Hi From NJ

[MYNSBTR]

Hello everyone...

I am new to the site and the whole chicken experience. It all started about a week ago when we took my daughter to Great Adventure's Safari. On the ride home, there was a sign in front of a house that they had chickens for sale. We figured, let's go take a look. Well we did, and fell in love with the idea. We still talk about it and that we both want to get the chickens, but we feel as though we need to be better prepared before we take that leap of faith. I have been doing some research to see what we would need to do in the beginning. The guy said he would sell us medicated food with the chickens, so we're all for that, but what exactly do we need in order to be chicken owners? He had 3 different kinds..one were silkies, one he called Easter egg chickens and one other, I dont' remember.

Can someone please tell me what we need for these little chicks to come home with us? (I just purchased plans to build a stealth coop on ebay) Will I need to have electricity going to the coop to keep them warm in the winter? Do I need to take them to a vet and get them vaccinated? I would like to have organic chickens (eggs). Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to this experience with all of you

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

For chicks, we have a : 1. Plastic Tupperware box
2. shavings and newpapers
3. chick waterer
4. chick feeder
5. red heat lamp
6. weeds to munch (or spaghetti, lol)

We don't have electricity in our coops for adults. No vets or vaccinations for us! They aren't organic anyway.

Oh yes, and

Get those biddies!

 

[MYNSBTR]

Thanks for the welcome and info, Chocolate. I read that once they are like 5-6 weeks old, they can go in a coop, is that correct? Do they need warmth until a certain age? It can get pretty cold around here in the winter. How big of a tupperware box? I am sure I will have a million other questions until we actually get these little cuties, and then even more once they are here! lol I appreciate any help you guys give

 

[CMV]

from NH. Yours are old enough to go out any time now. They won't need heat. They need a predator proof coop and protection from the elements, but cold is not usually an issue. Heat is more of an issue for chickens than cold. Good luck with them.


ETA-Sorry early morning. Yes, 5-6 weeks is old enough to go out in a coop.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Sounds like you have a great head start - I found that chickens are a lot hardier than we give them credit for - they tend to free range, when the sun goes down they head straight to the roost for the evening. No heat in winter, just no drafts! In the summer, you can put frozen water bottle for them to keep cool, I also run a fan when it's over 80 degrees for circulation, which is important. They will need proper ventilation in the coop, also
Good luck, you came to the right place!!!!!!!!

 

[Keens2050]

Hi and welcome! What a coincidence - We are going to Six Flags next weekend - we'll have to hunt for that chicken dude! As far as starting out - keep it simple and cheap! We started a few months ago and used stuff we had around home (dog kennel fencing we bought for $50, coop my hubby made from scrap lumber, etc). Chickens do not need fancy dishes or even electricity. For the winter just close the door to their coop! You'll want to make sure you get a winter-hardy breed. Do a lot of research on your chickens before you get them. If you get peeps, give them a heat lamp at night to maintain body temp but can go out during day when it is warm (just like their mama would do in the wild). We currently have 8 Silver-laced wyandottes (patiently waiting for 1st egg) and a rooster. They are great egg-layers, mild temperment and winter hardy. We don't let ours free-range as neighbor has a very nice garden and I wish to remain friends with same neighbor. Go to local feed store for your chicken feed! This guy will "sell" you stuff he gets from same place for a higher price. We started with medicated peep starter and now they're on pellets plus whatever scraps we give them and weeds we pull and toss in). By scraps I mean apple cores, peach skins, spaghetti, watermelon rind, etc. I can't stress enough - keep it simple & cheap. Do not invest hundreds of dollars into this if it doesn't work out for you. They don't lay golden eggs! Good luck & keep us all posted!

 

[Stevo]

Welcome fellow newjersian. Were in NJ are you? You could look at our coop and brood area if you want so you know exactly what you need. Chickens are very easy to keep and raise. I have EE's also and some bantams. Got my first egg yesterday. This site is great. These peeps know there poultry. Friendly knowledgeable chicken luvers. Here is a photo of the day we brought ours home and you can see the brood area.

Very simple to make. When they got big enuff to jump over the barrier I just took it down and put some roosts in.

 

[TheChickenProject]

Hello New Jersey! Great to see another one of us on the site!

I, too, just started the whole chicken thing. My daughter asked for a (1) pet chicken and I somehow ended up with five. Two easter eggers, one Maran, one Polish and one Frizzle. I live in Ocean County and your welcome to stop by and see my setup.

Ask as many questions as you need to. The people on this site are friendly and eager to help. There is a lot of knowledge to be found here.

I posted my coop at https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=58078.

Ask here or send me a pm, I have probably asked alot of the newbie questions you might have. Like most have said, keep it as cheap as possible. I seem to go overboard, but it is because my wife and kids are attached to them as pets.

As for taking them home, I purchased mine at seven to eight weeks old. This allowed me to go straight to the coop stage. I use the medicated chick starter and am now on grower/finisher. Be ready for poop management! I can't believe how much poop 5 chickens can make.

I did not vaccinate. My vet advised against it as long as I was not introducing them to other chickens. I know there are other views on this but I trust his judgment.

Have fun! They are not that hard to take care of!

 

[The French Hen]

From Tarpon Springs, Florida


I don't have any chickens yet.....still getting the coop and run and all that stuff ready...but hopefully soon !!

 

[MYNSBTR]

WoW! Thanks for all of your help everyone. To Keens...the chicken guy is on Rt. 571 miles down from GA. I am not sure if you are familiar with that area or not, but if you want directions from GA, let me know and I will send them to you! He had silkies that were just 2 days old, and all of the others were a bit older. He had ducks and peacocks as well.

To my fellow Jersians...I am in Toms River. I looked up on another site laws and such for owning chickens, and didn't see any restrictions, so I am going to go for it. I should be getting the plans for the Stealth Coop in a few days. We figured that one would be great, because for now (notice I say for now...lol) we only want 2 chickens, and that would be perfect for 2-3. It doesn't take up much room, so we will just add some chicken wire to make a pen for them to roam around in. Although the guy with the chickens said that they can just run free in our fenced in backyard, but the thing is...we have a neighborhood groundhog that likes to come into our yard (and eat our garden, the little stinker) and an inground pool that doesn't have a fence around it. He said if the groundhod sees something moving in the yard, it might not come in, and they don't like water, so they won't go near the pool. Im not too sure I agree with him. What are everyone else's thoughts on that?

Stevo..I love your coop. It looks so simple and clean and it looks like they have a great time in there

TCP...I saw your site...I love how you documented every step of the way. Thanks again everyone for the info. Keens...if you happen to go to the chicken guy's place, let me know...and give me your opinion of the quality of stuff he has there.