High Hopes on a New Farm

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MilesOfEggs

MilesOfEggs

Hatching
5 Years
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
8
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9
Location
Missouri
Brand new to this chicken thing but I have already caught the fever. I have 3 production reds, 3 blue laced wyandottes, and now 2 ducks (I couldn't say no to the kids). My husband is working as quickly and as hard as he can to get the coop done (old to new coop). And I am doing as much reading as I can! Any tidbits that people would like to share I would love to hear it. I have not found many positive chicken people so far in and around our town but some have been very excited for us and our new babies. I would like to think that we will not lose any to predators but I know that is just "high hopes" but really.. will snakes eat allllll of them even if they are in a coop? My mother in law has me worried....

-Whitney the Worried New Mother
 
welcome-byc.gif
Good luck with your chicken raising adventures, and I hope you find everything you need to know! Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! Glad to have you with us. It depends on if the snake could get into the coop.
 
Thank you. I don't see how it could, he is plugging holes and patching it up. We may still end up putting new walls on anyways. I have gotten to read a little so far, it is very helpful! One more thing that seems to be a strange question.... can my roost be up high and not have a ladder to it.. they will have to fly up there... will they?
 
Big, heavy breeds have a problem flying up to HIGH roosts, coming down is worse and they can get injured by clumsy landings. A lower roost would be better for them. Breeds like silkies often don't roost at all but, pile up on the floor in a corner.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! X2, high roosts without a ladder or step system can be a problem, especially with heavy chickens, and will probably lead to injuries. You might also like to check out the Duck forum for info on those little guys https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks
 
Thank you all!!! Instead of doing laundry I believe I will read today haha!
 
Welcome! I'm new too and like you am not finding many friendlies in my area. Probably because they hate to lose my business as an egg buyer :)
I bought the heavy breeds too, but made my choices on three criteria; 1) Egg production 2) friendliness, 3) broodiness ... #2 was important because of my granddaughter and the others for myself!

What kind of predators do you have in your area?
I'm concerned as well because we have dogs, coyotes, fox, chicken hawks, owls, snakes, and coons. To try to protect my flock will require diligence on my part when they are out of their run and I don't anticipate them being loose without me being present. The main door to my coop will be enclosed so NO outside access except through there. I think I can keep everything out except the snakes. My grandmother use to find King snakes in her nests 'sucking' the eggs. They'd actually swallow them whole! They never bothered the adult chickens but could present a problem to any babies.

Good luck!
 

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