First Time Chicken Raiser with few questions? :)

[MandyCandy]

Hello! I am getting my first batch of chicks at Murdochs the Monday after Easter. I live in Colorado and will need winter-hardy chickens, but I also CANNOT have a rooster. (legally, and we kinda want our new neighbors to like us) So I am wondering if there's any sex-link chickens that are particularly winter hardy or if there is anywhere that will take any unwanted young roosters I end up with. It's harsh, but true. ): Also, since I do want 3-4 hens, how many 'non sex-link' chicks should I get (if you recommend that option), assuming at least 1 will inevitably be a roo.

2. I am very worried about starting a fire when brooding my chicks (was going to do a cardboard box, will probably do a clear plastic tub now) so what kind of precautions can I take there?



I hope the first question string didn't confuse you too much and thank you for any help!

 

[Impress]

Craigslist is the best for getting rid of roosters, you may be able to sell them or at least give them away for free. You will more than likely know they are roosters long before they crow.

If I want four or so hens, I get ten chicks. I seem to usually get about 50/50 of a mix.

You have plenty of options to avoid a fire brooding chicks. I mount all my heat lamps securely with eye hooks and zip ties and wire just to make sure they stay up. Don't trust a clamp! You can also invest in an Eco-glow or some other radiant heat source that has no fire risk. Just be smart and diligent.

 

[MandyCandy]

Thank you so much! Craigslist is a great idea!

 

[BrittBergh]

We use a large cardboard box for a brooder, well its two boxed duct taped together lol. What I have done in our house is made a roof over top with extra cardboard, we have a cat who would love to eat the chicks this keeps her out. On one side the roof is actually a screen aquarium top and that is where the heat lamp is placed. Ive seen where you can clip heat lamps to the sides of the boxes but for us having the roof is what we do. It keeps the cat out and keeps our little dare devil chick from flying out all the time! The sides of the box are tall but that chick just is a flyer....her name is MoFo for a reason

 

[SonShine]

I just bought my first 9 chicks and currently have them in my dogs large travel kennel. I took the top and the bottom and placed the openings together to make one larger bottom piece. It is covered with plant netting held on with clothes pins. I have the feeder and waterer in there. Waterer is up on pieces of flat wood about 3" high to keep wood chips from getting thrown into their water. The heat lamp shines through the netting.

 

[Arica]

What breeds did you get?