Greetings! I'm new to raising baby chicks, and to using online forums.

[MotherOfPeepPeeps]

Hello everyone! I am new to raising baby chicks, and I'm also fairly new to using online forums... So if I ask any silly questions or do anything wrong, I thank you in advance for your patience.

i have had a few hens before, but never chicks. I just purchased my first chicks as an impulse buy from Tractor Supply when I stumbled upon their $1 chick sale while there to buy dogfood. I came home with 5 australorps and 5 barred rocks... They are mixed run, so I plan to keep the hens and eat the roos.

i currently live in the 'burbs, so this is my first adventure in urban chicken keeping; all my other chicken keeping experiences were in the country.

Since this was an impulse decision my baby peepers are living in a repurposed hedgehog cage with a heat lamp until I can build them a proper coop this weekend, and until they are big enough to live outside (which is when?).

I am also the mother of a Jack Russell and two cats, who are disturbingly looking at my peep peeps like they think they might be chicken nuggets (Any tips on this?)

I look forward to meeting all of you and sharing with you my adventures in urban chicken keeping. Feel free to AMA.

*I forgot to mention my location! I am located near Springfield, Missouri.

 

[Kiki]

We are glad you joined this flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
Feel free to ask any and all questions.
Heat lamp? Are you checking the exact temp in their brooder? Too hot is bad, bad, bad.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

 

[featherhead007]

YAH, what KIKI said!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your new babies! They will need heat until about 5 weeks of age. Start day olds around 90 degrees, heat lamp off to one side, food and water on the cool side of the brooder. Show them where food and water is on day one by tapping at food sprinkled on the floor around the feeder. Dip beaks in the water so the feel the water. Do not cover the brooder with anything but screen or wire for good heat and oxygen exchange. Lower the temp once a week by 5 degrees until room temp. They can go out to the coop when fully feathered or about 5 weeks. You can however take them outside for short field trips in nice days, supervised at all times.

Definitely stop by our Learning Center for all kinds of great articles on all the aspects of raising and keeping poultry.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

So make yourself at home here and ask any questions you may have.

Welcome to our roost!

 

[MotherOfPeepPeeps]

We are glad you joined this flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
Feel free to ask any and all questions.
Heat lamp? Are you checking the exact temp in their brooder? Too hot is bad, bad, bad.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops

No, I have not checked the exact temp, but the average temp in my basement where their cage currently resides is about 65° F, which I suspected was a little chilly. The cage is wire sided, and large enough that they can get out from under the lamp if they want to. I have noticed that they go and huddle under the lamp though, so I suspect they are appreciating the extra warmth.

Thank you for the links and the friendly welcome to the community!

 

[featherhead007]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your new babies! They will need heat until about 5 weeks of age. Start day olds around 90 degrees, heat lamp off to one side, food and water on the cool side of the brooder. Show them where food and water is on day one by tapping at food sprinkled on the floor around the feeder. Dip beaks in the water so the feel the water. Do not cover the brooder with anything but screen or wire for good heat and oxygen exchange. Lower the temp once a week by 5 degrees until room temp. They can go out to the coop when fully feathered or about 5 weeks. You can however take them outside for short field trips in nice days, supervised at all times.

Definitely stop by our Learning Center for all kinds of great articles on all the aspects of raising and keeping poultry.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

So make yourself at home here and ask any questions you may have.

Welcome to our roost!

And.... When they start jumping out of the brooder, it's time for the coop!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

i have had a few hens before, but never chicks. I just purchased my first chicks as an impulse buy from Tractor Supply when I stumbled upon their $1 chick sale while there to buy dogfood. I came home with 5 australorps and 5 barred rocks... They are mixed run, so I plan to keep the hens and eat the roos.

Since this was an impulse decision my baby peepers are living in a re-purposed hedgehog cage with a heat lamp until I can build them a proper coop this weekend, and until they are big enough to live outside (which is when?).

Outside? Outside where? Geographic locations vary. I'm in Florida, mine can go out a lot quicker than my Friends up in the Great Lakes can put theirs out. You might want to add the approx location to your profile so the answers to your questions come a little faster.

I am also the mother of a Jack Russell and two cats, who are disturbingly looking at my peep peeps like they think they might be chicken nuggets (Any tips on this?)

Your dog can be trained. ASAP. The more you work with your Jack, the more success you will achieve in reaching that goal. As far as the cats..

they will only be a threat until the birds get larger. Until then, watch out for the cats.

I look forward to meeting all of you and sharing with you my adventures in urban chicken keeping. Feel free to AMA.

I am pleased to meet you. You joined a wonderful web site. A close knitted community of very knowledgeable and friendly people whom I'm proud to be associated with.
Welcome to the site!

 

[MotherOfPeepPeeps]

View attachment 1342481

Outside? Outside where? Geographic locations vary. I'm in Florida, mine can go out a lot quicker than my Friends up in the Great Lakes can put theirs out. You might want to add the approx location to your profile so the answers to your questions come a little faster.

Your dog can be trained. ASAP. The more you work with your Jack, the more success you will achieve in reaching that goal. As far as the cats.. View attachment 1342486 they will only be a threat until the birds get larger. Until then, watch out for the cats.

I am pleased to meet you. You joined a wonderful web site. A close knitted community of very knowledgeable and friendly people whom I'm proud to be associated with.
Welcome to the site!
View attachment 1342510

I forgot to mention my location! I am in Missouri.

It's nice to meet you, Farmer Connie.

 

[Mraya]

 

[featherhead007]

Missouri? Well, you can stay anyways..... kidding