can a newbie do right by chicks?

[justmeandtheflock]

If I can do it, you can too

 

[thereseiam]

Wow, thanks, all for the words of advice and the 'you can do it' talk--I'm going to need it!

I just more than doubled my chicken population today, if everything I drug home from the local sale barn lives.

I got 6 white rock yearling hens (they are really nice, plump, well put together hens), two six month old buff silkie hens, and a mixed box of chicks with three red silkies, one buff orp, 4 white cochins, 2 black cochins, and 2 silver laced wyandottes.

What have I done??

The three red silkies seem to be the youngest--they are kind of fuzzy, but don't have a lot of fuzz/feathers yet, so I think they will have to stay in the house yet. The others all have good feather, so do they have to stay in the house, or can they go in a separate stall in my barn? I know they can't go in with the adult chickens until they are older and bigger, but how warm do they need to be kept?

If I send pictures, can some of you more experienced types help to give me a guess on their age?

Akane,

West Liberty is really close, you'll have to let me know some of the local breeders in our area. Clay in Iowa isn't too far from us, either. Small world!

Cammy,

That's too funny that we're both in Durant--just different ones, several states away! I would LOVE to get some fertile silky eggs from you at some point--especially now that I have the two silkie hens, who hopefully would be willing to hatch them out for me. I would love some blue and/or splash eggs if you'll have any?

Thanks!

Therese