Been wanting chickens for a while now. Finally, I've moved into my grandmother's trailer, just outside of city limits, where I can have chickens, and decided to order some from McMurray's. I considered going to the feed store to do my ordering, but if it's like anything else in this small town, variety will be slim and prices high, so I just went with an online hatchery. Easier for me anyway, since I work nights. But of course... now I have a huge lot of chickens coming my way! *laugh* I got the Rainbow layers for their low price, then added an extra three chicks of a couple interesting looking breeds just to be sure I got something besides... regular old chickens. Got some Golden Polish chicks, and one chick of somethig else - I forget what. Then of course, I'll have the extra free chick... 29 chicks in all!!! Quite a lot, probably way too many - so I may be posting up some notices to get rid of extra chicks. I ordered all females, but expect I'll get a rooster or two in there. Hoping I do, actually. The chicks are coming April 9th, so it looks like I'll be having Easter chicks! *laugh* I can't wait. I'm a newbie at this, but my father was raised on a farm (same plot of land that I live on now, actually) and knows a fair bit about them, so I'll have someone close by who knows what they're doing. He thinks I'm nuts, but he's willing to help me get a coop set up and a pen. Still trying to figure out where we're gonna keep the brooder - and what the heck we're gonna use for one. Will be cruising the forum and probably out to ask a lot of questions once things get going!
Congrats and welcome to the forum. I too work nights which makes it easier to build coops and such during the day. . I have gotten alot of help by just reading through all the posts.
Hi there, NY here. I used four foot high cardboard that I duct-taped together into a fairly big circle. I kept mine on the enclosed porch with heat lamp, temp. feed, and water. They did good there. When I moved them to the coop, I kept the surround and used it there until they were fully feathered! Good luck and have fun.
