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rnchick74

rnchick74

Urban Chick Keeper
5 Years
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
613
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157
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138
Location
Louisville KY
I am seriously considering getting some chicks and keeping a small flock in my urban backyard. I have several friends with chickens and am always envious of their fresh eggs! I am always looking for more ways to get the freshest foods and get closer to nature. The funniest thing is that it was my son's idea that put the bug in my ear!

I look forward to reading/learning as much as I can before taking the big plunge. I think I have my breeds narrowed down. I'm going to start small & have some fun!

Thanks for this wonderful resource.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

Yes, this is the place to be when you own poultry! We are just bursting at the seams with knowledge!

You will want to start in our learning center here on BYC for hints on how to get started, building the coop, raising the babies, breeds and keeping your adult flock happy, healthy and safe from predators...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you have any specific questions, that is what we are here for. Welcome to our flock!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Have fun with your research, this is the place to be to find chicken info!
 
Thanks all! I've decided that I am going to take the plunge in a few weeks. I am pretty sure I've narrowed down my hatchery (closest to me & my friends with chickens have had good luck ordering from there) - Meyers. I think I even know what I'm going to order!

The min order is 3 chicks, so I'm going to order 1 of each: Golden lace Wynadotte, Silver laced Polish, Buff lace Polish (my son's request for this one - I would have gotten a Black Austrolorp personally).

I'm going to get a kit for my coop...and I will extend the run on it to add more room: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007D8319O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1COL9L9I6N7RM&coliid=I1DXCG6XPZG0FZ

I don't have a fenced in backyard & I rent, so I can't do free range.

But 1st, I need to get my brooding supplies. I'm planning on getting a large tub, nipple waterer, etc. But I'm reading about the various risks of a heat lamp vs a radiant warmer like the EcoGlow. They are quite $$$! I'm torn as to what to do!

Also, I'm a little confused as to where to put my food/watering systems inside my coop. Is it better to have them in the run section or in the roost/house section?

I can't tell if the coop kit has a floor or not. The location it will be on, is dirt/grass. I'm not sure the best way to protect from digging predators. I am going to add a shingle roof on the coop and paint it to help weather proof it. Also, the top ventilation windows will have hardware wire added for security.

I'm sure I will have a ton more questions. Thanks for any help/advice anyone has!
 
I think you'll find the coop has a floor. Without nest box, it is about 2' x 2' in the coop itsef. That isn't enough room for food or water and 3 chickens. Remember that the rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird in the coop of functional floor space, not including food, water and nest. That's not written in stone, but worth considering. In summer, if the coop isn't just as cool as the outdoors and have a breeze, they will want to sleep in the run. Chickens tolerate cold quite well but have a lot of trouble with heat. In that coop, if I decided to keep 3 chickens in it, I would use the nest area as part of the coop, and set something like a covered kitty litter pan outdoors for the nest (they only neeed one.) Food and water can go indoors or out for adults. Adult chickens do not eat or drink af night, but they do start looking for food and drink at the crack of dawn. The food needs to be kept dry which can be difficult if it is outdoors, even under a coop. Rain blowing in from the side can be enough to cause problems.

When I brooded indoors, I used a large refrigerator box resting on a large sheet of painter's plastic, with a heat lamp very carefully and safely suspended from a rig on the back of a heavy chair. I put a standard feeder and waterer on bricks. It can be done without spending a bunch of money.

They will only need heat for a very few weeks, particularly in your climate. You will find they don't like things as hot as the charts say and can easily be weaned off heat entirely at 3 or 4 weeks. The Eco Glo is a lovely product but you may not get much use out of it.
 
Judy said:
I think you'll find the coop has a floor. Without nest box, it is about 2' x 2' in the coop itsef. That isn't enough room for food or water and 3 chickens. Remember that the rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird in the coop of functional floor space, not including food, water and nest. That's not written in stone, but worth considering. In summer, if the coop isn't just as cool as the outdoors and have a breeze, they will want to sleep in the run. Chickens tolerate cold quite well but have a lot of trouble with heat. In that coop, if I decided to keep 3 chickens in it, I would use the nest area as part of the coop, and set something like a covered kitty litter pan outdoors for the nest (they only neeed one.) Food and water can go indoors or out for adults. Adult chickens do not eat or drink af night, but they do start looking for food and drink at the crack of dawn. The food needs to be kept dry which can be difficult if it is outdoors, even under a coop. Rain blowing in from the side can be enough to cause problems.

When I brooded indoors, I used a large refrigerator box resting on a large sheet of painter's plastic, with a heat lamp very carefully and safely suspended from a rig on the back of a heavy chair. I put a standard feeder and waterer on bricks. It can be done without spending a bunch of money.

They will only need heat for a very few weeks, particularly in your climate. You will find they don't like things as hot as the charts say and can easily be weaned off heat entirely at 3 or 4 weeks. The Eco Glo is a lovely product but you may not get much use out of it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info! I can't believe I'm really going to do this! I've been looking locally for some cheap supplies to make the brooder, after looking at the pics here. I've got a pretty good idea of what I want & it will cost me about $30 initially & can be doubled in size for $20 as the chicks grow. I might go ahead and do it now, or wait to make it bigger...haven't decided yet.

I know where I want to order/buy my other supplies. My big splurge will be the premier1 heat plate since I'm gone to work during the day & have cats. The risk of fire scares me! Everything else will be low cost.

I'm going to make a nipple waterer & PVC feeder...still working on ideas to help shelter from blowing rain inside the coop.

I'm also trying to figure out what to use inside the brooder for bedding & what to use in the coop. I'm allergic to pine, so shavings are difficult for me to use, though I can use gloves to touch so I don't get hives. I know using flat newspapers can cause spray legs, but what about shredded newspapers? I will line the brooder with puppy pads, use some sort of bedding, then cover with paper towels for the 1st few days.

Inside the coop, I am thinking of using sand on the floor. Inside the nest boxes - nest pads and straw? Does that sound reasonable?

Now to figure out what colors to paint the coop!

I'm getting my order ready for my chicks!!!
 
I'd just see what I can find. Hay, straw. another type of wood shavings if available such as aspen, rice hulls, even dried leaves from last fall. Probably the puppy pads or paper towels will be enough by themselves for the first few days, til they learn the difference between litter and food. Actually I don't see why you couldn't use sand after that.
 
Well...it's official! I just made my 1st chick order from the hatchery!

I ordered 1 of each:
Black Australorp Female
Golden Laced Polish Standard Female
Golden Laced Wyandotte Female
Silver Laced Polish Standard Female

They are supposed to be delivered 7/15-7/17...

Time to make the brooder!
 

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