Been here for a while, and now I want chickens! A few Q's

[Pet Duck Boy]

I've been here for a few months already, dwelling around the duck forum. I can't believe I've avoided the bug for so long, but it has finally got me! I WANT CHICKENS! My local feed store is selling the cutest baby chicks at the moment, and my parents are finally giving in.

I didn't have much time to look at the breeds, but they were pretty standard, RIRs, barred...rock thingy ma bobbers....eh...now I have to learn all the chicken breeds.

I'm planning to get 3-4 chicks in the next week or two. I need some basic help....would a plastic storage bin do for a brooder for the first 2-3 weeks? I want them as pets and for eggs. I'm going with the standard large breeds, can they fly? How high? Would they be able to fly over a 6 1/2 foot fence? Are they loud? How many eggs could 3 hens produce a week? Do they poop just as much as ducks? Do they smell? My local feed store sells chick starter, but I don't think they sell grower. My parents aren't too fond of ordering online, could I mix the starter and layer together? Or would a full switch be fine? Sorry for all the questions, but I want to make sure I get this stuff right. I'm setting up the brooder soon.


Can't wait.

 

[teach1rusl]

Are they sexed at the feed store? I'm not sure about RIR, but you can kind of sex Barred Rocks. It'd be better to know (or almost know) that you're getting females. You don't want to end up with three roosters. A plastice storage bin should work fine. I'm sure a feed store that carries chicks and chick starter will also carry grower and layer feed, or they'll order it for you. Three hens of either of the breeds you mentioned should lay well...maybe 15-18 eggs a week between them once they're laying regularly. A 6 1/2 foot fence should work well, especially if they're own area is nice. My BR is not loud...don't know about RIRs. Can't compare the amount of poop, because I don't have ducks. But overall I think chickens aren't as messy (based on what I've read). Good luck!

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure they are sexed at one feed store, the other one just has 20 chicks of different breeds crammed into a small box. I'm not sure those are sexed. I'll probably end up getting them from the feed store that has sexed chicks. They are yellow with a few of them with light black markings. I'm such a noob when it comes to chickens, what breed do white chicks grow up to be?

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

When I got started I called the feed store, the only one I knew about, and found out what breeds had come in that week. Then I read up on those breads and made my choice accordingly. I got Black Australorps and they have worked well for us. There are many other breeds out there that also make great pets/layers. Do get sexed chickens so you have hens ... or more likely do. One thing that took me by surprise, they lay eggs really well for awhile, but if it is too hot (over 105 here) of broody or molting or if it is too dark, they don't lay so well. So keep in mind that sometimes there will be LOTs of eggs and other times not so many.

For the babies, watch for pasty but, clean if it shows up, put rocks in the waterer so they don't drown, make sure they learn to drink and watch if they huddle under the lamp or are trying to get away from it. That will tell you if they are too hot or too cold.

Congrats on your new adventure!

Edited for spelling/typo.

 

[teach1rusl]

Go to www.mypetchicken.com and click on chicks. Browse for a while. There are several breeds that start off very light colored. My only whitish one was my buff orpington. But that site should help match what you've seen offered.

 

[Kittymomma]

They're not nearly as messy as the ducks! Your fence will be fine to keep the chickens in though you may need to clip their wings which is easy and doesn't hurt them at all. The fence won't keep preds out though so you need to think about that. Even in most towns/cities there are raccoons, oppossums, hawks, and stray dogs to worry about.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Thanks everyone! That's a good idea about calling the feed store ahead of time to check on their breeds. I'll do that in the morning.

 

[Chickiezz]

Good thing you are looking stuff up. When we got our first chicks at TSC,we bought them right away,right when we saw them. We didn't know one thing...well we knew a little bit. Stupid decision,but they were SOOO cute. *sigh* Thanks to BYC,I pretty much know everything I need to know now...Good luck with your chicks,thses members already told you what you need to know for now!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here's good info on breeds too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/breed-chart

Also, take into consideration your climate. Chickens with large combs/wattles can have issues with frostbite if you live in a really cold area. What's most important to you, the looks of the chicken, color of eggs, amount of eggs, size of eggs, etc.

I do not have ducks, but I have been told that chickens are A LOT less messy than ducks.

I have a 6 ft fence, and I have 2 escapee's. But they have only done it once, so it's not a huge issue.

Happy choosing!