Deciding today whether to get chickens. Have I considered everything?

[StephTheChicken]

Oh, wow, they're gorgeous. I thought you'd been put off the idea altogether, but those little girls will fit in beautifully. Have you named them yet? What varieties are they? How old? Tell us EVERYTHING.
(living vicariously, who, me?)

I'm not 100% sure on the names yet. I think they're gonna be Hendrix the Partridge Silkie, Hedwig the Lavender Pekin Bantam and Chickpea the Gold Laced Orpington

They're so funny. The Silkie spent the first half hour yesterday looking at herself in the mirror while the others were happily chirping at the cat (who is fascinated by them!) and then they all fell asleep. Finding it really hard to give them space, I just want to cuddle them all.

The farmer said it'll take them about two weeks to start going into their coop at night and that I should leave them locked in the run until then. When I went to put them into the coop yesterday they were already in there. Clever girls! So today I'm leaving the door to the run open so they can come outside into the garden when they're ready. So far only the Silkie has stuck her head out of the run.

They were chirping a lot yesterday evening. I think the two little ones wanted to go to sleep but the big one wasn't ready yet. They kept going back and forth between the coop and the run and complained loudly. Not entirely sure what the problem was

Also, trying to hand feed them but they don't trust me enough yet. They come over and look at my hand but will only peck at what falls onto the ground.

 

[User395221]

I just want to cuddle them all.

oh boy, they've got you under their spell already. They're going to be indulged, I can see the signs.

 

[chicksonline]

I now have 18 hens but when I first started with 3 hens and one cockerel I new nothing but as I progressed I learned more and more especially by joining byc. You may want to take in consideration about illness and stuff - when you go to see them ask if they have had any vaccinations #mistake no 1 I made. Ask how old and full breeding history they may have because we have had a few complications like crooked beak etc make sure you have a dust bath with red mute killer ( small microscopic sharp fossils because they are a nightmare once you've got them. Make sure they are abalone to fresh grass and leftovers but also read upon things that they cannot eat.

 

[paintedChix]

Congrats on your new girls! Sounds like you are already in love! I have to admit, I took a long time to get chickens, even though we live (or have leased/rented) in the country (rural properties - as few as 3 acres, now finally on our own 21 acres).

Didn't help, every place that I went to seemed to have chickens and it was HORRIBLE (to me) - when meeting w/ various horse folk or going on farm visits with our vet (I both volunteered, at first, then worked with the mobile equine vet the first 7 years we were in NC). When I moved to a different county and had slightly more property, I met a woman originally who talked up chickens and I still thought she was a bit "crazy" but her living conditions for her birds were different - so much nicer and cleaner. Her girls free ranged over quite a bit of their 11 acres and the coop wasn't meant to be a DLM set up (and she didn't call it that) but after learning more, I figured that was pretty much what it was and it was much less maintenance for her, too, wasn't ugly w/ poop, smell or flies but sure wasn't fancy either being out of a repurposed chain link dog pen/run and left over lumber from other projects for part of the roof, roosts and nesting boxes. It worked, though. So I was starting to think about it, when I went to another farm w/ someone who wanted me to "OK" a purchase of a mini horse and was given 15 mixed breed/sex bantam chicks! That was my start just after Christmas 2011 and I haven't looked back! We currently have 3 November 2016 birds that are bantamXs "great, great grand kids" from those first mixed bantams.

I had to look up the Pekin Chickens, because I've only been around Pekin ducks (fun to have, fantastic eggs and YUM later for meat bird persons). The first pics I saw, I thought OH, bantam Cochins! Well, found some references that "think" the bantam Cochin may be Pekins, not "mini" Cochins, but not sure about that (Cochin folk - don't jump on me). I know that the Pekins are cute! I LOVE your lavender girl.

I look forward to hearing more about your journey as a chicken owner. You didn't state how old your girls are? Or maybe I missed it?

 

[StephTheChicken]

Congrats on your new girls! Sounds like you are already in love! I have to admit, I took a long time to get chickens, even though we live (or have leased/rented) in the country (rural properties - as few as 3 acres, now finally on our own 21 acres).

