Hello Everyone!

[SueD]

LOL thanks Judy!

I will post pics of my coops as soon as we get it complete (if I can figure out how to post pics here)

My hubby asked me a question tonight though. I'm sure it's going to sound stupid but, after he asked? I was curious too lol.

What do new born baby chicks eat the minute they pop out of their shells? Other animals feed their babies of course, but what do chickens do?

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

You didn't even have to mention to him about hatching chicks...he is already curious about it!!!!

There are a lot of good posts in raising baby chicks section.
But to answer your question simply now:
They live off of the yolk they absorb for awhile. It is is said that they can live off of it for 72 hours. My chicks usually start eating & drinking at about 24 hours old. If a hen hatches them, she will take care of it all.
They will need chick starter & fresh water in a waterer that they can't drown in. Chicks are not smart about the dangers of water.
Also newly hatched chicks have to kept warm & dry if they are not with Mom.

When you get ready for hatching chicks, just post & we will all help as much as we can.
I hope I answered your questions.

Jean

 

[wendy]

Hi Sue ,

Welcome to BYC! We also got started with chickens about two months ago and finished our chicken coop. We love it, I finally got a chance to add pictures yesterday. (You mentioned posting pictures, go to FAQ, it is there step by step_ but if you have problems anyone here will help) Anyway I emailed the link to my husband, he works offshore. He said it made him feel homesick! That made me feel bad, I did not want to make him feel down!
Best of luck, can't wait for pics!
I posted mine in coop design and contruction.

 

[SueD]

Thanks Jean and Wendy!

BTW Jean...I LOVE your paint horse! I also have a horse but I couldn't get any of my pics to fit my profile like you did. (gawd i am so puter dumb lol)

And, Wendy?...I LOVE your chicken coop! great job to hubby!

My hubby finished mine yesterday. He just has to put a few perches up today before we go pick up out new chickens yay!

I will try to take pics of it today. Although...I still have to paint the trim, he finished painting the big stuff yesterday. I thought the paint was going to be more gray, but it looks a little on the blue side. I guess when you buy paint out of home depot's "oops" pile for $5 a gallon? You cant be picky about color lol.

I've been on this web site for about a week now, and I cant believe how nice everyone is in EVERY category I have posted in. I also never knew there were so many passionate chicken owners and lovers out there. I know their are tons of animal lovers, just never thought about chickens so much for pets before I guess. This is so GREAT! You gotta love the USA and us crazy animal lovers! and also all our poor hubbys who help us wives when we to venture off and decide we want something which makes them all have to become things like architect's lol! My hubby askes me to "stop thinking" sometimes, it makes him have to work to much. But , he knows also, he BETTER step in and help me when I start brain storming, or our yard would be a disaster of poor creations lol. Well, I should say "some" of our yards. I know there are plenty of women on this board that built their own coops themselves! and did fantastic jobs to boot! I say cudos to them! I'm just not one of you talented ones lol.

God Bless everyone on this web site, your ALL just a wonderful group of people, and I'm so very happy to be a small part now!

Sue

 

[wendy]

Good morning Sue,

Well you are so sweet. What state do you live in? I will tell my hubby that he got some great comments on his wonderful design and building! He had all that figured out in his head. He is pretty handy. I wish I would have thought about paint cans on discount. I bought barn and fence paint. I want to add some little pics of roosters and chickens to the outside of our coop. Still trying to find what I am looking for exactly.
Man alot of you have horses and goats and all kind of other animals. We want to get horses next year, I know it will not be cheap. So we are waiting to pay somethings off first and start on our fencing and all that good stuff. I posted on one message board asking about how much it cost for feed and vet bills and anything else anyone can think of for horses to get a idea. We have been asking around and checking out websites. We want to be well informed! And investigate it. We have 13 acres and our land backs up to the national forest and then there is the pipeline. We can ride the pipeline on horses for miles!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

On what the newborn (or should say newly hatched) chicks eat, as stated above, chick starter, in a feeder low enoug they can reach it, and also sprinkled on the floor for them the first couple days. Mom will show them, or if you get them from a hatchery they figure it out themselves. You can say "Chick chick" and tap your fingernail on the feed on the floor, and they will run to see what you have, and peck it. So cute. Just get the little feeder with holes in it, that screws on a mason jar. Same for waterers--the little plastic ones that screw on a jar. For the first 3 or 4 days, put marbles or pebbles in the water, so they can't get in there and drown. I don't know how they sometimes manage this, but they do. It isn't deep enough to drown, but if they get in and can't get out, I think they just wear out and give up and go down in the water.
For the first few days, if you don't have a mom with them, put paper towels on the floor or on top of the shavings to sprinkle the feed on. Not newspaper, as it is slick and can cause "spraddle leg". You will be reading all this stuff in the "raising baby chick" section.

 

[SueD]

Thanks again guys for all the great info!

Wendy, if you want? email me when you get time with all your horse questions and I will try and put you on the right path with that. You have tobe VERY careful when getting into horses for the first time. The word "horse trader" has a bad reputation and sadly enough...for a GOOD reason!

BTW...what are you guys using for nesting box material? still pine shavings or do you use hay for those boxes? (sorry bout all the questions)

Sue

Opps forgot...Wendy I'm in NJ

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Sue

Thanks for the compliment on "Goose".
I couldn't get my pic to resize either. I emailed the pic to Rob (Nifty Chicken), & he resized & put it as my avatar. Great Guy!!!

You will enjoy this site. Everyone has their own opinions about things, I love to read what works for others.
Some of the ideas I try & some I don't.
That's what I love about being here. If somebody forgets to add a step to things, there is always somebody to jump in and fill in the blanks.
I know I sometimes forget some stuff, my fingers don't work as fast as my mind sometimes....well, a lot of the time.

Oh, I mostly use hay in my nest boxes. I have used pine shavings & shredded paper, but I like hay the best. When it's time to clean them out, it comes out easier for me.

Jean

 

[SueD]

Hiya Jean,

Thanks. Thats what I did yesterday. I decided on my own to just put hay in them. I guess it was the right choice lol.

I got my chickens too yesterday YAY! They are older than I thought they would be. I thought I have bought babies, but I bought 11 month olds!
The lady had told me that is what I ordered lol. I'm happy they are older though. Except one...I bought a cool looking younger one to go with my others. She said it was a cross breed and wasen't for sale, but I whined long enough to talk her into letting me have it lol.

I didn't get much time to spend with them yet because we got home late and had diner plans with some friends but, I cant wait to go out there today and spend time with them. What's funny is...we put them in their new house and whe I went to check on them before we went out...there was already an egg!! I guess I'm not a virgin anymore already? lol

Sue

PS...I will have to talk to your friend and see if I can beg enough for him to put my pic up for me too lol

 

[SueD]

Hi guys,

I posted pics of my coop and chickens as promised. I guess you can find them if you do a search for my name on the board.

Sue