Help me pick my chicks! ( and other things)

[Shellebelle920]

First timer here... I cannot believe how easy the chicken life sucks you in! On a whim, I reserved one black Australorp chick and one Ameraucana chick to be picked up on March 17th at a local lawn and garden center, and then one buff silkie chick and one Salmon Faverolles chick to be picked up a week later. The lawn and garden center is claiming that they are all female, however I’m worried about the silkie and Ameraucana. I have Iordered a coop (the OverEZ medium coop) that supposedly fits 10 chickens (although 6 or 7 is what I think) and a rugged ranch run that can probably fit about 5 chickens comfortably. Anyway, I am questioning the breeds and the amount of chickens. I have three kids (9,7 and 3), so I need some docile kid-friendly chickens. But I also like ones that have some personality too and lay different colored eggs. There is a local farm that will have sexed blue Australorp chicks, sexed Salmon Faverolles, straight run Ameraucana and straight run assorted silkies all available on the same day in April. I was also reading a lot
Of good things about speckled Sussex chickens that the local farm will also have available that early day in spring. The local farm also has a “rooster roundup” in the case you end up with roosters. So here are my questions...

1.) Do I just stick to 4 chicks for my first go-around with this? I would probably max out my coop with six. Or should I just go for it and order six.

2.)Are my original breeds good or should I swap one out with the speckled Sussex? I do like the different egg colors that would happen with my original picks.

3.)Should I plan on losing a chick? so in other words should I order five or six knowing that the probability of all four making it is low.

4. I plan on using kitchen liner covered by paper towels for the first few days in my brooder and then switching to sand. I will have a nipple waterer, heat plates and plan on using Purina Start and Grow medicated. Also, if I order from the 1st place, I will have separated brooders for the first week. Thoughts on this setup?

5.) can I trust the lawn and garden place that is saying all the chicks will be female? Or should I go for the straight run at the farm and use the rooster roundup as a fall back.

Any opinions? Am I missing a bird that is friendly, lays cool colored eggs and that I can trust around kids. I am in love with the silkie breed, but would probably only like two max due to the sexing issue and the low-egg laying potential. Thanks so much mother cluckers !

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I might skip the silkie, or go all silkie. One silkie can be quickly bullied and if a hen will go broody constantly.

How big is the coop and run? Size? Manufactured coops are often said to hold way more than they do. Chickens need room to get away from each other or else you can have problems. Sometimes birds are content with close contact and other times they aren't.

Generally I order through a hatchery. I don't always have loses. Generally if they are good after those first days they will be fine. Sometimes one will fail to thrive and will pass within a month or so, but that's unusual. If brooder correctly you should not lose any generally.

I say prepare and read all you can before hand. Than most of your experience will come as you keep them and become more familiar with chickens. There's lots of ways to do chickens. You need to figure out what fits your life best.

 

[Shellebelle920]

I might skip the silkie, or go all silkie. One silkie can be quickly bullied and if a hen will go broody constantly.

How big is the coop and run? Size? Manufactured coops are often said to hold way more than they do. Chickens need room to get away from each other or else you can have problems. Sometimes birds are content with close contact and other times they aren't.

Generally I order through a hatchery. I don't always have loses. Generally if they are good after those first days they will be fine. Sometimes one will fail to thrive and will pass within a month or so, but that's unusual. If brooder correctly you should not lose any generally.

I say prepare and read all you can before hand. Than most of your experience will come as you keep them and become more familiar with chickens. There's lots of ways to do chickens. You need to figure out what fits your life best.

Thanks for the response! The coop is a little over 4’ wide by a little over 4’ long. It is also slightly over 5’ high. The run is 6’6” W x 7’6” L x 6’3” H (it can be extended, if needed). I’ve read that about silkies also. I was hoping maybe because the other chickens are a bit more of docile breeds and because they’d be raised together, that the silkie-bullying wouldn’t happen. But what do I know!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for the response! The coop is a little over 4’ wide by a little over 4’ long. It is also slightly over 5’ high. The run is 6’6” W x 7’6” L x 6’3” H (it can be extended, if needed). I’ve read that about silkies also. I was hoping maybe because the other chickens are a bit more of docile breeds and because they’d be raised together, that the silkie-bullying wouldn’t happen. But what do I know!

Faverolle are definitely docile, your Ameraucana, is it actually an Easter egger? They can be pushy or docile, same for Australorp.

Your coop size I wouldn't do more than 4 standard or 5-6 bantams. Standard breeds will need more room to move and burn off energy than your run size, so plan on an expansion of time out in your yard.

Where are you located? That can also affect the room needed. In bad weather your birds will need to stay inside unless you cover your run as well.

You will get more ideas and answers tomorrow I'm sure.

 

[Shellebelle920]

Faverolle are definitely docile, your Ameraucana, is it actually an Easter egger? They can be pushy or docile, same for Australorp.

Your coop size I wouldn't do more than 4 standard or 5-6 bantams. Standard breeds will need more room to move and burn off energy than your run size, so plan on an expansion of time out in your yard.

Where are you located? That can also affect the room needed. In bad weather your birds will need to stay inside unless you cover your run as well.

You will get more ideas and answers tomorrow I'm sure.

Thanks! They are claiming it is an Ameraucana, and the lawn and garden claims that they hand selected about six or 7 breeds specifically for their nature and egg-laying abilities. But who knows for sure. I’m located in western PA, so we definitely have snow and cold.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Just keep in mind that your birds will be confined during snowstorm, and you will need to clean out the run each time if you don't cover it in some manner during the winter. During these prolonged confinement sometimes birds start to pick at each other out of boredom. So you will need a winter time plan on how to keep them busy and happy.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Thanks for the response! The coop is a little over 4’ wide by a little over 4’ long. It is also slightly over 5’ high. The run is 6’6” W x 7’6” L x 6’3” H (it can be extended, if needed). I’ve read that about silkies also. I was hoping maybe because the other chickens are a bit more of docile breeds and because they’d be raised together, that the silkie-bullying wouldn’t happen. But what do I know!

That is big enough for 4 chickens. Remember a chicken usually needs 4sqFt of space per bird.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You have space for about 4 chickens. I agree that you may want to rethink the silkie with the larger breeds, especially with a small set up like this.

If I were in your position I would get 4 sexed chicks at this time. Yes possibly something could happen to one or maybe one would be a boy, so you might end up with 3 instead of 4, but if in the future you decide your family enjoys having chickens, you can scale up the coop and run along with the flock. Having chickens of different ages will help keep the egg train rolling.

Most chickens should be friendly enough if you and your kids are handling them from the start so I wouldn't really worry about getting a chicken that's mean or hard to handle. All of the breeds you listed should be fine for a family.