Hello! Any help will be very appreciated!

[Windflower]

Hello,
My landlord built a chicken cooper near our house last summer, and now does not have time to take care of them, so I will be taking over thier care. I am walking into this blind, but I love animals and want to make sure they are happy and healthy. I have never been around chickens before! So I am a little anxious to learn as much as possible. I am starting my research now but any help from any BYC veterans would be amazing. There are 9 mature female chickens bought for laying eggs. From what I understand they have been changing the water every 2-3 days and I'm not 100% sure what the type of chicken feed they have been using. I haven't seen anyone in thier run with them, so I'm not sure how friendly they will be. I am looking for suggestions on what to look for when I start this adventure. Also, since they have been in thier run thier whole lives, is there any chance of being able to let them out during the day? There is plenty of open space for them to roam around, but we're in the county, in PA, so there are lots of predators.
I am open to any tips on how to approach this. Looking for advice, and perhaps a mentor! Thank you in advance and thank you for all of the information on the other threads! Love the community!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@Windflower - A friendly BYC welcome to you!

I highly suggest reading through our Articles section on chicken care, and do your homework on predator prevention/coop security. I hope some other folks can link and point you to a few of those articles on selecting feed and caring for these new gals! Definitely keep them with access to clean water. Try posting in our forum called "Managing Your Flock" and ask for some tips!

 

[BullChick]

As to free ranging, give it a shot. Hawks, dogs and cats are the biggest concern. If they have cover, they can usually avoid hawk attacks.
Feed is any layer feed. Even Walmart carries it anymore.
Change the water as often as you can. 2-3 days isn’t bad if it’s clean.
Join the state thread (check my signature), and get help from locals too.

 

[TwoShepherds]

Hello and welcome! I hope you enjoy chicken-keeping as much as I do. This is a great place to learn and ask questions, lots of welcoming and experienced people here. I feed my pullets Purina flock raiser that I get at the local Tractor Supply store, and I leave out a bowl of grit and oyster shell that is replenished as needed.

 

[Sequel]

Hi and welcome! It's great to have you here!
They need a complete chicken feed, either layer feed or an all flock, flock raiser type that has a little higher protein. Either one you can get will be great and freshness is important. Offer a little dish of oyster shells so they can get more calcium if they need it. You already know about fresh clean water.

I would spend time with them in their run if possible, sit on a bucket or something and let them get comfortable with you being there with them. You can train them to come to you by offering a tiny amount of a treat such as scratch grains, meal worms or even little pieces of bread, leftover meatballs etc . I make a clucking sound like you'd make to a horse every time I have a little treat and it won't take long before they'll run to you. Always give it in their run, so when you do let them out all you have to do is cluck a few times and they'll run back in and Bob's your uncle! Safe contained chickens and no chasing!

Just make sure the treats are less than 10% of their daily diet. This includes greens and any table scraps you might think they'd like.

You are wonderful for taking them on and caring about doing it well! You've come to the right place and don't worry, there are as many ways of caring for chickens as there are chicken keepers.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You might benefit from stopping by our Learning Center, lots of great articles on getting started and how to keep them proper Here.

And if you have any questions along the way, be sure and ask. Welcome to our community!

 

[Windflower]

Thank you!

 

[Windflower]

As to free ranging, give it a shot. Hawks, dogs and cats are the biggest concern. If they have cover, they can usually avoid hawk attacks.
Feed is any layer feed. Even Walmart carries it anymore.
Change the water as often as you can. 2-3 days isn’t bad if it’s clean.
Join the state thread (check my signature), and get help from locals too.

Thank you! I'll keep an eye on the water, and probably just do 1-2 days. I see hawks and owls all the time...I think I'm going to keep that on the back burner until I can have it more thought out. I tried your link and it said I didnt have permission lol

 

[Windflower]

Hello and welcome! I hope you enjoy chicken-keeping as much as I do. This is a great place to learn and ask questions, lots of welcoming and experienced people here. I feed my pullets Purina flock raiser that I get at the local Tractor Supply store, and I leave out a bowl of grit and oyster shell that is replenished as needed.

Thank you! I will start there first and load up on goodies for the girls. Lol

 

[Windflower]

Hi and welcome! It's great to have you here!
They need a complete chicken feed, either layer feed or an all flock, flock raiser type that has a little higher protein. Either one you can get will be great and freshness is important. Offer a little dish of oyster shells so they can get more calcium if they need it. You already know about fresh clean water.

I would spend time with them in their run if possible, sit on a bucket or something and let them get comfortable with you being there with them. You can train them to come to you by offering a tiny amount of a treat such as scratch grains, meal worms or even little pieces of bread, leftover meatballs etc . I make a clucking sound like you'd make to a horse every time I have a little treat and it won't take long before they'll run to you. Always give it in their run, so when you do let them out all you have to do is cluck a few times and they'll run back in and Bob's your uncle! Safe contained chickens and no chasing!

Just make sure the treats are less than 10% of their daily diet. This includes greens and any table scraps you might think they'd like.

You are wonderful for taking them on and caring about doing it well! You've come to the right place and don't worry, there are as many ways of caring for chickens as there are chicken keepers.

Thank you so much. I will keep my nose to the books, but you have no idea how much this will help! This is such a good idea on how to get them warmed up to me. I have been intimidated since they're all mature and it helps having a place to start.