For the MINIMALISTS - those who think less is more in chicken keeping - Please help

[GetFitWithKrista]

Oh they can be outside in any weather at 6 weeks and they look like pigeons! And at 4 weeks if it is summer.

They just need all their feathers, not all their size I guess.

Phew, great!

 

[RoyalChick]

Phew, great!

I think mine were out at 3 weeks old in NJ in April. They had a heat source if they wanted it but were generally too busy to huddle up to it.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

This is about a 5 or 6 week old chicken I think?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I think mine were out at 3 weeks old in NJ in April. They had a heat source if they wanted it but were generally too busy to huddle up to it.

I do love your jersey advice. It sounds like chickens are pretty resilient and are able to adapt to conditions.

 

[KyCoop]

I got mine when they were 6 and 8 wks old. I spent a lot of time with them and they would sit on my lap occasionally. But I would not call them lap chickens. The first group I taught to eat out of my hand nicely but I didn't with group 2 and they will take the skin off your hand.
Feed them from your hand from day 1 and that will help make them friendly.

 

[RoyalChick]

I am trying to get mine to be more tame. One is very passionate about sunflower seeds and has learned to jump up on me to burrow under my jacket to see if I have any hidden in there.

 

[Sally PB]

I'd be using hemp, except for the price and the convenience of pine shavings.

A bale of shavings is $7-8 and I can get some any day of the week at TSC. I bought a bale of hemp online. It was $39, IIRC, and took a week to get here. I also have problems with Fed Ex/UPS delivering to my house.

Yeah, Sally, plan ahead. The hemp really did work well.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I'd be using hemp, except for the price and the convenience of pine shavings.

A bale of shavings is $7-8 and I can get some any day of the week at TSC. I bought a bale of hemp online. It was $39, IIRC, and took a week to get here. I also have problems with Fed Ex/UPS delivering to my house.

Yeah, Sally, plan ahead. The hemp really did work well.

That's a big difference. Do you use less hemp then pine shavings to offset, or is it about the same amount?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

This is about a 5 or 6 week old chicken I think?View attachment 3442511

I'm really hoping I get some like your little lady. Very cool.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

I am trying to get mine to be more tame. One is very passionate about sunflower seeds and has learned to jump up on me to burrow under my jacket to see if I have any hidden in there.

Yeah so you guys keep talking about snacks and treats. What do you give them?

While I'm thinking of it, how do you get them to turn their bedding?