If you could give a new chick/en owner advice, what would it be?

[geebs]

My number one piece of advice would not only apply to chickens but to anything:

To know something is to watch it's nature. Understand what you have to the core of it's being...

For chickens it would be to understand the flock situation and the very nature of it's aviculture... the origins and the feed habits as well as nesting, preferences, fears etc. Then proceed in a manner of keep suitable for the creature that gives it comfort and ease. They are derived from junglefowl and ate things that grow in nature...not just bagged feed from the store... They have natural protections as well as natural enemies.

Take a very broad look at what ever animal you plan to "keep".

 

[humboldtpeeps]

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Totally great advice! Doesn't make them any less fun, or lessen your sadness when something you raise by hand dies~ but you've got to be realistic about it- they even eat their own

*We went on vacation in Kauai Hawaii and they have free range chickens all over the place there. You all should have seen the horrified look on my vegetarian friend's face when a chicken sprinted by with a fried chicken leg in its mouth.... priceless

 

[AKsmama]

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I've got to quote my lady ranchhand here, because she's right. Chickens are chickens. They are not kittens and puppies that crave your attention and petting. They run up to you to see if you have anything to eat, not because they "love" you. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Let them be chickens, observe them doing their chickeny things, learn how they interact. Speaking of, the chicken world is pretty brutal. Pecking order is just the beginning of it. They are cannibalistic little suckers and it does not bother them one whit that it's their flockmate they've known all their lives that they're abusing. Or eating.

Do NOT let them sit on your shoulders at any age. What was cute yesterday isn't so cute when you're sitting in the doctor's office, in pain, because your little Fluffyfuzzywuzzy thought your eyeball looked tasty. Yep, it happened to me. Fortunately the most I got was a scratched cornea, but it can turn out much worse. They will also pull out your piercings and go for your glasses. It all happens in a split second, too.

If you're only going to have females, one of them may very well start acting or even looking like a rooster. It's common and normal, so if it happens, don't freak out.

I think you are doing a very smart thing by researching beforehand. My favorite book is Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow. I reference it all the time.

Enjoy your chickens- they are more fun and entertaining than you can imagine! Oh yes, and build a BIG coop, you will want to add more (just thought I'd emphasize that one more time)!

 

[flightfeather21]

TigerLilly wrote:

My only advice would be to build your coop at least twice as big as you THINK you want it...oh, and read up on "chicken math" 'cause it's gonna getcha sooner or later!

I AGREE!!

 

[SoORchick73]

WOW chickens will peck at your eyes?? I have toddlers, eek....the thought!!!! :O

Love this thread! Its helping me a lot to learn the important things before I even search for it!

Quote:
I've got to quote my lady ranchhand here, because she's right. Chickens are chickens. They are not kittens and puppies that crave your attention and petting. They run up to you to see if you have anything to eat, not because they "love" you. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Let them be chickens, observe them doing their chickeny things, learn how they interact. Speaking of, the chicken world is pretty brutal. Pecking order is just the beginning of it. They are cannibalistic little suckers and it does not bother them one whit that it's their flockmate they've known all their lives that they're abusing. Or eating.

Do NOT let them sit on your shoulders at any age. What was cute yesterday isn't so cute when you're sitting in the doctor's office, in pain, because your little Fluffyfuzzywuzzy thought your eyeball looked tasty. Yep, it happened to me. Fortunately the most I got was a scratched cornea, but it can turn out much worse. They will also pull out your piercings and go for your glasses. It all happens in a split second, too.

If you're only going to have females, one of them may very well start acting or even looking like a rooster. It's common and normal, so if it happens, don't freak out.

I think you are doing a very smart thing by researching beforehand. My favorite book is Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow. I reference it all the time.

Enjoy your chickens- they are more fun and entertaining than you can imagine! Oh yes, and build a BIG coop, you will want to add more (just thought I'd emphasize that one more time)!

 

[Sharksandguitars]

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My chicks love me, and I dont care what you say! Just kidding, I know I am too attached to my chicks already and it is scary. If one dies, I will be devastated.

 

[muslw4]

SoORchick73, I'm so glad you started this topic. I too am just geting into chickens. I have also been reading through old posts trying to find information. All this advice is great! I've already realized the 7 chicks I've ordered to be delivered in June along with the 2 silkies I already have aren't enough. There are too many wonderful and beautiful breeds of chickens to choose from! My boyfriend and I have plans to turn an old garden shed into a chicken coup. We are starting on it tomorrow. So, the advice on coupes is most valuable. Keep the advice coming!

 

[sixxchixx]

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your child or kitten or doggie wouldnt love you if you didnt feed it..... My chickens love me!!

 

[JoePa]

I agree - chickens are not human and this must be recognized - they exist for our pleasure - be it getting eggs, eating them, or raising for fun - the worste thing you can do is to forget that and start treating them like they are our human babies - there is too much of that going on now a days - people treat animals and worry about them more than they do humans - so many people eat meat and thing it grows on trees - they don't even think about the slaughter house - remember the old saying - man! I forgot it -

 

[gryeyes]

I'll add my three "warnings" for new chickie moms (and dads):

When you look in the brooder and they are all dead, do not have a heart attack yet. Tap the side of the brooder first - the chicks will wake up. They just fall asleep like that. Sometimes on their backs, or with their heads across stuff in the brooder (like laying their heads on the chopping block). They DO look dead, but they're just asleep.

When you pick up a chick and feel a tumor on its neck, do not panic then, either. That's a full crop. The chicks are piggies and will stuff themselves. That crop will empty over night and be all normal again in the morning. Not tumors. Whew!

When you see one or another chick on its side, kicking and twitching, it is NOT having a seizure. It may even flap its wings and roll over onto its other side to do it some more. This is dust bathing behavior in the brooder bedding. Perfectly normal. And very silly looking once you know what it is, which is NOT a seizure. Trust me.

And a bonus, fourth warning: You will fall in love with them. This will not change even when they grow up into chickens and start to lay eggs. You will love them more. And I bet you will do a great big dance and run excitedly into the house, screaming with delight when the first one lays her first egg.

Welcome to the wonderful world of keeping chickens!