Dove into Chickens

[Kraftcrazychick]

Hi there. About 3 weeks or so ago I started looking into buying chickens. Not sure why at that moment it occurred to me, but none the less it did. Things bite at me like that often. I get some idea on doing something and dig right into it. I started looking into growing them, building a house for them, what kinds of chickens do what, how long they live, what they need, the whole shebang- which is how I found this site. (HI!)

After I got the approval from my husband (who loves me even if I'm a bit crazy) I waited anxiously to hear back from the township planner to make sure I was allowed. After about a week I didn't hear a word and thought it was a sign that it was a big fat "no". A few days later a message was on my phone that said yes. No restrictions, no space limits, nothing. Wheee!

3 days later I drove the kids over an hour away and picked up 6 chicks from a little farm and country store. I bought 2 black australorps, 2 gold laced wyandottes and 2 dominques and brought them home. Surprise, Husband! HAH! You went to work that day, I went to chickens!

My peeps currently are living in a tall box in the basement with their heat lamp. The internet (including BYC) told me these breeds would friendly and not very loud but so far they are not very taken with me. Half of them try to fly out of my hand back to their box. Also, I'm pretty sure a few are older as they have longer tail feathers than the rest. So far I have one gold laced ( an older one) who has a very high pitched shriek when I pick her up and a wee dominque who I'm not sure if she has poo or her cord still on her butt...

Anyways. I am hoping this site and its people will help me along my journey and be my Yodas.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Congratulations on your new chicks I love raising chicks, I have 17 new ones at the moment that hatched at the weekend. Food is the way to a chicks heart I start by putting the chick crumb in my hand and place my hand on the floor of the brooder the chicks should then jump into your hand. Once they are used to you can start holding them more. They will soon get used to you. Your chick with cord/poop on it could still have the umbilical cord still attached which will dry and fall off on its own. If it's poop it could have pasty butt, here is a thread about pasty butt https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/965910/pasty-butt-wont-come-off-please-help

Good luck with them and I hope you enjoy BYC

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new flock! There are some nice articles in the Learning Center on taming chicks you might like https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Gtown-chick]

Hi Kraftcrazychick,
I did something very similar 2 weeks ago! I have always had it in the back of my mind that I would like chickens, and I finally (somewhat impulsively) decided to do it! I bought 6 Welsummer chicks and they are in a dog crate in my downstairs hallway. I feel a little crazy with them in the house and can't wait to get them outside. Good luck with your chicks!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Hi and

!

Glad you could join our flock! Congratulations on your new baby chicks. Bringing home chicks can be so much fun.

You've picked out some excellent breeds that should make very good layers and pets. I've especially enjoyed my Wyandottes, because of their docile temperaments and good egg production. Hope you enjoy your chicks as much as I have!

It will be a while before your chicks settle down. Handling them daily and just talking to them helps immensely. Even when they fly away, pick them up. They'll eventually learn that you mean them no harm, though it may take several weeks. By the time my chicks are a couple months old, they are pretty tame (but really tame down when they start laying). Treats help the taming process as well.

Good luck with your new chicks! Hope they all turn into beautiful, productive laying hens.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. Raising chickens is a wonderful experience for children. My granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) loves our chickens. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[Kraftcrazychick]

Thanks, everyone. Today I named two of them when I came home. The fat gold laced is Bertha (haha! She seems bossy and dominant). The wee dominique is now named Margo.

I saw that Margo had pine shavings stuck to her after work so I picked her up. Sure enough, she had pine shavings and a bit of poo. I patted her bottom with a warm napkin (we were out of paper towels) and eventually got it all off, then dabbed petroleum jelly on the spot. During the process she also pooped in the sink so her bottom wasn't entirely covered, yay?

After I set her back in the box the other peeps were examining her butt. Hopefully they don't pick on her because of her damp butt. Bertha was giving her a close inspection though....

The peeps are getting more used to my hand reaching in but my voice scares them. Hopefully Margo will put in a good word for me.

 

[drumstick diva]

Chicks can be like that, everything loves to eat chicken, so they are fearful. When they are in a box - other than a clear Rubbermaid tote, they can't see you approaching. All they know is a big hands scoops them up - so it is very scary to them. They also need a wire top on any kind of brooder to keep them from flying out and getting into trouble. When they are old enough you can turn them loose for short periods in your bathroom or someplace easy to clean. Then you can sit on the floor with them and they will eventually realize you bring them food etc. and don't harm them.

 

[klohman]

Welcome to the chicken club! Our coop actually started off as a joke that I wanted "farm fresh eggs" when we moved into our new home in the country. I joked about it and got everyone on board just to aggravate my husband. 2 years and 18 chickens later here we are!I'm curious if it's your australorp that is having some butt problems. We have had that problem with each of our Lorps. A probiotic supplement helps, along with keeping it clean with a warm washcloth. Our last one got pecked on as a pullet because she lost all her butt feathers with her poo problems. We put just a dab of preparation h on her and it seemed to soothe her a bit and kept the other chickens from pecking at it. Welcome to the coop and enjoy those chickies!