I finally did it!!

[ShrekDawg]

Can't believe it's already only two weeks away.

I gotta start preparing though, I kinda forgot about that part and have just been like waiting on the chicka to arrive lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

Just went to our local place, Morrisons Home and Garden (an Agway) and got all the supplies.

Got chick starter, feeders, waterer, pine shavings, and grit. Also dog treats. the guy had said they don't need grit that little and mentioned oyster shells once they start laying but when he left I grabbed it because I thought I'd read they did but I later remembered that what I'd read actually said if they're just getting chick food they don't need it and the grit is a little bit later once you start giving them treats and things. Ah well. Lol

Anyway, only thing we need now is the actual brooder and either a heating pad or a clasp for the heat lamp depending on the method I use.

Also marbles for the waterer so they don't drown. I'M JUST SO EXCITED. It's so soon already

Oh and we also got 2 huge, really nice pumpkins.

I'll post pictures in a second but it's just such a pain doing it one by one, especially mobile, and I am tired and lazy lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

 

[ShrekDawg]

The pumpkins. Looking at it we really should get 2 more for the other side or I should put the one on the other side

 

[ShrekDawg]

The supplies and feed and everything.

This store was surprisingly cheap, it was only like $58 I think. The feed was like $10 each, the grit only $6 which is somewhat a lot I guess but not really and those big bags of shavings were only $3. Of course, I am rounding up, everything is always just a cent short of the even dollar (so 2.99, etc.) these days. I never understood why stores don't just make it even lol

Anyways, it's great. And we saw the guy we knew and everyone asked what breeds and was so nice.

The pumpkins though we got elsewhere, a local farmstandd that was on the way. It was actually just a ton of really nice pumpkins in front of their house then a small tent and table with apples and a couple veggies lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

 

[bruceha2000]

Thank you very much!! And yesss I know it is

It's actually kind of funny though because when I ordered them I didn't realize that. I was just like WOOHOO I'M FINALLY GETTING CHICKENS and then it hit me last night that I still have to wait over a month lmao

And as of this morning I'm also very very nervous and worried because I have a horrible track record with animals and some people (none on here, just my dad and some people from social media) keep reminding me of that and doubt that I will take care of them so then I'm thinking like "what if they're right?" "what if i lose interest again?" etc. Etc. And worrying

Like all of my other animals have been impulse purchases though that I knew nothing about as well dealing with some stuff whereas chickens I've researched for years and I'm doing better so I feel like it could be really different and help but I don't know.

I'm so determined to do right by them this time and so worried I won't. But we'll see I guess.

But sorry, I didn't mean to turn this so negative LOL

I am still very very excited for them.

And I've even started selling stuff so that's definitely an improvement

So much to say!

First, I am glad you are excited. They come cute and fluffy, and change almost daily for months. That keeps interest up. Chickens are not as much work as say, a dog, because you don't need to take them for a walk 3 times a day no matter what the weather or if you have stuff you need to do. But ... you can interact with your chickens (once they are adults) as much as THEY want to interact. In that respect they are kind of like cats. If you want lap chickens, good luck, some are some aren't, just like cats. Mostly mine LOVE me when I have food, or when I am doing something that will pop loose bugs or worms for them to eat. Otherwise, they really don't care if I exist. In that way they are very little work. Make sure they have food and water, make sure the coop is kept clean so it doesn't stink. Make sure they are safe from predators and the coop is adequately ventilated. When they are adults, you can fill their feeder and waterer with enough for days and walk away, especially if you have an auto chicken door so they can get out into the run.

You need to let them out of the coop in the morning and close them in at night (unless you get an auto door). You want them to be able to get outside the coop as much as possible - chickens poop wherever they are standing so less cleanup in the coop if they aren't stuck in there except to be safe at night. Point being: if you do lose interest (I hope not, they all have different personalities and can be theraputic) you can get away with 5-10 minutes in the morning and at night with the occasional "extra cleaning" type stuff every week or two. Prove to the naysayers that you have matured and are able to stick with this project.

