kids and parents alike. There are other birds and people who own birds, Showmanship, Serama Tabletop, raffles, and Ribbons! Not to mention it takes planning skills and being on time and responsible, all traits that kids will need in the future.
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Where To Get Them? It depends on the time of year. Ask around, or even check out Craigslist, or the Sales forum here on BYC! there is also a place down here is Tucson, OK Corral, they sell coops, feed, and best of all, Chickens!
(Unfortunately gender quality is never a for-sure there. You have to b.e able to handle them and get to know the bird, and that opportunity at OK is always sketchy depending on which bird catcher is working the coops).
Thats all I have for now, if you need elaborations or have questions, feel fee to ask or even PM!
