Hello All Newbie322 here

[Newbie322]

Hi,
Newbie322 here, First I would like to say how much I love these forums. I belong to few different ones for my different extended family members. Anyways I am pretty new to raising chickens, I have in the past have had experience with some farm animals growing up. But never chickens. But I am very excited and cannot wait to get my first eggs. Currently I have two one is a black silki, and the other is an Easter Egger. They are about 8 weeks old. They seem to be happy and healthy, As of right now I have them cooped up in a pr-made coop Like this one (See bottom left pic. ) so my first question is this big enough for permanent housing (do not plan on getting any more than 2)overall dimensions are like 65"LX28WX48"H And will they be ok outside during the winter. (I live In NWNJ) and last winter was brutal . by reading a couple of threads they seem pretty adaptable to weather changes. Also when should I switch over to layer feed , I have a large bag and with only two its going to last a while. One last question I read and have been told they eat pretty much anything, however I have placed watermelon/lettuce and corn cobs and they seem to have no interest. Is that they are still young . Sorry last one . Should there be anything special I need to give them besides grower feed then layer feed / lots of fresh water, clean out the pen basic care
Thanks
Newbie322

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! A great place to start is the BYC Learning Center, lots of nice articles on all aspects of poultry keeping you'll find helpful with your new flock https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
With the coop, the general rule of thumb is four square feet per bird inside the coop, and ten outside in the run... if those dimensions are the coop itself (not including the run) you will probably be OK with two birds, if it includes the run you are going to be short on space in the winter / when they can't go outside because of the weather.
Both your birds look to have regular feathering in the pictures (your Silkie does not look silkie feathered?), they should be fine as long as they have good draft free shelter.
Most commercial Layer feeds recommend switching over after 18 weeks or when you see that first egg (with Silkies they tend to start laying fairly late). Most people will put out a bowl of oyster shell when they start laying also, so they can get extra calcium if they need it.
It does take most chickens awhile to get used to eating new things, they can be downright suspicious ... if you mix new things in with their regular feed / whatever they will eat, they will usually get the idea that it is edible.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Welcome to BYC!

@Kelsie2290 gave you some solid advice.

Your girls do not look to be silkies to me (and I don't see Easter Egger either). But I could be wrong. It may be worth a shot to start a thread on the "what breed or gender am I?" section of the forum and get some breed advice.

Best of luck to you!

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree I don't see a silkie or an EE in the pictures. Maybe they are mixes of silkie/ee. Are they hatchery stock? I don't think that coop will survive a brutal winter., without beefing it up. They usually market them to hold many more chickens than is healthly. Their styles are cute but, they lack substance and don't hold up to weather.