Ideas for breeds of chickens!

[Leigti]

5 or 10! We have a big metal bin that i was planning on using when i get chicks. what kind of bedding do you use? i've heard for using newspaper on the bottom and shavings on the top.  
Thanks some much!

Are used pine shavings. The first week or so I put a layer of paper towels on top and then would change out the paper towels every day. Didn't have to change out shavings as much then. Under the coops section there is a heading for routers. Check those out. It's really not difficult to raise chicks. The old joke about chicken math is right. I started with three now I have 12. I won't get anymore because 12 is the absolute maximum my coupe can hold. I would say just get a variety of breeds, try to get them all at the same age to begin with to make your life easier.

 

[rdcowman]

When I first got chickens I just did with the feed store told me. I bought chick starter. Then later changed to layer feed. Then had to get chick starter for the new chicks I got etc. etc. now I just feed everybody one feed, grower feed which is basically like flock raiser, and put calcium on the side. It is so much easier and I am so glad I learned about that here on the forum.
If you ask 20 people what the best brand of chicken feed is you will probably get 15 different answers.

Ok! What brand of grower food!?

 

[rdcowman]

Are used pine shavings. The first week or so I put a layer of paper towels on top and then would change out the paper towels every day. Didn't have to change out shavings as much then. Under the coops section there is a heading for routers. Check those out. It's really not difficult to raise chicks. The old joke about chicken math is right. I started with three now I have 12. I won't get anymore because 12 is the absolute maximum my coupe can hold. I would say just get a variety of breeds, try to get them all at the same age to begin with to make your life easier.

Where do you get your pine shavings? Aren't they expensive?

 

[Smiley Chicks]

We have buff Orpingtons here in upstate NY temps went to -14 last night so they're pretty hardy. Also nice brown eggs some speckled! This is the only kind we've had and love them, great with kids!

 

[junebuggena]

Brand doesn't really matter so much. Most feeds are made from the same basic ingredients. I use Flock Raiser because that is what I can find at my local feed stores. If I had access to an equivalent feed that was cheaper, I would buy it instead. Learn to read the labels. Growing birds require a feed with at least an 18% protein content, and should not have more than 1.5% calcium. Any feed that meets those parameters will be just fine. Don't worry if you can't find a specific brand in your region. Just focus on finding a feed with the appropriate amounts of protein and calcium.

 

[Leigti]

I see you live in Iowa. You already have chickens. So you've got to have some sort of feed store around. They would have everything you need. Including the chicks. Pineshade means are actually pretty cheap. They come and a compressed bail in a bag. You open up the bag and they expand big time. I use pine shavings for the baby chicks when I have them and also use them in the coop for the adults. I have probably used 10 different brands of chicken feed in the last three years. I tend to switch it up a little bit. Follow the advice above about chicken feed. You should have a good variety out there.

 

[rdcowman]

We have buff Orpingtons here in upstate NY temps went to -14 last night so they're pretty hardy. Also nice brown eggs some speckled! This is the only kind we've had and love them, great with kids!

Wow! Buff Orpingtons sound like a good breed to get! i might get some!!

 

[rdcowman]

Brand doesn't really matter so much. Most feeds are made from the same basic ingredients. I use Flock Raiser because that is what I can find at my local feed stores. If I had access to an equivalent feed that was cheaper, I would buy it instead. Learn to read the labels. Growing birds require a feed with at least an 18% protein content, and should not have more than 1.5% calcium. Any feed that meets those parameters will be just fine. Don't worry if you can't find a specific brand in your region. Just focus on finding a feed with the appropriate amounts of protein and calcium.

Got it!! Thanks!

 

[rdcowman]

I see you live in Iowa. You already have chickens. So you've got to have some sort of feed store around. They would have everything you need. Including the chicks. Pineshade means are actually pretty cheap. They come and a compressed bail in a bag. You open up the bag and they expand big time. I use pine shavings for the baby chicks when I have them and also use them in the coop for the adults. I have probably used 10 different brands of chicken feed in the last three years. I tend to switch it up a little bit. Follow the advice above about chicken feed. You should have a good variety out there.

Yep! I have theisen's and the co-op! i got some cracked corn at the co-op and they loved it!! It was a 50lbs bag! I still have some!
Could i just use wood shavings? They have it at theisen's. It would be really nice to get all my chicken stuff at theisen's!

 

[junebuggena]

Yep! I have theisen's and the co-op! i got some cracked corn at the co-op and they loved it!! It was a 50lbs bag! I still have some!
Could i just use wood shavings? They have it at theisen's. It would be really nice to get all my chicken stuff at theisen's!

As long as the shavings aren't cedar, they are alright to use.