I have a Rhode Island Red in San Diego!

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saucedo4

saucedo4

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Hi my names Sabu and I live in the middle of San Diego with a bird I impulsively bought. I lease my bosses horse. Luckily I know how to be responsible and take care of the decision I made hastily! I was out in a country feed store (looking for a saddle) and saw the chicks outside. I was like "I want this." end of story. I had never wanted one before. I had never researched them. I hadn't even held one before. I bought the chick, the bag of feed, a waterier and feeder. I forgot bedding and something to keep her in. I didn't ask what breed it was until I got home and called the feed store. Its a Rhode Island Red. I bought some horse bed shavings off my boss; and went home and found a dog kennel. It was kind of cold (50' outside is /cold/ for san diego CA) and I had no idea a 3 week old chick could do well out there. So I kept it in my room in the kennel. It was LOUD. A week later I bought a two story rabbit cage from the swap meet. I put it outside (not afraid of rain- we are in a drought every season). I moved my bird out there during the day and brought her in at night for a couple days. Then I left her out there. Ever since then she's been fine in confinement. I bring her out for like half an hour while my dogs are locked inside. I have a terrier thatd like to kill her. Shes getting bigger by the day. Shes about 7 weeks old now. And she wont eat anything but her chicken feed. Shes SUPER docile and follows me around my yard. She likes to talk or chatter or whatever its called. I still know little to nothing about birds; all I know is I want another. Im legally aloud to own one more in this county; so yup!
 
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You will need a coop, she will get a lot bigger. Chickens are flock animals, they need companions to thrive. She will need shade if you keep her outside all day.
 
She has shade as of now; and we have a great breeze all the time. Im building a coop with my mother (we've built kennels and other things similar) I've taken lots of notes from the coops on this website! And Im buying another bird in a week or so. The feed store owner told me to keep them separated until both are full grown or else they'll fight.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Those impulse buys will get you every time, welcome to the world of chickens, you'll have a whole flock before you know it , good luck with the coop build. It is easiest to integrate chickens when they are about the same size, in case you haven't seen it, here is a nice article from the Learning Center on adding chickens https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock you might also be able to find another bird or two about the same age as the one you have, you could try posting in your state thread to see if someone local to you has birds available https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread
 
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the YOUNGER they are when you add them the better. less fighting and 3 is always better then 2 . they are flock animals so right now you are her/his flock. congrats on your new hen.
 
In my county our chicken laws state you can only have two chickens. So I cant have a flock. I may be able to get away with three if I'm sly! haha. But thanks for the tip Kelsie!
 
I bought a new chicken today! Shes a Buff Orpington of 3 weeks, and from the same feed store. She definitely acts different I may be overthinking it but I think she's sick. She doesn't keep her gullet full of food, she doesn't poop often. She's quiet most of the time and lays down/rests a lot.
 
If you feel at all that she is ill, keep her away from the other chick. You may also want to post in detail about her condition at "emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures", thread. Sad to say all chicks are not in healthy condition when offered for sale. Some even have defects that will prevent them from having a good life.
 

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