Hey all, I too am pretty new to raising my own backyard chickens. I have 3 new chicks (two Buff Orpingtons and one Silver Laced Wyandotte). I have a few questions that I'm hoping all you experts at Backyard Chickens can answer for me since I'm relatively clueless and wanting to do the best possible job with my new beautiful chicks! 1. Everyone keeps talking about healthy treats that chicks love to get them used to you- what kind of treats do you recommend? 2. Piggy backing off my first question, does anyone have any extra tips for getting my chicks to like me? I definitely want pet chickens, but they don't seem interested at this age. Will just playing with them regularly do the trick? 3. An employee at the Co-Op where I got my chicks said the Wyandotte will probably be a lot more flighty and not as friendly as the Orpingtons, but I got it anyways because it's what I wanted! However, I'm wondering what you all think about their temperaments- do you agree or have you had different experiences with these two breeds? I'm hoping they'll be good ones! 4. How old should I expect my pullets to be before the begin laying? I've heard everything from 4-7 months, but for those of you who've had them maybe you know better. Thanks so much for any answers to these questions, and please feel free to give a newbie any other tips you all may have.
1. Treats for chicks are fruits and vegetables. You can even give them a weed, with the soil still connected to it and give it to them. They will love it! 2. You can get them to like you by holding them often. Play with them. Then they will eventually get to know you. 3. Buff Orpingtons are very calm and friendly. Silver Laced Wyandottes tend to be a little more aggressive. As i said. Hold them and play with them, they will then become more friendly. 4. Usually it takes them about 12 weeks. Hope this helps... OreoPlymothRock
Congrats on becoming a new "chicken parent"! I hope I can help you out with some of your queries. 1. Chicks love all sorts of treats, especially "odd" ones such as yoghurt, biscuit, kitchen scraps, cheese, egg, etc. You just need to make sure that the pieces are small enough for them, and that they don't have too many treats and stop eating their starter feed. 2. It's quite natural for chicks to not be used to people when they are still so young. You just need to feed them often, and spend lots of time with them. Talking works too, sometimes they can recognise your voice and will come running when you call! 3. I have heard about Buff Orpingtons being quite a docile breed, I however do not know much about wyandottes. However, you can do a search in some of the other sections, I think there are entire threads dedicated to certain breeds. 4. My chickens started to lay when they were about 4 months old. This is pretty normal for those breeds which are layers.
I'm sure that was a typo in an earlier response. Pullets, depending on breed, will being laying eggs anywhere from 18 weeks of age. Many breeds take much longer. It is not uncommon for some individuals to take as long as 30 weeks. If they begin laying by September, you'll be just fine. After the autumnal equinox, the dark hours outnumber the light hours, in the northern hemisphere. This can be overcome by supplementing some early morning light, on a timer. Adding supplemental lighting is a choice. Not everyone does this.