Re. the coop you posted; at 8x8 is a really nice size. But you would want to seal that OSB. It will soak up moisture and odors and get nasty. I would suggest a quality oil based primer and oil or latex top coat. Do not use a latex "primer". Latex does not soak into the wood, it forms a sort of "balloon" coating that will peel off in sheets if any moisture gets under it or sometimes even if it gets nicked. And the stuff you are protecting will rot out of sight until the paint peels.

Two 25 pound bags of chick starter is WAY more than enough for 9 chickens. Just keep feeding it to them until you run out. They don't need grit if the only thing they eat is commercial chicken food. But they do need it if they are getting anything else like grass, weeds, seeds, kitchen scraps, etc. They DO NOT need oyster shell until they start to lay, put it away with the egg scale in the storage area of the coop. BTW, I have found that a metal 10 gallon can with a lid and a handle that holds the lid on nicely fits 50 pounds of chicken food. No mice problems unless you leave the lid off one night (Who me?? Yes I have done it, can was nearly empty anyway but those two mice sure looked scared when they saw me) .

Raise the food and water off the ground. The little buggers naturally know to scratch and will be kicking shavings everywhere, including into the food and water. You can put them up on paver stones as soon as the chicks can hop that high (which is actually REALLY fast). And don't put too much food in the feeder, they will likely as not hop up on it and well, read that second paragraph.

For 9 chickens you only need 3 nipples, which, if you are doing the 5 gallon bucket thing, is all you will put in anyway. They don't all have to drink at the same time. And 5 gallons of water will last a LONG time. Make sure the bucket doesn't let light in so you don't end up with algae. Paint it black if necessary.

You might look into the compressed bales of pine shavings when you need more. I think they are less expensive than loose shavings and that bale yields quite a lot of shavings after you open it and "fluff" the contents as you spread it out.

What else, oh yeah. I got 3 EEs, 2 White Rocks and 2 Black Australorps from Meyer in June. Except the BAs are Black Jersey Giants. Don't know how often they screw that up but given a BA will NEVER have yellow legs and feet and BJGs will ALWAYS have yellow feet (on the bottom only as adults, on beaks and legs and top/bottom of feet as chicks) I really don't understand how they did it. And when I say yellow, I don't mean "kinda sorta yellow". I mean YELLOW. CLEARLY not the pinkish or light gray of a BA. Also, BAs have grey/slate legs as adults, BJGs have black legs. Otherwise, they look A LOT alike. I can only hope their BJGs are on the small side for the breed and that they are good layers since that is the only reason I have the chickens. Don't know just how one would go about it diplomatically, but a little "hey, please make sure the BAs ARE BAs contact" might be in order.

If you think waiting for the chicks to arrive is "forever" just wait until they come and you have to wait another 5 months for them to lay! Good luck, only 9 or 10 days until they arrive.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks for the reply! All very good.

I'll try to remember everything to respond to but being on mobile and having to scroll up it's a little harder

Anyway, I think I'll definitely stay interested. I stopped selling stuff and reading the books but I'm still into the brooder and coop and everything so I think I'll keep interest this time. I think it's more just that the most recent pet was a fish and while he was great, doing water tests and water changes and all that isn't really my thing and I learned that. Chickens and mammals I actually like. Plus like you said, they change so much and have such different personalities and interact with each other so much more interesting than a singular fish. I need to start walking my dog more, poor thing hasn't gotten any exercise lately. I just haven't really felt up to walks or anything but I have been playing with him more this week and am going to do the walks anyway before it gets too cold. My dad seems to think coyotes will get in? And I'm hoping they'll be friendly but even if not, as long as they don't freak out when I'm near them and/or come when called I'll be fine if they otherwise don't come near me haha I'm hoping they'll be at least one "cuddle chicken" though since we'll probably have my cousin's children over at least once. They are 2 and 4. The oldest is turning 5 in December though. He's kind of an imp tbh lol but the little girl is sweet. He is too but just so active and doesn't really listen. He's getting better though. My other cousin has kids too but they live in Ohio.

