Hi there! My girls were just released into their run for the first time!

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC.

 

[NelliesFlock]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Cute photo! You have been given some wonderful advice! The only other thing I would add is, spend as much time as possible observing them. Not only just for fun, but you can learn SO much over time what is normal, what is not, when "Lucy" looks off or "Gertrude" is acting slow, etc... Get to know their personalities and habits. Handle them often too, pick them up, carry them around, towel them and lay them on their backs in your lap, look at their feet, etc...At some point in their lives they may need some medical treatment and having them comfortable with being handled will be less stressful on them.

Enjoy your flock and welcome to ours!

Great tip!! I cannot wait to learn about each one Thank you!

 

[NelliesFlock]

Hello, Nell, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Be expecting some cockerels if you got extras.

I have no single best tip for tip for raising healthy birds. Feed them a complete feed with 18-20% protein for life, give them plenty of clean fresh water, keep the coop dry and extremely well ventilated, give them a minimum of 4 sq ft of space per bird each with a foot of roost space in the coop and give them 20 sq ft of space in the run/pen and make sure the run is constructed so that nothing can get at them. Chicken wire will do absolutely nothing to secure a chicken. Make sure they have lots of places to dust and sun bathe and have lots and lots of perches and objects in the run for them to fly up on and dig around.
For you: poop boards will be your very best friend!

Great tips!! Thank you.

I’ll need to do some more research on poop boards as I am attempting the deep litter method to start.

 

[NelliesFlock]

Hi Nell, welcome to BYC!
My tip concerns space; the more the better. The more space you give them, the less stress they ( and you) will have. Less stress =happier, healthier birds.

Awesome tip. Thank you!

Not going to lie; I was concerned on the free “contingency” additions as I hadn’t designed the coop to accommodate them!! . Thankfully the coop is still plenty big for them - if we get a Roo, we’ll need to re-home him. More space for the ladies!

 

[Grammy60]

Hello Nell and welcome to BYC We are happy you have joined our community. Best of luck with your new chickens!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi Nell and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock!
Grab a roost & enjoy your time here!

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Welcome To BackYard Chickens,

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC ! My tip is your ramp looks a little far from the bottom of the door . I would extend it so the angle is not so steep and it runs up to the bottom of the door . Nice birds and coop . Good luck .

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! It's so nice to meet you! Please make yourself at home!