Getting first Chickens Wednesday!

[FranciscoR]

I hope at least...lol I am off from work, and have morning / afternoon open. Currently I am finishing up the run on my coop. Aside from that, coop itself needs VERY little. So I was thinking, even if the run isn't done Wednesday, I can keep the chicks inside the coop until Saturday (when I am sure it would be done). From what I gather, this should be fine. I am starting off lower than the 6 I am allowed to house per city ordinance. I've decided on 2 RIR and 2 Barred Rock. I just like the egg-laying and looks. Should be fun!

 

[ChereePie]

How exciting! I have 4 barred rocks, myself and they are my favorites! They have so much personality already and they are only 6 weeks! They have been in the coop for about 3 weeks already, but since I am in Texas, the weather has been great for it! Where are you getting your chicks from?

 

[FranciscoR]

Unfortunately, the only place that sells them are 1) Tractor Supply (maybe), and 2) craigslist. I live in independence, and it can get pretty rural here in Kentucky. I am thinking there has to be a local breeder closer than somebody 1hr away...

 

[ChereePie]

Our Tractor supply only sells them for a very short time and usually around Easter

.....Craigslist has been a good source for me too, but then again we are in two different states, lol. Hopefully you'll find someone.....we got ours shipped from Cackle Hatchery and have had absolutely no problems. We ordered 10 to start with and sold the 4 extra (we are only allowed 6 within city limits) to a friend. All were very healthy and hardy. Would love to see pics when you get them!!! Here are some of mine!

 

[MonicainAZ]

How old are the chickens you're getting? If they are baby chicks, they will need to be inside with a heat lamp for a while anyway. Is it warm enough there to have them in the coop right away? I guess it depends on your coop setup.

Craigslist is just sort of like the wild west. There's all sorts of stuff on it, at least around here. But it does seem to be a popular place for hobby type breeders to advertise, as well as the less savory kinds. i guess the point is it's not necessarily a BAD place to get chickens, you just have to talk to the people and get a sense of which ones know their stuff and which you'd rather avoid.

 

[FranciscoR]

I spoke to Mt Healthy Hatchery. They are only a 45min drive up the interstate from me (door to door). I put in my order for 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 3 Golden Comets! I am picking them up Wednesday. Granted, they are day-old essentially (don't think they are pullets). It'll be a long-while until they're laying. I think this is good though. It'll gain me experience on raising chickens, not just collecting eggs.

 

[MonicainAZ]

Yeah, at a day old they are just babies. They will need to stay inside most of the time for the first few weeks until they can regulate their own body temperature. Congrats on your first babies!

 

[FranciscoR]

Yeah, I went the way of day-old chicks. There are tons out there that are much older. However, there's no way to guarantee quality. Being that the hatchery is so close, it would be pointless (unless I wanted older) to buy from anyone else.

The coop should be perfect / safe for them. It's more than big enough for 6 chicks at 4ftx8ft. When they're ready (on 3-4wks), they'll have a combined run of 8x8. It's not huge, but once again, plenty for 6 chickens.