In hindsight...

[Djgm]

So, my girls are supposed to get here at the end of June. I'm just wondering what is it you wish you knew, bought, did different when you got your first chickens? Trying to be as prepared as possible before they get here lol.

 

[Punkybrewster]

When i started many years ago, i wish i had listened to the old timers in my family and put them out in their coop sooner. The stinky mess in the house...

I now i put them out within 1 week as soon as i know their all stable and healthy. They grow faster and stronger...of course with a heat source.

I also wish i had known to let them out into the run at this time too. They scratch and pick up good bacteria and grit. I seldom lose a chick to cocci anymore.

 

[rosemarythyme]

In hindsight... I would've built the coop first! Probably most common regret on here is thinking you have plenty of time to get that taken care of, and then suddenly the chicks are 5 or 6 weeks old and you're scrambling around in the rain to desperately finish it last minute.

 

[Acre4Me]

True to all the above.

you probably wont want them in the house past 2 weeks, tops.

chickens have been hatched and raised by the kajillions, so it’s not really as complicated as it seems when you read some posts on here. Yes, there can be problems (and we’ve had our share of problems and deaths), but their needs are pretty basic so no need to really over think it.

that first egg you get will be the most expensive egg you’ll ever eat (all those set up and grow out costs), so enjoy it! They grew to laying age!

getting them in June means you might not get eggs this year... depends on quantity of daily light. Light begins to decrease starting in late June, but they will still get their needed amount of light for awhile. just know that it is possible that they (all or only a few) May take longer to lay. What breeds are you getting? Production breeds and you’ll very likely get eggs as expected. We’ve had July chicks and some took longer to lay. We’ve had late April chicks and some took longer to lay. We’ve had late Feb chicks, and one breed took *forever* to lay (as in 36 weeks, 40 weeks, and not yet when sold all three at 45 weeks). So, really can vary.

chickens are so simple but really fun and relaxing to watch just scratch around and peck here and there and participate in their little social society.

 

[sealer39]

I believe lowering the temps from 95, 90, 85, 80, 75 each week is unnecessary. I used to brood inside the house so the temps could be regulated exactly. Now the chicks are brooded outside and they have a heat source on one side of the brooder if they want it.
Also, horizontal nipple waterers will keep the bedding dry. I convert the chicks to nipples after the 1st week.

 

[Djgm]

True to all the above.

you probably wont want them in the house past 2 weeks, tops.

chickens have been hatched and raised by the kajillions, so it’s not really as complicated as it seems when you read some posts on here. Yes, there can be problems (and we’ve had our share of problems and deaths), but their needs are pretty basic so no need to really over think it.

that first egg you get will be the most expensive egg you’ll ever eat (all those set up and grow out costs), so enjoy it! They grew to laying age!

getting them in June means you might not get eggs this year... depends on quantity of daily light. Light begins to decrease starting in late June, but they will still get their needed amount of light for awhile. just know that it is possible that they (all or only a few) May take longer to lay. What breeds are you getting? Production breeds and you’ll very likely get eggs as expected. We’ve had July chicks and some took longer to lay. We’ve had late April chicks and some took longer to lay. We’ve had late Feb chicks, and one breed took *forever* to lay (as in 36 weeks, 40 weeks, and not yet when sold all three at 45 weeks). So, really can vary.

chickens are so simple but really fun and relaxing to watch just scratch around and peck here and there and participate in their little social society.

The coop build starts this weekend, so it BETTER be done by the time we get them or I'll be so mad at myself lol. I'm getting one of each, Australorp, Buff Orpington, Speckeld Sussex, Barred Rock, Delaware, and a New Hampshire. With those, do you think I may get eggs this year? Should I add an artificial light later in fall?

I'm glad that space is a factor in keeping them happy and healthy, because I can see myself adding more and more already I tried to do as much research as I could into the breeds, because I wanted a mix of friendly along with decent egg layers, (my 4 nephews are 8 and under) are I have 0 intention of ever having them on the dinner table, that's just something personally I could never do, so once they're done laying, they'll just live out their lives as pets.

 

[Acre4Me]

The coop build starts this weekend, so it BETTER be done by the time we get them or I'll be so mad at myself lol. I'm getting one of each, Australorp, Buff Orpington, Speckeld Sussex, Barred Rock, Delaware, and a New Hampshire. With those, do you think I may get eggs this year? Should I add an artificial light later in fall?

I'm glad that space is a factor in keeping them happy and healthy, because I can see myself adding more and more already I tried to do as much research as I could into the breeds, because I wanted a mix of friendly along with decent egg layers, (my 4 nephews are 8 and under) are I have 0 intention of ever having them on the dinner table, that's just something personally I could never do, so once they're done laying, they'll just live out their lives as pets.

Of the breeds you mentioned, we’ve had barred rock, and Australorp. We have Buff orps that are 11 weeks old, so not yet laying. The BR are reliable layers so highest hopes for those starting this year. australorps not far behind. No experiwnce with the Other breeds mentioned.

supplemental light is a whole other topic on BYC. We add supplemental light in our coop. We only use it fall through winter. There is electric in our coop and a lightbulb connected to a timer. It is important to use a timer so light is on/off at specific times. You aim for 14 hours of light a day, usually turning it in earlier in the day, vs after natural sunset. We’ve done it both ways and find the birds will go to roost at the natural sunset timeframe irregardless of coop light so we generally add light in the am. You can use LED Christmas lights instead of a bulb. The light is sensed by their pineal gland in their head, so even blind chickens will still lay eggs due to light exposure! Somefeel chickens need a natural break and so don’t provide light. In my view, they take a natural break when molting. We have heritage breeds, so they are not heavy layers anyway. A pullet (under a year) who has begun laying will generally lay through the low light period of winter even without supplemental light. My experience is that the pullets slow down Or stop to molt during this time, but this May depend on their age as our pullets who’ve stopped to molt were Feb hatched, so reaching a year old when this occurred).

 

[Panhandler80]

In hindsight... I would've built the coop first! Probably most common regret on here is thinking you have plenty of time to get that taken care of, and then suddenly the chicks are 5 or 6 weeks old and you're scrambling around in the rain to desperately finish it last minute.

Hahaha. Yeah. I started my coop and run well in advance, but it still came down to the wire. I had it safe for them just barely in time. They had outgrown the brooder and the garage was starting to stink.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Build BIG! Your are starting with six, and already are thinking of more, and you will be getting more if you keep your birds forever.
Do you have a coop plan? Post for comments on the coops thread too.
I have chicks in the garage for about 2.5 weeks, and then they move to a separate coop section with their heat source. Messy doesn't describe it! Inhaling that dust isn't good, so having them out as soon as possible is best.
You have a nice mix of chicks coming too.
Mary

 

[Panhandler80]

As much as I like having 21 (really more than we need and this is the max I'd ever consider keeping up with), I kind of wish we had started with about 1/3 that many, and then added a new batch each year. This would have allowed us to have more consistent egg production, some occasional meat yield, and we'd get to raise chicks each year. Having ordered all at once, there will come a point where we'll just have to start over.