FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[PattiS72]

Okay, have another question---my chicks are about a month old (maybe a little older). I have been putting them outside in the coop during the day for a few days. When can I start letting them stay out all night? It has been being 45 to 55 degrees or higher for the lows so far where I am.

 

[carolsaucier]

Wren, this is not the most friendly neighborhood (thypical PB)............keep mosty to ourselves. Which is a good thing. The ony neighbors that count (to me) know what happened and 1 even witnessed event. This good and friendly neighbor was at my house when police arrived, so they are well aware of all happenings. We have been gone for weekend and our hurt girl is haning in there, but now stying inside coop. Neighbor put food and water in there for her. So far no sign of pecking from other hens. I still haven't gotten the nerve to tell my ganddaughter. For once I am glad she doesn't live here.

Thanks for your concern and I would love to get to know you and all our chicken friends better.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
They start needing temps at 95 degrees..... It gets decreased by 5 degrees per week. . . .

Depending on how many you have and how much they can bundle together . . . .
AND Depending on how insulated your coop is . . . . . You could do it now OR You may have to wait a few more weeks.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:

Amen to that! I advise everyone, no matter where they get their chicks, hatchery-sexed, straight run, or home-hatched, that they need a good Plan B for any unwanted roosters. That includes plans for an agressive rooster even if they can/wish to keep roosters. We have learned to refrain from getting seriously attatched or even naming chicks until we know we will keep them. We say "Well, IF that's one we will keep, then we'll name it..."

I've seen too many folks getting their heartstrings tied onto hatching eggs, giving them names & knitting personalized Christmas stockings for them. And then when Henrietta turns out to be Henry, they don't know what to do. I just saw all those folks in the photos cuddling new chicks, choosing names & collecting egg-rich recipes, and hoped they had a grasp on the reality of the situation.

Did you give all these new chicken-owners the link to BYC? I hope to see them on this thread soon!

 

[chics in the sun]

Actually, most of the people in the pics and article are friends/ aquaintances (and one neighbor I just met) that know to call or e-mail me when they have questions. There are also several BYCers in the pics and mentioned in the article. I had information sheets available with BYC on them. I found BYC pretty quick when I was thinking about getting my first three from the pet store, so I'm sure they will be here soon!

I'm much more comfortable with people buying chicks at a swap where they can ask experienced people questions than at pet stores and feed stores (depending on the feed store). The people there are often completely clueless (a good example being my "ameraucana" white leghorn

in that first pet-store batch). What fun is having chicks if you don't cuddle them?
If they have to get rid of a roo, they will survive, and they can get a few replacement chicks. What to do if one is a roo was one of the most common questions, so most people are at least partially prepared if they need to re-home one.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

That all sounds great, a lot more clear than the way the newspaper article told it. I wish that I were closer (or had a private jet) to have joined you all there!

 

[chics in the sun]

Quote:
It's too bad you aren't closer - it really was a fun day!

 

[PattiS72]

Quote:
They start needing temps at 95 degrees..... It gets decreased by 5 degrees per week. . . .

Depending on how many you have and how much they can bundle together . . . .
AND Depending on how insulated your coop is . . . . . You could do it now OR You may have to wait a few more weeks.

We have 6 chicks plus an older hen (got her last year). She has been free range and roosted on our front porch. But the last 2 nights as stayed in the coop. She freaked out the first time we tried to keep her in there. Then we put a ramp up to the nest box and she was fine. The coop is made of chicken wire. We closed in the area beneath our dds' old unused tree house. During the winter we will enclose it. But for now it is all open.

 

[Nava]

Quote:

300th member

Hi Patti tell us a little bit more about your self, what kind of chickens do you have like or want

and welcome to the Florida thread

congratulations for being the 300th memmber, I don't know why but I like that # I could have waited until 500 but I like 300

PattiS72 you have won a GFM

 

[chickenlickin8]

I'm Justine in Valrico, FL and I have 12 new babies (pullets) I got in March!

2 Production Reds
1 Silver-Laced Wyandotte
2 Leghorns
2 Gold Sex-Links
3 Ameraucanas
1 Buff Rock
1 Black Australorp