I am hopefully going to be free ranging them so the poop won't be too much of an issue. Even if I don't end up free ranging them the run will be in one of two locations and either one will be a huge area. One of them is 9 feet by 26 feet. The other will probably end up being similar, maybe even way longer. I think I won't lose interest for the exact reasons you say and that's what I'm hoping to prove. previously when I've lost interest though I stopped doing all of it but not this time. I think it will help that they're outside because once I'm outside I'm better; it's just the sitting in front of a TV or phone that's the problem. So I think this will actually be helpful because I'll be outside and feeling better/active and actually do the stuff. Not looking forward to the waking up early bit though. that will help too though since I usually stay up late and sleep late but when I get up early I feel much more productive. And plus like you said, the chores are really easy. Especially since I am going with the nipple waterer and bucket feeder things so it's probably every few days, though I will still go out there. So I'm thinking that will help.

As for the coop, thanks for the tips. Though I forgot to mention it but we're actually going with pallets now. Do you think I should still prime and paint it though??



As for the feed, yeah, I was thinking one would probably be okay but wasn't sure and my mom wanted to get another just in case since she doesn't drive atm (Lost her license back in August for 6 months) and my dad's getting the surgery. I have my permit though and both my brothers drive so it really wasn't necessary but oh well. I won't be giving them other food until they're older probably so maybe I should save the grit too. But oh, sorry, ny wording there wasn't very clear. What I meant to say was that he said they don't need the grit until they're older and then also mentioned the oyster thing. I grabbed the grit after he went back outside, not oyster shells, because I know they don't need the shells yet. although I'm wondering if I should save the grit too or get the bigger size. But ohh, a metal bin sounds like a great idea! Seems like it might work for dog food too? I've been thinking we should get something for the dog food but those special food storage containers are soo expensive. Where would one get a metal bin? Just like a hardware or farm store or something?

I'll definitely have to raise it. Can I do that from the beginning or wait? I know when they're adults I'll be hanging it outside but.obviously as chicks it would be in with them. And you know, it's funny you should mention them jumping in because at the store my mom asked the difference between the two feeders and he said they're both about the same but the only thing with this one (open one) is sometimes they'll climb in it but this thing (pointing to the bar) usually helps keep them out. He spun ut too. I'll probably go with the other as it seems less likely to get dirty.

Yeah, I think I probably went a little overboard with the water nipples... XD. But oh well, I can save them for when I have my own place and/or more birds. I didn't realize the water lasted so long though, that's good. And a good idea to paint it black.

That's a great idea about the bales! Thanks for the tip. I think it actually mentioned something on the.sign about them offering bales, you just had to ask. So maybe I'll go back. Could have been the hay though but I'm pretty sure it was on the shavings too.

Oh wow, that seems like sort of a major mistake. :/ I'm hoping mine are okay. Wonder if they'd replace yours?

And ah yes, the wait for the egg will seem even longer!!

Thanks a lot, I can't wait. and thanks again for all the help and info

 

[bruceha2000]

You won't have to get up much earlier than normal. Just open the coop door to the run and start the rest of your day. My typical "chicken morning" is:

• take whatever kitchen scraps I have out to the barn
• open the door and GET OUT OF THE WAY. Those chickens LOVE their morning treats.
• toss the stuff on the ground
• go to the BOSS can and get maybe 1/4 cup of BOSS (I don't measure) and throw it out with the chickens (after telling them to go back outside so I don't trip on the greedy buggers
• open the people door to the coop and rake through the shavings on the floor.
• DONE!

You can do the "extra" stuff like adding water and feed in the evening. They don't drink at night nor do they eat so they will have access to that when they wake up. This is, of course, for adult birds. You'll need to spend more time in the morning with the little ones (but of course you will also WANT to 'cause they are cuuuuuuute!) since they will likely kick their food over or kick shavings into it etc.

Not sure where you are or what "cold" is but if it gets down to freezing, you MUST make sure they have access to open water during the day. More research!

Chickens, even the non flighty ones, still get nervous when you walk through them. Don't try to walk around, just walk calmly and talk to them. Even my 3 Y/Os sometimes go nuts just because I am moving in a confined area. The 19 week old ones were broody raised and are still more skittish. But the most skittish was Penelope and now all I have to do is stop walking, bend down (it is a long way, I am 6'1") and talk calmly to her. She settles right down and I walk by. Chickens are first and foremost PREY animals so they are always concerned bad things will happen. They don't want to be trapped. Stupid things run up the path between the barns with me behind and they think I am chasing them. No girls, I'm just going that way. They figure it out eventually.

