HELP, I'm new at this!

[Spring]

We live in the country (middle of orange grove actually). But our space is limited, since we rent. We are building a little coop, and want to have Bantam chickens (my parents keep calling them Bannie). Anyway.... we want them to be tame enough to wear we can hold them etc.... We have two little boys that are going to help take care of them. A couple questions:

1. We might buy a pair of Golden Sebrights (going to look at them today).... are they able to become tame sort of even if we aren't raising them from baby.
2. Can we let them out of the pen in our back yard to roam around, will they fly away?
3. We want to get a couple more hens too (different kinds) Where can we buy them , with out having to mail away and have to get 25 chicks. ??

I'm just trying to figure this all out. Thanks!
Spring

 

[missusduray]

I am going to do my best to answer your questions.
1. All birds have different personalities. If they were hand raised from babies they should be used to being handled. Just ask the owners how often they handled them. That should give you your answer to how tame they should be. Giving treats will work wonders to get them to warm up to you as new owners.
2.You can eventually let them out in the backyard. I would reccomend keeping them in the coop for at least 12 hours so that they know where home is. Chickens do fly but not like other birds. They only make it off the ground a few feet and only fly in short bursts. Bantams may be able to do more, I only have heavy birds that can fly so far.
3. You can order as little as 3 birds from mypetchicken.com or you can buy them from people on BYC that live close to you. You could also find out where a local swap meet is and get them there. Some feed stores will also sell baby chicks and/or juvinile birds.

On another topic I noticed that you posted about food. IF they are under 20 weeks, they will need chick starter. It is up to you on weither you want medicated or unmedicated. If they are older than 20 weeks then they will need layer pellets so that the hens will have the nutrition that they need to produce eggs.

Hope that this helps.
Kristyne

 

[Spring]

THANK YOU!!! I'm so glad to find this board.

What do you suggest? SHould I go with getting chicks to start? Or get the two and then get chicks?

 

[missusduray]

I got 4 adults first, on mothers day, so that I could have eggs. they are just now getting to the point of eating out of my hand. They like to follow me around the yard too. I still cant hold them or pet them. They are still to shy. I also have 14 chicks that are 5 weeks old and I have hand raised them. I can pick up all of them. Some like it more than others. Baby chicks requier a lot of attention and things. Specific food, heat light, brooder, bedding, waterer.
Older chickens will be past the fussy stage and a little easier to care for. It is up to you. Their are pros and cons to each. The best middle situation would be to get some that are like 5 or 6 weeks old and ready to go out into a coop, but they have been hand raised and are still young enough to be handled easily. That way you would be able to handle them more than the adults and they would be tamer. Unless you want to go thru the little chick stage. Just remember that chicks have to be indoors for the first 5 or 6 weeks. At least until they are fully feathered. It is easier with the less chicks that you have. 4 is a good number. I would never do 14 again. It got to crowded to fast.
Good luck.
Kristyne

 

[Spring]

I'm so thankful to your replies!! Appreciate it alot. I'm doing a lot of reading on chicks.... So I'll think on it.

 

[Spring]

We got two white silkies today. Bantam kind. They seem really good. I wish I could put a pic. on here... I'll see if I can figure it out. THey are doing good in the back yard. Seemed real friendly at first. I went out a bit ago to pet them and see how they are... and they pecked some. Can you train them not to do that to people? We are building the coop this week.