I have chickens!

[HBRRanchCO]

More precisely, I have 3 hens. AND A cute little coop for them in my backyard. I have a couple of awesome friends who gave me tours of their chicken operations and then a waterer (and heater for under the waterer so it doesn't freeze), and a feeder, and of course the one who gave me these hens! We bought a coop kit from our local feed store (long story, it is smaller than the one I picked, but we didn't realize it was the wrong one until we had already gotten it home and halfway built and it wasn't worth the trouble of taking it apart and back to the store where they may or may not actually have the one I want *sigh*) and it is super cute. It has a couple of things that we'll be working on improving considering it is winter, I don't want them to freeze to death, and then come spring/summer we'll see about creating a bigger one, or at least giving them some additional room to roam in the backyard.

Anyway, meet my cute little coop, and Bridget, Henrietta, and Milly
Here's the coop all put together:

Then the girls. The gold one is Bridget, the Australorp is Henrietta, and the one that you can't see her head is named Millie. They are basically here for their retirement. My friend said she only got maybe a dozen eggs between the three of them last summer, so no guarantees that we'll see any eggs from them this year. I'm allowed to have up to 6 hens, so the temptation is definitely there to extend their living area and get a couple more so we can get some more eggs. However, for now these are great "starter chickens" and will allow us to learn how to take care of them before adding more.

We live in CO and just had a bit of a winter blast hit us, so my fiance went out and attached some plastic sheeting around the outside of the coop to better protect the food and water area. The girls still have to come outside to go down there, but at least it is more comfortable than just being open. (We paid close attention to make sure the electrical is secure and not close to the plastic etc)

The temps here dropped like a rock last night, and I know they're probably just fine (my friend didn't have them in anything fancy or insulated) but the coop got tarped last night anyway. Not completely, still some ventilation, but enough to hopefully help them keep some warmth in. Don't worry, I read plenty about not using heaters/heat lamps etc in conjunction with coops. They all seem to be fine this morning. We moved the tarp back after the sun hit the coop this morning and they were all outside soaking up the sunshine and making happy little chicken sounds.

(PS these are my very first chickens, and I know I have a lot to learn. Please be gentle with me if you have constructive feedback lol TIA)

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Glad you're here !

A must have for your poultry is a FIRST AID KIT for any issues that would arise. (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/suggestions-for-a-first-aid-kit.1150128/)
It's definitely better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.

Also, make sure your coop(s) have a proper amount of VENTILATION. (https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/) Your chickens will absolutely thank you for it!

 

[Welshies]

Hello there!
Welcome to BYC. We are so glad you've joined.
Check out the Learning Center.
I would suggest you modify your coop for ventilation and predator proof it. Pre fab coops generally aren't super predator-proof, and you'd be surprised at how many things love chicken meat.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Glad you're here !

A must have for your poultry is a FIRST AID KIT for any issues that would arise. (https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/suggestions-for-a-first-aid-kit.1150128/)
It's definitely better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.

Also, make sure your coop(s) have a proper amount of VENTILATION. (https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/) Your chickens will absolutely thank you for it!

Thanks! Yes, a first aid kit is a good idea. I have lots of other pets so have lots on hand but I'll make sure I have any chicken specific items too. And yes, unfortunately this coop has a little too much "ventilation" *sigh* BUT I am working to cut down on the drafts and make sure there is adequate ventilation (on purpose!) I've read a gazillion articles here

 

[Welshies]

Thanks! Yes, a first aid kit is a good idea. I have lots of other pets so have lots on hand but I'll make sure I have any chicken specific items too. And yes, unfortunately this coop has a little too much "ventilation" *sigh* BUT I am working to cut down on the drafts and make sure there is adequate ventilation (on purpose!) I've read a gazillion articles here

There is no such thing as "too much" ventilation! I actually think you need more.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Hello there!
Welcome to BYC. We are so glad you've joined.
Check out the Learning Center.
I would suggest you modify your coop for ventilation and predator proof it. Pre fab coops generally aren't super predator-proof, and you'd be surprised at how many things love chicken meat.

Thanks! Been a member for a bit and finally got the chickens, but yes, I have been reading all sorts of articles on here, there are about a million of them Fortunately we are in a pretty good spot protected from predators in the city, but we know there are raccoons and other critters around who would like to eat the chickens (not limited to my golden retriever who has decided she is a BIRD DOG). Right now we are working on all of the above. Cutting down on drafts, and making sure there's adequate ventilation, making sure they're protected as possible etc.

 

[Welshies]

Thanks! Been a member for a bit and finally got the chickens, but yes, I have been reading all sorts of articles on here, there are about a million of them Fortunately we are in a pretty good spot protected from predators in the city, but we know there are raccoons and other critters around who would like to eat the chickens (not limited to my golden retriever who has decided she is a BIRD DOG). Right now we are working on all of the above. Cutting down on drafts, and making sure there's adequate ventilation, making sure they're protected as possible etc.

Awesome! I wish you the best of luck with your chickens. I know you'll love them!
Here is a great article about dogs and chickens.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

There is no such thing as "too much" ventilation! I actually think you need more.

That was my way of saying that the coop materials are not the best or the best design and the existing "ventilation" is more drafty than helpful. I just knew I wouldn't be able to build my own coop right now with the ground frozen and quickly, so opted for this rather than that and just taking it a day at a time.

 

[HBRRanchCO]

Awesome! I wish you the best of luck with your chickens. I know you'll love them!
Here is a great article about dogs and chickens.

Thanks! I am pretty attached to them already. I understand how people get addicted to them lol

As far as the dogs go, that article has a lot of good info and great ideas. My smaller dog (miniature Aussie/Border collie mix) is interested in smelling them, but has zero herding instincts like one might think she would. She doesn't want to get too close to them. That's what she did with my cousin's chickens when we met them in the fall. My golden though...holy excitement Batman. LOL She's very exuberant, without being spatially aware, training outside of "sit, down, stay" have proven pretty fruitless, but hey she is a sweetheart lol That being said I'll be working with both of them around the chickens while they're in the coop....at least I will when it warms up lol The dogs are supervised when they're outside, so I'm not worried about their interactions with the chickens at this point. She had the same reaction to my parakeets when I got them, but she got used to them

 

[Welshies]

Thanks! I am pretty attached to them already. I understand how people get addicted to them lol

As far as the dogs go, that article has a lot of good info and great ideas. My smaller dog (miniature Aussie/Border collie mix) is interested in smelling them, but has zero herding instincts like one might think she would. She doesn't want to get too close to them. That's what she did with my cousin's chickens when we met them in the fall. My golden though...holy excitement Batman. LOL She's very exuberant, without being spatially aware, training outside of "sit, down, stay" have proven pretty fruitless, but hey she is a sweetheart lol That being said I'll be working with both of them around the chickens while they're in the coop....at least I will when it warms up lol The dogs are supervised when they're outside, so I'm not worried about their interactions with the chickens at this point. She had the same reaction to my parakeets when I got them, but she got used to them

You'll get there! I have quail (game birds) as well as chickens. I also have a hunting dog, a Labrador Retriever. She understands my birds are not prey, despite their likeness to her wild prey (Ruffed Grouse).