Brand new human " mama hen"

[Chicky chicky cici]

Hello! Im soooo brand new at this.....i don't even have my chicks yet. They will arrive the week of June 11th. My husband and I took that week off to work on the coop we are building. I'm also calling that week my " maternity leave " just 'cause I'm silly like that and I'm super excited!
I have 16(hopefully) female chicks coming! Buff Orpingtons, Buff Rocks, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, Black Cochins and Partridge Cochins. I have researched these breeds and learned much about them but the real learning comes from having them in real life. What kind of tips and secrets will I need and will you share them with me??? I have the basics down.....its the unknowns and what -if 's that are making me anxious!
Thanks for letting me banter!!!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

Glad you decided to join the party!! There are so many knowledgeable folks here willing to answer any/all questions. We share stories, laughter, and sometimes grief...it really is a big happy family. Jump right in any enjoy!

Oooh, pictures when they arrive!! We loooive pictures!!! Please?

 

[Chicky chicky cici]

Thanks unexpected and connie! Oooh you will get pics! There will be lots of pics! I look forward to " meeting " my new online chicken family!

 

[Shezadandy]

The best recommendation I can give is look into using a "Momma Hen Pad" or MHP. There's a monster thread (linked at the bottom) with as many ways to make one as there are people who create them. This is instead of the heat lamps (which have many dangers and run up the electric bill to boot!) - and mimics a real hen to run under and warm up.

The prime advantages are 1. chicks learn about dark nights from their first night. Light doesn't equal heat. 2. It won't overheat their area. While you'll read that chicks need 95 degrees in the first week and so on - really- they need a place to warm up, and a warm place to sleep at night - chicks with a momma hen run under her, press their backs to her body- then go right back out and play, even in the cold and wet. Having an overheated area can lead to increased instances of pasty butt and picking.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to the flock!

 

[Chicky chicky cici]

Thank you for the MHP idea. I learned about that from a YouTube video and have decided to do it. Thanks for reassuring I made the right choice!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

You may also want to check out the "Learning Center," it's the best place to start a poultry education. Thank you for joining us at Backyard chickens.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hello! Im soooo brand new at this.....i don't even have my chicks yet. They will arrive the week of June 11th. My husband and I took that week off to work on the coop we are building. I'm also calling that week my " maternity leave " just 'cause I'm silly like that and I'm super excited!
I have 16(hopefully) female chicks coming! Buff Orpingtons, Buff Rocks, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, Black Cochins and Partridge Cochins. I have researched these breeds and learned much about them but the real learning comes from having them in real life. What kind of tips and secrets will I need and will you share them with me??? I have the basics down.....its the unknowns and what -if 's that are making me anxious!
Thanks for letting me banter!!!

Welcome to Backyard Chickens above all else enjoy the peeps that is when the questions really start one more thing Hardware cloth is new best friend

 

[Shezadandy]

Thank you for the MHP idea. I learned about that from a YouTube video and have decided to do it. Thanks for reassuring I made the right choice!!!

Awesome! A couple things to keep in mind- have 3 sides open so chicks can exit from multiple points, especially that many.

Make sure there aren't any places where a chick can stick their head between the frame and a bungee cord or a zip-tie- just make sure not even a tiny beak can push through. Chicks are great at finding ways design issues and hurting themselves.

Make sure the top is sturdy enough to hold all the chicks jumping up there. They will!

Also - one of the latest trends is people using feather dusters to simulate a momma hen somewhere in the brooder(separate from the pad) - while it seems like a cute idea, it carries a serious risk. Have a look at the link below to be acquainted with why it's dangerous to chicks. My extra-soft feathered broody hen managed to have one of her really soft feathers wrap around one of her baby's wings. It was actually dangling from the wing until I found it a couple hours later. (did I mention chicks are great at getting into trouble?!?!)

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/how-feather-dusters-are-hazardous-to-chicks/