chickyfarm
In the Brooder
- Mar 19, 2015
- 31
- 1
- 31
Hi all.
I'm from MN, and just ordering my first chicks. We moved to 6 acres last fall, and the pre-existing barn is going to be partially turned into a coop. I plan on free ranging when outside, but have already seen hawks and eagles flying over so my chickies will need to stay safe when we're not home.
I ordered 10 RIRs and 5 Americanas, as we want these for layers. Next year we will be raising some for meat.
So far, I have the brooder from fleet farm, which will be placed in a plastic kiddie pool in the garage until chicks are big enough for the coop. I have 2 small plastic waterers that are safe for baby chicks, and 2 of those 8 hole feeders for hopefully less mess. I plan on pine shavings with paper towels over the top for the beddings. I will also be adding org ACV to their water and trying to ferment their food. Then there's the heat lamp with red bulb. I do plan on medicated feed for now.
Any other advice? I've been reading over tons of posts here from feed choice, to worming, to natural things to keep birds healthy.
Oh! I also want to get a few guinea that I would leave to free range when they get bigger. I don't want a ton, so if anyone knows someone in MN that can sell maybe just 4, that would be awesome.
Nice to be here, this place is a wealth of information!
I'm from MN, and just ordering my first chicks. We moved to 6 acres last fall, and the pre-existing barn is going to be partially turned into a coop. I plan on free ranging when outside, but have already seen hawks and eagles flying over so my chickies will need to stay safe when we're not home.
I ordered 10 RIRs and 5 Americanas, as we want these for layers. Next year we will be raising some for meat.
So far, I have the brooder from fleet farm, which will be placed in a plastic kiddie pool in the garage until chicks are big enough for the coop. I have 2 small plastic waterers that are safe for baby chicks, and 2 of those 8 hole feeders for hopefully less mess. I plan on pine shavings with paper towels over the top for the beddings. I will also be adding org ACV to their water and trying to ferment their food. Then there's the heat lamp with red bulb. I do plan on medicated feed for now.
Any other advice? I've been reading over tons of posts here from feed choice, to worming, to natural things to keep birds healthy.
Oh! I also want to get a few guinea that I would leave to free range when they get bigger. I don't want a ton, so if anyone knows someone in MN that can sell maybe just 4, that would be awesome.
Nice to be here, this place is a wealth of information!
and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your soon to be new flock! You might like to check out your state thread for chicken keeping neighbors, and maybe somebody knows of guinea keepers locally 
Sounds like you are all prepared with your brooder. Drop by the buy sell trade section for any guineas that may be for sale 
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