Hi! I'm new! Getting my first chicks tomorrow!

[rileyboy]

Hey everyone, my name is Kim, I'm in the SF Bay Area, California. First of all, WOW, what a wonderful website! I sat here and read for 4 hours straight last night!

I am entering the great world of raising chickens! I am getting my first chicks tomorrow. I'm planning on getting 2 bantam silkies and 2 other kinds, haven't decided yet, need to see them. I'll probably get 3 or 4 total. Hopefully they will all be pullets since they are suppose to be. They are about 1 week old. If I end up with 1 roo, I'd be okay with that, just can't have more than 1.

My brooder is almost finished (will be done by the time I get them tomorrow). While they are under the heat lamp for about 8 weeks, I will be building my coop. I have to raise them in the garage since our barn (where I board my horses) doesn't have electricity anywhere on the property. So, when they are fully feathered, the weather should be nice, and they will move out with the horses to their brand new coop! (not right with them, but right outside the pasture)

Any tips, tricks and advice you guys want to share would be GREATLY appreciated!

Here is a picture of the coop I will be building. (this is the finished product, picture from my coop plans)

Nice to meet you all!
~Kim

 

[RAWR]

nice coop ideas! and so glad you're getting into chickens! they are so wonderful
and you will love the silkies!
good luck on your new chicks!

 

[Lolita]

 

[promiselandfarm5]

Congrats!!! Welcome!!!

Chickens are so much fun....and addictive.

Good Luck and post some pics of your new chicks.

 

[Toi-toi]

Congrats for your new chicks and welcome to the chicken world!

 

[sandiatonimarie]

Congrats on your chicks! I got my first chicks in February of this year - they are so much fun and you'll enjoy being a chicken keeper. Your coop looks great!

Only tip I'd give is keep coming to the BYC forum - I learn something every time, definitely the best source!

 

[wolftracks]

from Modesto. I'm Kim and moved here from the Bay Area little over a year ago.

 

[chick4chicks]

Hi Kim,

and to the wonderful world of chickens. I have had chicks for a little over 2 yrs. now and I love them. They are so fun to watch when they free range. They are a joy to me.

 

[write2caroline]

Jealous! Nice Coop - Did you design it or build it off of plans. About what are the dementions?

Congrats and enjoy the babies! They are soooo much fun!
Caroline

 

[rileyboy]

Not my coop yet, I haven't built mine.

I have the plans for that coop. Bought it from someone on craigslist for $12 and they emailed them to me in a PDF format, they are really great! He calls it a "Dutch Hen House". After many hours of searching for coop plans, I decided on this one because it uses whole sheets of ply wood and you cut out the patterns with a jigsaw. I bought all of the hardware for $37. My total costs for ALL of the supplies, wood, and hardware cloth should be no more than $165, and that is using all NEW items. (haven't been able to find any scrap wood on craigslist)

It is approximently 8' long and 4' wide. I may tweak the plans and make it a little bit wider.