indiefoxfarm
Chirping
Hello, backyardchickens forum!
We recently adopted two chickens from one of our neighbors who purchased about a dozen chicks at a farm supply store this spring in a variety of breeds. Two became bullied to the point that they were basically trapped in the back corner of the coop by the other birds for most of the day. We had an empty coop at our house and have been wanting chickens for a while so we decided to take them in rather than let them become someone's dinner.
We're new to keeping chickens, but have a lot of experience with animals. We currently have many rescues (horses, a dog, cats, a rabbit, reptiles) on our 10-acre farm. I've read information online and talked to people who've kept chickens, but am still looking to learn more. I'll list the basics of our current setup, and would appreciate constructive advice on their care.
Setup:
- Coop is about 10'x12' and has perches and lay boxes, secure from predators, lots of ventilation at roof line and entire east-facing wall is wire mesh
- Using wood pellet animal bedding on floor of coop, wood shavings in lay boxes
- Plastic waterer kept clean and full
- Plastic feeder with free choice pellets (filled with layer pellets from the local farm store, which is what they were previously eating)
- They get a tiny bit of fresh chicken-safe veggies and a handful of scratch grains in the morning and evening when I check on them (ie: bribery to like me)
We plan to keep them locked in the coop for a couple weeks until they get used to us and their new home. After that I plan to let them out during the day into the run attached to the coop (about 25'x40'), and eventually maybe let them free range around the farm.
Today I'm also planning to purchase some grit to set out free-choice.
Questions:
- What breed do you think our chickens are?
- Any advice on sexing them? I imagine if they are not both hens I should be feeding a regular pellet rather than a laying pellet and supplementing with free choice calcium, correct? I've read the excess calcium in layer pellets are hard on a rooster's liver and kidneys.
- If I do switch their feed from one pellet to another, how gradually do I need to do that?
- I keep superworms and waxworms for our reptiles, could I also feed those to the chickens as a treat?
- Any tips for acclimating them to their new environment and/or helping them learn to trust us? They are understandably a little skittish.
- What are some common chicken "ailments" I should read up on and know how to recognize?
- Do I need to provide some sort of dust bath for them?
- What should I expect to need to do to "winterize" our coop? During the coldest part of winter where we live in the midwest, we often have temps below zero at night and only into the teens during the day for a week here and there with slightly warmer weather in between (and the occasional 65 degree day in January, because why not
) It won't start getting really cold until December, but I'd like to have everything ready before winter hits.
We recently adopted two chickens from one of our neighbors who purchased about a dozen chicks at a farm supply store this spring in a variety of breeds. Two became bullied to the point that they were basically trapped in the back corner of the coop by the other birds for most of the day. We had an empty coop at our house and have been wanting chickens for a while so we decided to take them in rather than let them become someone's dinner.
We're new to keeping chickens, but have a lot of experience with animals. We currently have many rescues (horses, a dog, cats, a rabbit, reptiles) on our 10-acre farm. I've read information online and talked to people who've kept chickens, but am still looking to learn more. I'll list the basics of our current setup, and would appreciate constructive advice on their care.
Setup:
- Coop is about 10'x12' and has perches and lay boxes, secure from predators, lots of ventilation at roof line and entire east-facing wall is wire mesh
- Using wood pellet animal bedding on floor of coop, wood shavings in lay boxes
- Plastic waterer kept clean and full
- Plastic feeder with free choice pellets (filled with layer pellets from the local farm store, which is what they were previously eating)
- They get a tiny bit of fresh chicken-safe veggies and a handful of scratch grains in the morning and evening when I check on them (ie: bribery to like me)
We plan to keep them locked in the coop for a couple weeks until they get used to us and their new home. After that I plan to let them out during the day into the run attached to the coop (about 25'x40'), and eventually maybe let them free range around the farm.
Today I'm also planning to purchase some grit to set out free-choice.
Questions:
- What breed do you think our chickens are?
- Any advice on sexing them? I imagine if they are not both hens I should be feeding a regular pellet rather than a laying pellet and supplementing with free choice calcium, correct? I've read the excess calcium in layer pellets are hard on a rooster's liver and kidneys.
- If I do switch their feed from one pellet to another, how gradually do I need to do that?
- I keep superworms and waxworms for our reptiles, could I also feed those to the chickens as a treat?
- Any tips for acclimating them to their new environment and/or helping them learn to trust us? They are understandably a little skittish.
- What are some common chicken "ailments" I should read up on and know how to recognize?
- Do I need to provide some sort of dust bath for them?
- What should I expect to need to do to "winterize" our coop? During the coldest part of winter where we live in the midwest, we often have temps below zero at night and only into the teens during the day for a week here and there with slightly warmer weather in between (and the occasional 65 degree day in January, because why not
) It won't start getting really cold until December, but I'd like to have everything ready before winter hits.
enjoy your lovely chickens! You'll love 'em!
We are glad you joined our flock!