I have seen some VERY nice coops made from pallet wood here on BYC. You don't need to paint the pallet wood, it doesn't hurt but isn't necessary like it is for OSB. I would paint the outside though just so it lasts longer. No unpainted wood lasts a long time in wet weather. But MAKE SURE you do the oil primer. I can show you hundreds of feet of rotting and peeling fence boards. The guy we bought the house from just put latex on it. Looked REAL nice ... the first year.

I got my 10 gallon cans at an Aubuchon hardware store, nothing special. Here is a link I found with a quick "10 gallon metal can" search:
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Beh...earch&gslfah&gclid=CL2r__TczsgCFYMUHwodR5oLQg

$13. And yes it would work for dog food too. I agree, the "special" pet food containers can be way too expensive. They have "features". All you want is something to keep the rodents out!

If you start your chicks on the bucket, hang it with a chain on a hook so you can raise it as they grow. I wouldn't go with the big 5 gallon bucket right off though simply due to its size unless the coop is pretty big. If you do, don't put too much water in it. The chicks probably won't drink a gallon in a week. I don't think my 9 adults drank much more than a gallon or two a month last winter. Better to add new water every few days. I've been filling the 1 gallon waterer every other day for my now 16 chickens. But they go outside all day so they could also be drinking from puddles and getting water from wet grass, etc.

You have to make sure coyotes CAN'T get in. DO NOT use chicken wire. It is designed to keep chickens in, it WILL NOT keep predators out. A coyote or other canine, raccoon and other predators will rip it apart before you can say "supercalafragal .... ". The coop needs to be "fort knox". 1/2" hardware cloth (bigger wire size than 1/4" and 1/2" openings will keep out any predators) on all openings. DO NOT use an Arrow style staple gun to attach it (other than positioning). Those staples are the same style as the kind in your desk stapler. They will pull out EASILY. Either use poultry/fence staples (look like a U with sharp points) or screw through large washers or a batten (kinda narrow, not real thick piece of wood). You could use nails and washers or battens as well. Screws just happen to be the easiest since you can put them in with a portable drill. The poultry staples are a lot cheaper but a PITA to put in. If you bang them all they way in, the only way to get them out is to carefully hammer a flat screwdriver into the wood under the staple and pry. So don't mash them all the way down until you are sure the hardware cloth is where you want it, leave a screwdriver thickness opening. And use a latch on doors that you can put a carabiner or lock through so it can't be opened by dextrous animals like raccoons.

BTW, hardware cloth is expensive. Likely the single most expensive item you will need. You can use 2x4 (openings) fence roll or chain link for the run but you need to have about the bottom 2' covered with 1/2" hardware cloth as well so nothing can grab the birds through the fence. And you need a "skirt" that goes out about 18" to 24" from the run walls. Bury it a few inches down. This will keep those canines from digging into your run. It can be hardware cloth but again, it is expensive so I would use something like 2x4 fencing here too. No canine can dig through that.

Now this is for "I am not taking ANY chances" predator proof run. You can "hit and hope" on the run security. Especially since you plan to have a very nice large run or two. But they will still cost a fair bit to construct. Some people use electric poultry fencing. It is a lot faster to put up and you can move it so the birds use different areas but it is also more work since you have to make sure the grass doesn't grow up and touch the net. It won't keep all predators out but is will slow them down. A permanent run could also be used for dogs when the chickens aren't in it, or if the chicken thing doesn't work out.

Yep hay bales are different from compressed pine shaving bales. What you have is fine (assuming it is pine, not cedar). I pay $6.25 for a bale of compressed shavings, chicken size, not horse size "flakes". I think the bags of uncompressed shavings are more for things like hamsters. It would take a LONG time to use a compressed bale in a small hamster cage. And it would take a lot of bags of loose shavings to properly cover an 8x8 coop floor.

