I am chickening out! expecting 1st shipment of day old chicks.

[gertsgal]

I have ordered my first 12 day olds from Ideal poultry and they will be here nov. 16th. I have 2 roosters and 5 hens that I love dearly. I am getting cold feet about these babies. Such a big responsablity. 12 babies all at once. Although I have read all the books I don't know if I'm up to the task.Any words of encouragement would be much appreciated!

 

[aoxa]

What are you worried about? I don't find chickens take up a lot of time.. If anything, it's a stress reliever. I thoroughly enjoy watching them and taking care of them. I haven't raised chicks yet.. I am looking forward to that in the spring.

What are your biggest worries?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

You will do great. I have 8 6 week old chicks and was the same way. But there doing great. I'm sure you know what your doing.

Here i

s one of my little chicks when it was little.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Breathe! Relax! Chicks are wonderfully resilient creatures. You just need to apply common sense and make sure they have a source of heat, out of drafts and food and water. Then sit back and enjoy. Nothing to it. If I can do it, you can. I have never had any animals, not even pets as a kid because my mother was/is afraid of all animals. So this was (at 50) a first for me and I am loving it.

 

[m.kitchengirl]

You'll do wonderfully.
While all this info is exactly what you should have, it also makes a novice pretty overwhelmed. I am sure you will find, as I did, that most of the info you got was superfluous. It really is as easy as you thought when you hit "checkout".
Not every day will be simple. but you're already took the most important step, signed up for BYC. This site is incredibly helpful.
I had the same wave of worry after I brought home my chicks, then my ducks, then my angora. Everyone has settled in beautifully, and they brighten my day even on the worst days. (We just got our first egg yesterday & another today. It really is worth it.)

Best of luck. And CONGRATS! Raising chickens is a wonderful experience.

 

[jmtcmkb]

Quote:
pretty much the same here! You will do great- enjoy!!

 

[partsRheavy]

Anyone who gives them a little attention can do this. They are so CUTE you will be back so often with food/water/treats they will become....spoiled...

Being chicks they let you know what they want.....

PEEP!! = "I want FOOD/WATER!!!" [Huddle] = "I'm cold and all my friends are cold!!" [Jump out of the box and kick up A LOT of dust] = "quit babying us so much.... we need a bigger box or to go to an outside brooder."

BTW I never had pets as a child either.....

 

[flspnr]

I've done it 3 times, and I've only been raising chickens since June, I don't have a single one laying yet! Be careful though! It's addicting.

They will be fine, you will be fine, and it's tons and tons of fun!!

 

[gertsgal]

Thanks ya'll. I just found information on the Echoglow and that makes me feel better too. Wahooo!!! Babies on the way!

 

[Atlantakycklingar]

PEEP PEEP PEEP! PEEP PEEP PEEP! PEEEEEEP!

That's chick-speak for, "We'll be fine mama! Don't fret!"