Didn't help, every place that I went to seemed to have chickens and it was HORRIBLE (to me) - when meeting w/ various horse folk or going on farm visits with our vet (I both volunteered, at first, then worked with the mobile equine vet the first 7 years we were in NC). When I moved to a different county and had slightly more property, I met a woman originally who talked up chickens and I still thought she was a bit "crazy" but her living conditions for her birds were different - so much nicer and cleaner. Her girls free ranged over quite a bit of their 11 acres and the coop wasn't meant to be a DLM set up (and she didn't call it that) but after learning more, I figured that was pretty much what it was and it was much less maintenance for her, too, wasn't ugly w/ poop, smell or flies but sure wasn't fancy either being out of a repurposed chain link dog pen/run and left over lumber from other projects for part of the roof, roosts and nesting boxes. It worked, though. So I was starting to think about it, when I went to another farm w/ someone who wanted me to "OK" a purchase of a mini horse and was given 15 mixed breed/sex bantam chicks! That was my start just after Christmas 2011 and I haven't looked back! We currently have 3 November 2016 birds that are bantamXs "great, great grand kids" from those first mixed bantams.

I had to look up the Pekin Chickens, because I've only been around Pekin ducks (fun to have, fantastic eggs and YUM later for meat bird persons). The first pics I saw, I thought OH, bantam Cochins! Well, found some references that "think" the bantam Cochin may be Pekins, not "mini" Cochins, but not sure about that (Cochin folk - don't jump on me). I know that the Pekins are cute! I LOVE your lavender girl.

I look forward to hearing more about your journey as a chicken owner. You didn't state how old your girls are? Or maybe I missed it?

What a great story! I don't even know how I started thinking about getting chickens. I'm originally from a small village where we always got our eggs from the farm next to our house. All the eggs I buy in the shops here just aren't as good. Maybe that's where the idea first came from.

They're about 16 weeks old. They just ventured outside the run for the first time about an hour ago. The Silkie seems to be the bravest and most adventurous one! She just strutted out into the garden like she owns the place and the others followed a little later

Before starting to make solid plans I never realised there were so many people who love chickens. Had a surveyor come round the other day, wearing a suit and acting all professional. When he saw all the chicken stuff in the house he got all excited and told me about his chickens and showed me photos. Also the online community here really surprised me, I didn't expect this forum to be very active but thought I'd try my luck.

 

[User395221]

She just strutted out into the garden like she owns the place and the others followed a little later

Silkies are real little "characters". I used to go out to a rural property for drawing lessons. They had silkies who would roam free. You'd think they were 6 feet tall the way they'd strut about, not tiny, fluffy little things. Definitely big personalities in a little package.

As for chicken "enthusiasts" (aka crazy chicken people ) what surprises me is that I can never get enough of chook pictures and stories. I've got my own chooks out the back, and I'm still fascinated by all the others on the forum. Once they've got you under their spell, you stay mesmerised.

 

[StephTheChicken]

Silkies are real little "characters". I used to go out to a rural property for drawing lessons. They had silkies who would roam free. You'd think they were 6 feet tall the way they'd strut about, not tiny, fluffy little things. Definitely big personalities in a little package.

As for chicken "enthusiasts" (aka crazy chicken people ) what surprises me is that I can never get enough of chook pictures and stories. I've got my own chooks out the back, and I'm still fascinated by all the others on the forum. Once they've got you under their spell, you stay mesmerised.

She really is a little character. She's so funny to watch. Complains loudly in the evenings when she's ready to be tucked in but the others are still roaming about. She's also the only one so far that comes near me, the others keep a safe distance.

I love watching chicken videos on Youtube haha.. I think that's how I got hooked on the idea initially. Glad I'm not the only crazy chicken person!

 

[User395221]

Complains loudly in the evenings when she's ready to be tucked in but the others are still roaming about.

She might be the "top chook". I have a few fancy bantams. An australorp/araucana cross is bigger, and I also now have a black copper maran who is a "big girl" too. I still have the perception that the "big girls" should be in charge, but Flossie's the "top chook". That's Flossie on the right in my avatar photo. She's a tiny little thing, but she's the boss of everyone. It looks so humorous when she's ordering everyone about and shoving them out of the way if there are treats to be had. Like Kristin Chenoweth with Arnie Schwarzenegger.

It might change as your girls grow up, but I wouldn't be surprised to see your little silkie as the boss.