Getting my month old chicks tomorrow

[OrganicChicken]

Working on starting my first flock of chickens, other than when i was a kid and my grandma had a big flock on the farm.I have a pretty big backyard, so I figured I should put it to good use. I love organic chicken and eggs so I am suprised I haven't started sooner. I am in Portland, OR and I have looked on craigslist as a few locals selling chickens, we are going to go out and get a light and a brooder and pick up some chicks tomorrow, pretty excited. A few breeds on my wanted list are Ameraucana, Australorp, Olive Egger, a few varaties of Wyandotte, Black Copper Maran, Dark Brahma and possibly a Polish, and Turken. My neighbor has two Delaware chicks for me, about a month old. I was thinking of getting a Silkie, but I'm worried that she may be picked on for being smaller. I doubt I'll be able to find them all, but it would be nice My goal is to have a rainbow assortment of eggs, Blue, Green, Dark Red and Brown, a Pink layer would be nice but sounds like mostly luck from what I've read so far. If you have any experience with any of these birds feel free to share your experiences, tips, and reccomnedations.

This is my first post just wanted to introduce myself and I will report back on what I end up with after searching around tommorrow.

I also have two dogs, if you have any tips on introducing them and at what age it should be done I am interested in learning more about that.

 

[cnicho05]

Hello,

I would also suggest you get a couple, if space is available, Rhode Island Red's as they are GREAT egg producers. As for your dog, I would introduce them very slowly and as soon as you get them. Just make sure your dog's can't get to the chicks, but see them, for the first couple of weeks. Once your chicks are walking around quite well you can leash your dog's and walk them around your chickens.

As long as they seem okay around one another you should be okay...

 

[Basskids08]

Hello and welcome to BYC!


We have a great learning center, have you been there yet? They have some great articles to read, here is the link to it, https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, someone is always around to answer any questions you may have!
Also if you need anything or have questions about your new ones this thread is really good, https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-raise-baby

If you click this link it will take you to your state thread where you can visit and talk to peeps from your area, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697050/michigan-thread-all-are-welcome.

Also if you would like to post pictures of your chicks you can do so here, https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/39/pictures-stories-of-my-chickens. We all love seeing new chickens.

To answer your question about silkies, I would say yes it's alright to mix with other breeds. I have silkies, polish, a lot of in between breeds and Jersey Giants.
They generally get along very well. In fact, bantams don't always or really ever end up on the lower end of the pecking order just because they're smaller. I've noticed my silkies tend to be in the middle somewhere and my Roo silkie is in the top 2-3. When mixing different bird sizes, you will simply need to make certain that you have your feeders and waterers set at a height so that all your chickens can easily reach them.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on the soon to be new chicks!! Lots of nice breeds out there, although you may have your mind set on the ones you would like to keep. Here is a couple of breeds pages on the different breeds and some of their attributes...

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

As for the dog, most dogs see chicks and chickens as dinner. Every day there are threads started in our emergency section on how "the dog ate my chickens". So be extremely careful with the dog, no matter how sweet he seems. We do have some threads on training your dog to obey around chickens, but just remember, not all dogs respond to these training techniques...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700017/how-to-train-your-dog-not-to-kill-chickens

Great to have you aboard and enjoy picking up those new chicks! Definitely stop by our learning center for lots of good articles on raising your new birds. Welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! Speaking from personal experience, I would keep dogs and chickens separate at all times, at the very least completely supervised. Dogs can't resist chickens, they run/flap wings/make noise when scared. Good luck to you!

 

[OrganicChicken]

Hello again everyone, thanks for the welcome and helpful information, nice to be on a website all about chickens.

I am planning to build a nice big enclosed run while the chickens are still brooding in case there are any issues with the dogs. I just contacted the chicken breeder and I placed an order for the following birds:

Two Silver-laced Wyandotte's
Two Gold-laced Wyandotte's
One Blue Maran
One Splash Maran
Two Americauna X Black Maran [Olive egger?]
Two Buff Polish

We already two Delawares in the brooder at the neighbor's house.

Still on the hunt for a Australorp, Cream Legbar, and Croad Langshan to add later if I end up building another coop. Maybe a pair of ducks?

My neighbor is planning on giving me theircurrent coop, since they are upgrading to a new larger one to house their new Delaware's which will bring their flock to 12 chicken. They have eight chickens now that fit in their coop comfortably,

If I need to I will build another one to allow more room. Do you think I should?

Does anyone have a good blueprint or DIY guide to building a nice big run? How big should it be? I want it to be on the larger side because I have plenty of room and I want them to be comfortable. I was thinking of attaching it to the coop. My neighbors have a dog and just let their chickens run around in thier yard but I am worried mine my fly away? Maybe just being too overly cautious. What do you think?

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center

Watch out for the poultry addition ......

When you watch them hatch for the first time

Then out come the little guys and your hooked for life

Enjoy your poultry

gander007

 

[drumstick diva]

welcome to the flock, just keep an eye on your dogs and the neighbors dog. Since he lets his birds roam free some may decide to move in with you or vice versa. Also his rooster may be paying your girls a visit and sometimes they elope.

 

[Basskids08]

Hello again everyone, thanks for the welcome and helpful information, nice to be on a website all about chickens.


I am planning to build a nice big enclosed run while the chickens are still brooding in case there are any issues with the dogs. I just contacted the chicken breeder and I placed an order for the following birds:

Two Silver-laced Wyandotte's
Two Gold-laced Wyandotte's
One Blue Maran
One Splash Maran
Two Americauna X Black Maran [Olive egger?]
Two Buff Polish


We already two Delawares in the brooder at the neighbor's house.


Still on the hunt for a Australorp, Cream Legbar, and Croad Langshan to add later if I end up building another coop. Maybe a pair of ducks?


My neighbor is planning on giving me theircurrent coop, since they are upgrading to a new larger one to house their new Delaware's which will bring their flock to 12 chicken. They have eight chickens now that fit in their coop comfortably,


If I need to I will build another one to allow more room. Do you think I should?


Does anyone have a good blueprint or DIY guide to building a nice big run? How big should it be? I want it to be on the larger side because I have plenty of room and I want them to be comfortable. I was thinking of attaching it to the coop. My neighbors have a dog and just let their chickens run around in thier yard but I am worried mine my fly away? Maybe just being too overly cautious. What do you think?

Hello again!

Have you checked out all the coops here on BYC? Here is the link to help you get started, https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops. There are some really great coops and run pics and blueprints to look at! Good luck!