First time chicken flock - general beginning questions

[3KillerBs]

Redneck is always good.
Looks like I can just cut a bunch of vents at the top and put a hinge up there to make awnings.
Ya definitely not doing 30 yet starting with a variety just have to choose now...
I will b do some more research on ideal especially since I'm so close.

The only hiccup I can think of is my current baby bird hatching area is currently occupied with these 3 ducklings that are about 5 days old...I know people do mixed flocks but obviously wonder of mixed chicks/ducklings is a thing. Ducks can't eat the chicken food unless niacin is added but can the chicks eat the duck food...

My understanding is that the problem with mixing chicks and ducklings is that ducklings get everything soggy all the time while chickens are healthiest when kept dry.

I have very limited knowledge of ducks.

As for the vents, one of the advantages of a big, airy coop is that if a little rain does get in around the edges of the awnings, all that ventilation will dry it out rapidly. But you don't want any part of the coop to be really *wet*. That's unhealthy.

 

[Launchpad]

Right. It seems like an easy fix with a ladder and a little work.
And yes the ducks are very messy and love to splash their water eeeeeverywhere.
There is also a farm nearby that sells a large variety of pullets between 2 1/2 and 5 months old...

 

[Iluveggers]

Just wondering if you ended up with chicks? I would recommend ordering from Ideal (they do have pullets for most breeds so you wouldn’t have to order straight run), and you could actually pick up there to avoid the postal service! If you want a rainbow basket and are starting with just 5 chicks, you could easily get a leghorn or California white for a white egg, Australorp or barred rock for light brown egg, Easter Egger for blue egg, olive Egger for green egg, and cuckoo Marans or Welsummer for dark brown egg.

My personal suggestion would be to let those guys get big together, and if you want a rooster, next time you order you could add one. The older girls will be able to put him in his place when he gets hormonal.

Also, if you need a cheap brooder, I got a free watermelon bin (large box) from the grocery store that worked well for my chicks! I liked it so much I actually stored it through the winter and am using it again this year.

Good luck!

 

[Launchpad]

Just wondering if you ended up with chicks? I would recommend ordering from Ideal (they do have pullets for most breeds so you wouldn’t have to order straight run), and you could actually pick up there to avoid the postal service! If you want a rainbow basket and are starting with just 5 chicks, you could easily get a leghorn or California white for a white egg, Australorp or barred rock for light brown egg, Easter Egger for blue egg, olive Egger for green egg, and cuckoo Marans or Welsummer for dark brown egg.

My personal suggestion would be to let those guys get big together, and if you want a rooster, next time you order you could add one. The older girls will be able to put him in his place when he gets hormonal.

Also, if you need a cheap brooder, I got a free watermelon bin (large box) from the grocery store that worked well for my chicks! I liked it so much I actually stored it through the winter and am using it again this year.

Good luck!

Great info. I appreciate it.
No chicks yet, once the ducks graduate to outside and free roaming going to start

 

[BielefelderFanatic]

Cackle is a good hatchery. I bought some Bielefelders from them earlier in the season and they actually sent me an extra female. Good because one of my females died a few days in. I think it was a congenital issue. All she did was scream for the three or four days she was alive and then then died in her sleep. I never could figure out what it was that was wrong with her.

Because shipping is very stressful on the chicks, always order one more than you think you might need. You can always sell, give away, or eat what extra survives.

ISA Browns are excellent layers for beginners and very human friendly. Bielefelders are good if you need a generally non-aggressive roo.