Chicken mom to be!

[Kathyb516]

Hello all! We are getting our baby chicks today, so I am devouring all the info I can find. I look forward to reading your posts and learning all the should and shouldn'ts!

 

[N F C]

Congrats on the upcoming chicks! What breeds are you getting?

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! What breed of chick's are you getting?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens Kathy. Exciting to get them raise then get their first eggs

 

[mamajos]

Welcome! Oh how exciting!!! Send pics!!! We love fuzzy puff ball chicks! Glad you joined the flock.

 

[swampfox440]

Hi there and Welcome to BYC !

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Some shoulds:

• build your walk-in coop with a MINIMUM of 1 sq ft of year round ventilation, 4 sq ft of floor space, 12" of roost space per bird, one nest box per 5 birds.
• build your walk-in style run with a solid roof on high ground with 1/2" hardware cloth walls and a predator apron with latches that a toddler cannot open with lots and lots of perches, things to dig around in and a good medium to dust bath in.
• have Corid on hand in case you run into coccidiosis
• use a brooder plate or momma heating pad for your heat source for the chicks in a brooder that offers 2 sq feet per chick
• Feed a complete feed that offers 18-20% protein; with oyster shell on the side starting at 16 weeks.
• keep treats to an absolute minimum (no more than 10 wt% of their daily intake)

Some shouldn'ts:

• buy a pre-fab coop
• attempt to keep a cockerel where they are not permitted
• (my personal heavy preference) feed the layer feed when the pullets come into lay. See above for feeding recommendations

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC We are happy you have joined us.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Community!

I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck with your chicks.