samwantschickens
In the Brooder
Hello! I am new to chickens and I got these 8 chicks February 5th, so they are somewhere over 5 weeks old. I recently moved them outside and have tons of questions and could use some help! We live in Vancouver, WA (Portland, OR) for geographic purposes... also have a toddler who’s almost 2 and a dog I have a mixed flock; one silkie, cuckoo maran, buff Orpington, buff Brahma, black SL, Plymouth barred rock, RIR, and a blue australorp. A friend might also take 2-3, so I’ll also hav me questions about which ones to pick and flock management when birds leave (if anything).
Regarding the coop- I put the box in there with pine shavings to offer protection from wind and chilly days and they seem to like huddling in there together. I also just built three PVC feeders. and need to figure out a good water solution. I also added shavings to the nest boxes to help insulate the coop and have been locking them inside there at night, with food and water, and a chicken heating pad. I don’t think they all can get in by themselves, and pretty confident the silkie can’t get up there. I also ended up getting an indoor/outdoor heat plate that they seem indifferent to, and placed it under the roosts inside the coop.
I’d also like to have them outside of the run during the day, but need to add chicken wire to some places where they could get under the fence and build a little gate/ fence so they don’t have access to the entire yard when I’m not around.
In the pictures there is a light- we don’t actually use this. I didn’t feel it was safe or warm enough and started putting them inside the coop.
questions:
1. When should I add hay? To the ne boxes? Or do I keep pine shavings in there? Since they have a “poop drawer” under the roosts, when they get older/ warmer, do I remove all the shavings? (If I wait for them to get older- how old?)
2. a lot of shavings have gotten into the run from the box and under things, should I clear them out? What do I do with the floor of the run?
3. Should I add a sand box inside or outside the run?
4. Tips on waterers?
5. tips on building a fence or proofing the yard for chickens.
6. Should I build a ramp into the coop for them? At some point will they start going on by themselves? Will the silkie ever be able to get up there?
7. is locking them in the coop at night the right thing to do?
I guess my questions aren’t super clear, but I really just need to know what to do!
Regarding the coop- I put the box in there with pine shavings to offer protection from wind and chilly days and they seem to like huddling in there together. I also just built three PVC feeders. and need to figure out a good water solution. I also added shavings to the nest boxes to help insulate the coop and have been locking them inside there at night, with food and water, and a chicken heating pad. I don’t think they all can get in by themselves, and pretty confident the silkie can’t get up there. I also ended up getting an indoor/outdoor heat plate that they seem indifferent to, and placed it under the roosts inside the coop.
I’d also like to have them outside of the run during the day, but need to add chicken wire to some places where they could get under the fence and build a little gate/ fence so they don’t have access to the entire yard when I’m not around.
In the pictures there is a light- we don’t actually use this. I didn’t feel it was safe or warm enough and started putting them inside the coop.
questions:
1. When should I add hay? To the ne boxes? Or do I keep pine shavings in there? Since they have a “poop drawer” under the roosts, when they get older/ warmer, do I remove all the shavings? (If I wait for them to get older- how old?)
2. a lot of shavings have gotten into the run from the box and under things, should I clear them out? What do I do with the floor of the run?
3. Should I add a sand box inside or outside the run?
4. Tips on waterers?
5. tips on building a fence or proofing the yard for chickens.
6. Should I build a ramp into the coop for them? At some point will they start going on by themselves? Will the silkie ever be able to get up there?
7. is locking them in the coop at night the right thing to do?
I guess my questions aren’t super clear, but I really just need to know what to do!
