Im new

[wood duck whacker]

I am new to this site and raising chickens. I bought 6 baby chicks from tractor supply last friday they are doing well so far. They said they where assorted reds but i dont know anymore about them than that. what kind of red could they be? i have built them a brooder box that is about 4 by 2 and they seem happy in it. Thier wings are feathering out fast. How long do i have before i need to have a coop built. all the pics i have seen of them have been pretty fancy i am looking for stricly functional for now i live in the city but have a big back yard any ideas?

 

[Daisygirl]

When I got my chooks six months ago I was in much the same situation - - - except they were in a cardboard box in the guest room. once they reached two weeks, I moved them to a dog cage so they had more room to run around in. By about six weeks they needed a coop, so we knocked one together.

We used mesh, timber, plywood and roofing, and basically made a run plus a floor raised slightly with a box containing pine shavings in it with the roofing on the sides of the raised floor and on the top. After adding a door to the other end, the girls moved in and have been using it happily ever since.

 

[Bedste]

WELCOME Wood Duck Wacker!

The chicks could be a combination of Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds or Production Reds or even Red Sexlinks. Maybe you could call the TSC and ask them for more details or what hatchery they use. The birds need to be under lights until they are fully feathered. Usually about 3 weeks old. You can get a dog run at Lowes or Home Depot and put a small henhouse in the middle of it. 6 pullets wont take up too much room. There are many small henhouse ideas online or you can purchase a ready built one at a feed store or online.
http://www.makeyourownchickencoop.com/?hop=validcode1

Your chickens will need their own hen house before they are 8 weeks old.... They grow fast.... GOOD LUCK and Welcome!

 

[Daisygirl]

Oops, almost forgot. Do you live in an area where it snows, or gets below 8 degrees celcius? because you may want to consider insulating a bit more than I did...

And

 

[wood duck whacker]

I have them under a light and their brooder i built is about 4' long and 2' wide out of sheet metal. i have been feeding them chick starter and the anti biotic in thier water. how long do i need to give them the chick starter feed and what do i go to next? Thank you for info.

 

[wood duck whacker]

Oh i live in arkansas it has been about 75 degrees the last 2 days and about 60 at night i have them in my garage. i made a ring of wire about 6 ft in dia and put them in it today for about 30 min while i cleaned the box. was that a good idea?

 

[Tala]

Well this will give you an idea: https://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php Good guidelines that will get you going.

The more chicks I have raised the less I stick to the "rules" but everybody starts out with the basics and then adjusts them for what works best in their house. It's not hard really.
They can be on chick starter till 10 weeks, but longer won't hurt just until the bag runs out after that, and then you can switch them to grower/finisher until they start to lay eggs.

This is my Arkansas "air conditioned" coop (just kidding on the a/c part): https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=27985-open-air-design-coop

and I raised my first 6 TSC chicks from 2 weeks old to point of lay in this tractor: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=27985-chicken-tractor

 

[wood duck whacker]

thanks this helps!

 

[becc]

hello wood duck whacker

 

[Daisygirl]

Quote:
Great idea - - - I wish I had thought of that, as my chooks had "outside time" under a laundry basket!!!!