Having stopped selling stuff and buying books isn't a lack of interest it is stopping a somewhat excessive exhuberance You can still sell stuff to get money and keep researching because you can NOT learn it all no matter what. But do take the dog for walks and get away from the screen Walking the dog is good for the dog and good for YOU! What, are you still reading? Take the dog out!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh I definitely do have to get up early because I don't get up early now lol I tend to stay up really late (anywhere from 12am (midnight)-6am on thw worsr ones, usually somewhere in the middle like 2 or 3) then sleep really late, between 11am-1pm, usually 11 or 12, and even when I go to sleep earlier it's still usually 9 or 10 a.m. so ohhg yes I do. LOL

That seems like a great routine though and you're right, I will want to spend as much time with the chicks as possible.

I'm in Massachusetts so it gets pretty cold and usually well below freezing. It doesn't seem to get to single digits very often but it has before. And usually we have snow but not too much but last winter was brutal with snow storm after snow storm - one of the huge plow piles in the city didn't melt until like July! - and it looks like this winter is shaping up to be the same - some of the nearby states already got snow this weekend! They're in mountains though but still, it's only mid October. So I will definitely need to figure something out for the snow and water. I wonder if a heater is necessary or if the poultry nipples help witg water flow? If we put it beside the garage we will have electricity but elsewhere we wouldn't.

That makes sense that they'd be like that but it's good they settle down pretty quickly.

I'll have to go look around BYC for some more examples. I'll definitely be sure to paint the outside though! I probably would anyway so it looks nice.

Wow, it's smaller than I was thinking! It really holds it all!? :O but yeah, I don't know why they're so expensive. I guess cause people think it keeps the food "fresher" when really a can probably does the same. I was thinking you meant like a big trash can haha

Do you think I should start them on the bucket? I have the waterer in the picture but I maybe I should not use it and start them right away? I wasn't sure the size bucket to use though. But wow, they really go through it slowly! I'm wondering if the bucket is maybe too big then?

But yeah, it's definitely going to have to be very secure. He was thinking of using an old dog kennel then lining the inside with chicken wire. I was thinking a normal run or, if we have it in the second location, cattle panels for the hoop thing. Either way I would use hardware cloth not chicken wire. He also seemed to think hardware cloth wouldn't work unless you had posts every 3 feet. I think he is thinking it is like a fence with it. I told him you wouldn't use posts, you'd frame it, that it's not.like a fence. He thinks it's crazy. I will need to show him some examples because everyone does it but he doesn't get it haha we'll probably end up using the dog run though. I think maybe he thinks it's too much work.

But yeah, I noticed how expensive it is, especially with a bigger run. :/ I think we probably will end up using the kennel though and just lining it with hardware cloth but then we still have to make the skirt.

I definitely want it to be as secure as possible but you're right that especially with a bigger run it would get expensive. I definitely agree it could be used for different uses though. I'm thinking the chickens will work out but I actually had thought of putting the chickens in the second spot and making a nice cat enclosure beside the garage. We'll see though.

But yeah, they're probably way different aha I'm pretty sure they did have shavings bales though. I will have to ask. I'm pretty sure it's pine but how do you tell? It looks like most every other pine shavings I've seen. I'll take more pictures and show you. I do believe you're right though that it's for smaller animals. It was actually in the corner of rhe store with the rabbit stuff. They have dog and cat food and then a small area for rabbit stuff (and the other side of the rack is parrot food) then behind it.more dog stuff, like toys and chews and leashes. But yeah, these were in two plastic trash barrels, one hay, one shavings. So I'm pretty sure it was for rabbits. But I needed it so I got it hah. They also had prepackaged shavings too, you know like from companies. But yeah. I'm thinking the coop will only be 4x8 now though, or maybe 4x9 and have it go right up to the fence. I need to figure something out to make it a little bit bigger because of the extra bird. Either way though, it would probably still take a long time to cover the floor of that coop or brooder.

That's very true!! Thanks and you're right, I should walk him! I actually have something to do today though which is good. Nothing really fun but I just had some leftover pizza and now I have to empty out the bathroom. We're having someone come to look at the bathroom to redo it (we took the tub out several years ago and took down the closet wall this year, so point being it's been in disarray a very long time and we're finally finishing it) so I need to have the stuff out so my dad and the guy can get to everything. I have to do it since my mom started her job today. He's coming at 5 and it's 12:41 now. Also need to fix my window (it's broken, 2 large pieces missing) and get the pallets. moving the stuff won't take long though so I can definitely find the time to walk him.