Chicks for the first Time

[Davidally122]

I would take the nesting boxes out till they're actually old enough to begin laying. If they're used to sleeping there, they will continue to and break eggs. I also have a question. I have a 3 wk old australorp who still has not feathered out. Just as big as everyone else, just all fuzz. Any ideas why? Should I be concerned?

 

[winchuck]

Since they are built in, I will place a piece of lattice I have out there to block them. I bet they will be frustrated for a few nights. They sure are creatures of habit.

I had one chick I called "Itty Bitty" because she was so much smaller than the rest, but lately I have a hard time spotting her since she is almost the same size now.

I canned tomatoes and apples today, so they got the ends and cores etc. They sure love me when I am canning almost anything. I also bought them some scratch. I recognized immediately why they call that ground up corn scratch. Those huge feet are built for composting working up the earth wherever they go. Their compost pile never remains not being turned. I can't wait until the worms find it but we have dry summers so no worms for awhile, but that doesn't stop them from looking. I can see why gardeners love having chickens. Happy chickens means happy vegetables.

 

[kynewbchickie]

RE: Nesting boxes and material - We were using pine shavings, but found that we were having to add nearly a full 5lb bale every week to the 8 boxes we have due to them kicking the shavings out every time they went in to lay. We switched to regular hay, and with the exception of changing the box bedding out weekly for sanitation purposes, we've not had to add any. They seem to prefer it to the shavings. Just my two cents.

RE: Nesting boxes and sleeping in them - we had to cover our boxes, too, to keep them from sleeping in them rather than on the roost over the poo board with PDZ under it at night. However, when 18 weeks rolled around and no one was laying yet (we uncovered the boxes at 16 weeks like we were told to do for our breeds), they weren't laying. We slaughtered 3 roosters (as we wound up with way more than we were told we'd have when we ordered/purchased the chicks) and egg-laying started for three Aussie hens. I've heard chicken people in my area say not to put any bedding in the nesting boxes rather than cover them in order to keep them from roosting IN the boxes before they start to lay. I've also heard from other chicken people to just cover them up. I think it's a matter of personal preference. Either way, when laying commences, they'll all roost wherever the highest place is in the coop. I think it's an innate intelligence thing for chickens that once those boxes have eggs going into them, they're off limits for sleeping.

 

[one old chick]

If you haven't checked it out yet, look up the "Guinea Fowl 101" thread on here. Incredibly knowledgeable and friendly folks there. We've got 5 keets in the brooder downstairs now - pearls - that are 3.5 weeks old. They're finally feathering in nicely and putting on some size. They don't "tame" like chickens do at all - you MIGHT be able to get them to eat treats out of your hand - but they're pretty wild in general, which is good. The neighbors won't mind a roo - but make sure you warn them about the guinea. They're LOUD birds - but awesome at warnings!

so sorry i didn't see your responce. i did check out that sight, thank you so much. my guineas are 5 months old now and together they could stop traffic with the noise when they all sound the alarm

LOL . they have all grown big and beautiful. i don't handle them (unless they get out into the barn then i pick them up as much as they hate it) but i do go in the coup with them whenever needed. they are pretty used to me so no yelling when i'm in there. we decided not to release them yet. we have lots of woods and lots of wildlife and we felt they don't really have enough savvy or flight experience to turn them loose. we are waiting until spring. the noise doesn't bother the neighbors because we live on 15 acres so they can't hear them. my chickens have also grown big an beautiful as well as the ducks. biggest stress right now is the winter coming and keeping everyone alive till spring

. i would be so sad if i lost any of my flock as i have grown quite attached to all 21 of them. 8 hens, 1 roo, 2 ducks, 1 drake, 9 guineas (that i believe are all hens) there is a lot of chatter in my barn in the mornings and i love it, LOL

thanks again, hope everything is going well for you

 

[brookhill]

There are some great ideas! I'm following this with interest as we too should soon have babies.

 

[realsis]

There are some great ideas! I'm following this with interest as we too should soon have babies.

welcome!!! And show us some pictures when you get your babies!! Have you decided on a breed yet?? I raise silkies. They are sweet and soo loving!! How exciting it is getting your first babies! YAY! Do you know when you will be getting them? Or which hatchery or breeder you will use yet? It will be so much fun and such a wonderful experience for you!! Mine bring me great joy and I'm certain yours will too! I wish you the best and keep us posted about your new little ones!! again welcome to BYC

 

[brookhill]

Thank you! We will be picking up some silkies from VJP Poultry. I will be making a 3 1/2 hour drive one way this week to pick them up. My son has chosen this breed because of their sweet nature. He is absolutely smitten with them and can't wait! This is better than Christmas! We are hoping to have something that we can show in 4-H and would like to evolve to other shows. At some point we would love to try hatching our own babies.

 

[realsis]

That's great!! You will absoultely LOVE the silkie breed!! I know I do! I remember when I was deciding on a breed. It was love at first sight with the silkie! I have kept my flocks all silkies since then and don't regret it for a second! That's so great he's going to show! One tool for showing that's extremely valuable is a book he will need to familiarise himself with called The Standard of perfectiion. It goes over all breeds including silkies and all colors and explains exactly WHAT the judges will be looking for with each color and breed. It goes over what disqualifications are for each breed. The body types and much much more in extrreme detail!! You also should be able to find these detsils from the American Silkie Bantam Club. Sometimes you can find the standard of perfection online for a discount. I have the standard of perfection 2010 I got online for a good price. He will need this book to show in order for him to understand the details the judges are looking for. My book comes with color pictures that are helpful and goes into extreme detail about the expectations of a show silkie with all accepted colors. They recongise these colors only when showing. Black, white, partridge, buff, blue , grey and splash.any other colors or color mix is not recongised. Take a look online for the standard of perfection and know what is required. One requirement is that they must have 5 toes. Any less or more is a disqualification I believe. Before you make your trip look at the standard for the colors you want so you can pick a nice show bird. I really hope these tips help you out and I can't wait to see pictures of your new birds!! Take care and God Bless.

 

[brookhill]

That's great!! You will absoultely LOVE the silkie breed!! I know I do! I remember when I was deciding on a breed. It was love at first sight with the silkie! I have kept my flocks all silkies since then and don't regret it for a second! That's so great he's going to show! One tool for showing that's extremely valuable is a book he will need to familiarise himself with called The Standard of perfectiion. It goes over all breeds including silkies and all colors and explains exactly WHAT the judges will be looking for with each color and breed. It goes over what disqualifications are for each breed. The body types and much much more in extrreme detail!! You also should be able to find these detsils from the American Silkie Bantam Club. Sometimes you can find the standard of perfection online for a discount. I have the standard of perfection 2010 I got online for a good price. He will need this book to show in order for him to understand the details the judges are looking for. My book comes with color pictures that are helpful and goes into extreme detail about the expectations of a show silkie with all accepted colors. They recongise these colors only when showing. Black, white, partridge, buff, blue , grey and splash.any other colors or color mix is not recongised. Take a look online for the standard of perfection and know what is required. One requirement is that they must have 5 toes. Any less or more is a disqualification I believe. Before you make your trip look at the standard for the colors you want so you can pick a nice show bird. I really hope these tips help you out and I can't wait to see pictures of your new birds!! Take care and God Bless.

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions! I'm off to Amazon to find that book!

 

[brookhill]

Here is one of the baby silkies we picked up. Time will tell later if my son can show them, but he's absolutely smitten with them in the meantime. He got up 5 times last night to see if they were ok.

I had to laugh at this photo..LOL