How am I going to make it until spring??

[Chickadee28]

Yesterday I went to a feed store just to check things out. After that I went to Farm & Fleet to see what they had. I looked at all the cute chick feeders and all of the supplies. I settled for another book on raising chickens(my third) and went home. I know it makes more sense to wait until spring, I just want to get them now! DH wants to wait until spring before building a coop. I really think he is hoping I will change my mind by then. So I guess I will just have to hang out here for a few months and look at pics of all of your cute chickens

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Quote:
What a dreamer!

It must be especially hard for you, when so many people live in areas where the weather is milder and they are still hatching or ordering chicks right now. It's hard for me, too, and I already have chickens! I can only imagine what it's like for you to have to wait.

This will give you time to make some really great plans though, for the breeds you want and the coop you want. You can even think about what kind of brooder you want to put together. That's something you can make ahead of time, too.

Have you had time to start thinking about what you want, yet?

 

[Wynette]

Excellent adivce, Woodlandwoman! I just got mine this year (first time chicken owner!) and although I THOUGHT I did a lot of research ahead of time, I've found so many things I'd change in my coop design and even my chicken run design. Look at the winter as an opportunity to absorb as much info. as you can so you make really good decisions! In the spring time, when you get your new ones, they'll thank you for it many times over by being healthy babes due to your excellent decision making!

 

[LoneCowboy]

I'm going to have to say, ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!

I like my coop and run design. I wouldn't change that, but I'd change my chickens a little.

I'm brand new at this, and I'd read 3 chicken books and have been studying for 2 years before my DH decided I could have chickens.

There are 2 things I'd do differently now. 1. I'd get more variety of chickens. I just want good egg layers, I thought, and I still do, but I'd like more color in the coop. I have 5 red stars, 4 SLWs, 1 Black star, 4 EEers, They are all really nice. But I think I'd add a white and a buff and a few other things. Speckled or Barred maybe. You know, a little flash.

And #2. I'd get my max number of chickens. My coop can handle 16 but I only got 14. I was only going to get 5 or 6 then add some later, then I read that you shouldn't mix them. Bring in diseases, screw up the pecking order etc. I might have to try to sneak in a buff or something before I replace them in 2 years, but those are the 2 things I'd do differently.

So order up yourself the McMurry Hatchery catalog, and start studying the breeds. Check out all the great resources that everybody into chickens seems to know about but we newbies don't and see if you can figure out what you really want from the get go.

Good luck.

 

[MissPrissy]

Excellent advise!

You have time to plan an awesome coop. You also have time to make your own waterers and feeders which will save you big $$. Also the auto feed grit and oyster shell pvc things I think mudhen posted a few months back.

You also have time to build a bator so that come feb or march you can hatch a few early to motivate the building of the coop

If you have storage space you can spend a little each month and stock up on supplies like for the first aid chicken box. A couple bales of pine shavings. A few storage bins for your feed. Also collecting dollar store finds and baskets for cool looking nest boxes!

You have time to make a few little seasonal crafts to have to hang on the coop door (like wreaths and signs and fun stuff).

What are you waiting on? You have work to do! Get busy so you can get those chicks, woman! LOL

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Maybe your husband will soften toward the idea of chickens if he gets to see some pictures over the winter. You could show him some pictures of nice little coops that are clean and airy looking, so he doesn't keep thinking they are all dirty, stinky, dark, nasty places. A few pictures of nice chickens, clean chickens, being held by children or sitting on someone's lap might be good. Unless that would be a disturbing concept for him!

Best of all for the entire family, you could find some great pictures of pretty chickens. Maybe over time, your husband will start to have some opinions on what he likes and doesn't like in chickens and coops. Then he might feel like he is more of a participant. I'm sure he will enjoy seeing your children get all excited and that might make him feel more positive about this adventure. I'd start a folder in your browser for links to pictures that you really like. One for coops and one for chickens.

If you don't get too many chickens and you don't crowd them, keeping them clean should be fairly easy for you. If you plan an access door from the outside, your children could even gather eggs without going inside the coop, if that was a concern at all. I'd also plan on a run, so that you can keep them out of the way when you need to. That's always handy.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I have my roosts over dropping pits, and the rest of the coop doesn't get dirty hardly at all.

 

[Chickadee28]

Thanks Everyone! I feel better

DH is actually warming to the idea. I showed him the thread with everyone's pictures and he saw that yes "normal" people have chickens! The coop is going to be over sized for the amount of chickens I want, I plan to make it easy to clean and easy for the kids to get in and out to check for eggs. I am also planning a large run. Our yard is in ruins right now as we just had our septic fields replaced, so I am sectioning off the back part of our lot as the chicken area. We still have to have our yard re leveled and seeded. Minus the chemicals this time. I canceled our lawn service... who cares if we have dandelions!!!

I have been showing him pictures of the chickens I like and so far he just rolls his eyes.... But I can tell he is much more willing to go with me on this one than before. I am looking at different kinds of chicks to get, I want some that are docile, hearty and good for kids and that will lay some eggs. We will be keeping them for their natural life span as pets. I am thinking about Cochins and EE's so far. I want to hatch some very badly, but I am unsure what I would do with the males.

 

[jkcove08]

Your oversized coop will not stay oversized for long..lol Once you start it just gets bigger and bigger. Make sure a few of those hens you get are good broodies, then you will have an excuse for the chicks that just hatched.. Silkies are great for that. I have 2 different sets. I have my funny pen that holds the frizzles, Naked necks, silkies, and golden polish. I have the standard chickens for eggs, which I currently have 42 of my own eggs in the bator now so I will have a bunch of eggs for eating and to sell next spring. Mind you I am in Iowa and I also just ordered a large bunch of eggs from Dipsey Doodle doo again. My B-Day present to myself. I will have chicks in the basement all winter. My hubby just shakes his head and helps me build coops. Dont ever think any question is silly. Ask away when ever you are not sure about something. Good luck. Jenn

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Quote:
Chickens love dandelion greens.

I've never had Cochins, but from what i can tell they are really sweet. EE's temperaments vary from bird to bird because they are just cross breeds. I've always loved Black sex-links, great temperaments and excellent layers. I always make sure to have at least one in my flock.

Hatching is always risky and you may end up with one girl in the lot, smarter to buy pullets from a hatchery first and then you can decide if you want to hatch later. Hatching is fun, though, but be careful because it's addicting.

Good luck!!