Chicks for the first Time

[Jaggs]

Are they in the coop yet or still in the brooder. Do they have access to a run. If not I would start with the coop with attached run until thwy start putting themselves up by themselves at night. Once they learn where home is they should be good to free range and come back at night.

Predators are a big concern. Hawks coons and dogs. Make sure they either have cover or places to hide from hawks. Make sure your yard is secure from dogs and other four legged predators.

They have always been in the coop. Our brooder was set up in there from the beginning. They are now 8 weeks old and running all over the coop. ( we had it sectioned off, and they now go everywhere and get into everything in there... hehe). I am making a run for them in the next 2 weeks. New to chickens, so I recently just put in roosting areas for them. A little late I know, but it's done now. They prefer it seems to make little nests in the straw bedding and nestle in together. No they are not cold, the heat lamp is on at night, it's quite warm here, and they are no where near the heat lamp when they sleep. We will see if this changes now that there plenty of roosting places.

I have 2 Golden Retrievers. I plan on having them inside when the chickens are free ranging. I also have training collars for them to teach the dogs not to go anywhere near the chickens. They will be supervised at all times the chickens are out. I am planning on supervised free ranging. Currently I am training the chicks to come to me when I say "here chick chick chick" and have treats so that they will come back into the coop when I need them to.

anything I'm missing?

 

[Willaxbird]

Thanks Man, i will do just that, can some one suggest preventive drugs?

 

[Jeanna Marie]

They have always been in the coop.  Our brooder was set up in there from the beginning.  They are now 8 weeks old and running all over the coop.  ( we had it sectioned off, and they now go everywhere and get into everything in there... hehe).  I am making a run for them in the next 2 weeks.  New to chickens, so I recently just put in roosting areas for them.  A little late I know, but it's done now.  They prefer it seems to make little nests in the straw bedding and nestle in together.  No they are not cold, the heat lamp is on at night, it's quite warm here, and they are no where near the heat lamp when they sleep.  We will see if this changes now that there plenty of roosting places.

I have 2 Golden Retrievers.  I plan on having them inside when the chickens are free ranging.  I also have training collars for them to teach the dogs not to go anywhere near the chickens.  They will be supervised at all times the chickens are out.  I am planning on supervised free ranging.  Currently I am training the chicks to come to me when I say "here chick chick chick" and have treats so that they will come back into the coop when I need them to.  

anything I'm missing?

Sounds like you have a good plan! I'm trying to integrate 15 week olds with 6 week olda and its not going well!

 

[boyswillbeboys]

Sounds like you have a good plan! I'm trying to integrate 15 week olds with 6 week olda and its not going well!

Is there a big size difference? I'd think so, all I've been reading says its not a good idea to put them together till they are close to the same size.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Is there a big size difference? I'd think so, all I've been reading says its not a good idea to put them together till they are close to the same size.

Yes the older ones are three times the size of the new ones. So I guess its just going to take a while.

 

[sn0wwhite]

My 4-week old chicks have been staying outside in their coop for about 4 nights now. They don't go up in to the bed area by themselves, but they let themselves down into the lower run area every morning on their own.

I'm getting fence installed within 2 weeks (posts next week, then the wire July 3rd) and I'm still wondering if the hens will jump off a wall.

I live literally on a cliff with a retaining wall in the back that has about a 4 food drop to a very steep hill that continues down to a wooded area.

Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? Will they look over and decide not to jump off like my Chihuahua or will they think, "Awesome, let's go!"
Andy fly off down the hill?

If we think they'll go off the cliff, would a line of electric fencing make a difference or would they just jump over that?

 

[winchuck]

I love seeing what everyone post. Chicken loving folk are my kind of people. My Jack Russel mix ate my original chicks; which set me back a few weeks. I was horrified and then went to planned trip to Vegas. I am baaaack! I bought 10 chicks from a local woman. They are larger than my others with feathers so could be immediately put out in the coop where Ms. JR could not reach them. They are a mixture of Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rock cross with 1 or 2 that are Rhode Island Red and Ameraucana crossl. It doesn't matter their breeding as long as they lay well and have my preference of brown and/or green eggs. They are happy as can be. I can't say the same for that little she-devil dog of mine. There is a lot of "no chickens" being spit at her.

The woman said that she thought all were hens, but I think I've spotted a bump on the back of two of their legs. I want a rooster so he can take care of warning his girls if Maggie dog gets close or hawks come along. Our coop is self contained with an inside with a surrounding pen with a ramp going down that is covered with a roof. I've created a larger fenced area with strong dog-proof fencing around a much larger adjoining area. I spent yesterday pulling up the wild fox gloves and clearing out wads of daylillies to give them some bare space. They will need to deal with some ferns, holly and hydrangeas. I can always go back in and hack for another day.

 

[EmSteele]

I saw someone asking about using newspaper for the brooder bottom...I've read that it's bad for the legs. We use pine shavings. Cedar isn't good because chickens can get sick...something about the respiratory system...

 

[SophieLemsing]

What are all your chicks names? I am getting some chicks soon and thinking of naming them Margo, Edith and Agnes from Despicable Me.

 

[SophieLemsing]

What are all your chicks names? I am getting some chicks soon and thinking of naming them Margo, Edith and Agnes from Despicable Me.