Hi Josh,
Welcome (almost) to the world of chickens! This is long, so do with it as you will....
This site is a great place to start. I also learned alot from "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens." I have a few other chicken books that I found too, but that's probably the best over all book. I also scoured the internet, looking for coop designs (I finally made my own using a playhouse from Lowe's that was on sale at the "end" of summer.) It's hard for me to give tips without questions, since I'm new as well, but the one thing I've learned is that chickens are pretty forgiving.
I got mine from a feeder's supply in Fort Collins. They have chicks all year long. I talked with them a bit and let the staff their guide me on what I needed to purchase. When I got mine, they happened to have 2 week old chicks. This was nice because (as they told me) if they were going to die because of any sort of baby chick problems, they'd have already done it.
I put my four chicks into a large dog crate in one of our extra bathrooms. This allowed me to close them off from our dogs (4) and keep them warm. I put cardboard in the tray and filled it with shredded paper. I changed it when it looked like it needed to be changed.
I used the water fount that the feeder supply recommended and the food container as well. Really, pretty simple.
I'm not raising mine to be pets. They don't have names, and I don't handle them alot. But I do thoroughly enjoy them.
When they were about 5 weeks old, I moved them outside into their coop. I didn't have the coop fully designed by the time they moved in. I keep making changes, additions as I learn what they need. I added a doggie door and an outdoor run that's secure top and bottom (as well as sides, of course.) The chickies now let themselves out in the morning and in in the evening.
Since I live in Northern Colorado, I have several farmer's supply places nearby. I use them for information and suggestions.
I discovered that one of my "girls" was a boy. I kept him around for 4 months, deciding what I wanted to do, but his crowing became too much, so I located a small processor in NoCo and had him culled. Then we had him for dinner. He was the best chicken I've ever had and this year I may go for some meat chickens as well. I'm getting eggs. I was getting eggs even without the additional light that's supposedly required. I learned about freezing water and how to keep it liquid.
For me, I researched alot, but then the learning has come by doing. And it will continue that way, I'm sure.
Sorry for the long post. I hope some of it helps. Claudette
Welcome (almost) to the world of chickens! This is long, so do with it as you will....
This site is a great place to start. I also learned alot from "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens." I have a few other chicken books that I found too, but that's probably the best over all book. I also scoured the internet, looking for coop designs (I finally made my own using a playhouse from Lowe's that was on sale at the "end" of summer.) It's hard for me to give tips without questions, since I'm new as well, but the one thing I've learned is that chickens are pretty forgiving.
I got mine from a feeder's supply in Fort Collins. They have chicks all year long. I talked with them a bit and let the staff their guide me on what I needed to purchase. When I got mine, they happened to have 2 week old chicks. This was nice because (as they told me) if they were going to die because of any sort of baby chick problems, they'd have already done it.
I put my four chicks into a large dog crate in one of our extra bathrooms. This allowed me to close them off from our dogs (4) and keep them warm. I put cardboard in the tray and filled it with shredded paper. I changed it when it looked like it needed to be changed.
I used the water fount that the feeder supply recommended and the food container as well. Really, pretty simple.
I'm not raising mine to be pets. They don't have names, and I don't handle them alot. But I do thoroughly enjoy them.
When they were about 5 weeks old, I moved them outside into their coop. I didn't have the coop fully designed by the time they moved in. I keep making changes, additions as I learn what they need. I added a doggie door and an outdoor run that's secure top and bottom (as well as sides, of course.) The chickies now let themselves out in the morning and in in the evening.
Since I live in Northern Colorado, I have several farmer's supply places nearby. I use them for information and suggestions.
I discovered that one of my "girls" was a boy. I kept him around for 4 months, deciding what I wanted to do, but his crowing became too much, so I located a small processor in NoCo and had him culled. Then we had him for dinner. He was the best chicken I've ever had and this year I may go for some meat chickens as well. I'm getting eggs. I was getting eggs even without the additional light that's supposedly required. I learned about freezing water and how to keep it liquid.
For me, I researched alot, but then the learning has come by doing. And it will continue that way, I'm sure.
Sorry for the long post. I hope some of it helps. Claudette
