Hello! Ive been lurking here for a while as I planned my big break into this fun new hobby! I finally got my chicks last weekend and they are all settled in and happy.
I live on the Central Coast in California and have plenty of space for the chickens I have always wanted. I am so excited to be here!
I got 4 chicks last weekend from the feed store (the most amazing feed store! The kind you can walk around in for ages because it's got everything you can ever imagine!). I arrived promptly as they opened to find a line of people waiting for chicks! I managed to get away with 2 Ameraucanas and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes. Their birthday is today, 1 week old!
I have them all set up in their brooder in the office in my house and as they get bigger I may have to set them up in the garage with some cat-proof protection. They have a little roost which one of them has already started using, I am impressed! She does, however, fall asleep on it then promptly fall off. It's pretty cute.
I am convinced that one of my wyandottes is a boy, and Im trying to be patient and calm while I wait to see if I have hens, but am suffering from a fair amount of anxiety over having to find a place for him if he's not a hen. Oh the stress! I did visit the meat bird forum to take a look at culling myself.. and while I consider myself a pretty tough cookie, Im not sure if I could cull him myself. For this reason, they are not getting names yet! >.<
I am going with sand for my bedding after lots of research and enjoyed going to the local Rockery to find the right sand! The birds adore it and spend a lot of time bathing. They are a hoot to watch!
They dont care for my presence yet, which is a bummer, but I hope they warm up to me more as we get to know each other. I have offered them bits of strawberry from my hand, but they were not tempted... However a little bit after I left them, I heard lots of chirping so I peeked in on them and one was running around with strawberry in her mouth while the other chased.. omg the cuteness.
When should I begin holding them to get them used to my hand? I get such conflicting information.. Im a research junkie and that can sometimes be counter-productive to my search for answers and knowledge!
I live on the Central Coast in California and have plenty of space for the chickens I have always wanted. I am so excited to be here!
I got 4 chicks last weekend from the feed store (the most amazing feed store! The kind you can walk around in for ages because it's got everything you can ever imagine!). I arrived promptly as they opened to find a line of people waiting for chicks! I managed to get away with 2 Ameraucanas and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes. Their birthday is today, 1 week old!
I have them all set up in their brooder in the office in my house and as they get bigger I may have to set them up in the garage with some cat-proof protection. They have a little roost which one of them has already started using, I am impressed! She does, however, fall asleep on it then promptly fall off. It's pretty cute.
I am convinced that one of my wyandottes is a boy, and Im trying to be patient and calm while I wait to see if I have hens, but am suffering from a fair amount of anxiety over having to find a place for him if he's not a hen. Oh the stress! I did visit the meat bird forum to take a look at culling myself.. and while I consider myself a pretty tough cookie, Im not sure if I could cull him myself. For this reason, they are not getting names yet! >.<
I am going with sand for my bedding after lots of research and enjoyed going to the local Rockery to find the right sand! The birds adore it and spend a lot of time bathing. They are a hoot to watch!
They dont care for my presence yet, which is a bummer, but I hope they warm up to me more as we get to know each other. I have offered them bits of strawberry from my hand, but they were not tempted... However a little bit after I left them, I heard lots of chirping so I peeked in on them and one was running around with strawberry in her mouth while the other chased.. omg the cuteness.
When should I begin holding them to get them used to my hand? I get such conflicting information.. Im a research junkie and that can sometimes be counter-productive to my search for answers and knowledge!
and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your new flock! You'e gotten some good advice above on working with your chicks.
