Just getting started......questions for the experts here

[coop-er]

Hello all... Long time lurker here. I have wanted to start raising chickens for years- long story short My wonderful husband finally bought me a coop ( used) the kids and I rehabbed it last fall and just this past week we picked up our 8 new babies.
Question #1 I went to get 3 chicks and came home with 8....how does that happen?
Question#2. I may have 2 roos, will this be a problem?..I believe they are buff brahmas.
Question 3. The chicks are in a large dog crate- they are 10 days old- will they become "bored" and pick on each other?- should I give them something to do... Spread their feed out ( so they can search it out), give them treats ( for variety), take them out to a chick corral to "play"?? Put in a roost?
Sorry if these seem like dumb questions, but I live in a cold climate and it will be weeks before they are fully feathered and able to go into their coop. Just trying to plan ahead. Thanks in advance for the help- unbelievable how friendly people on this website seem to be!

 

[chickbythebay]

I would put some feed down for them to learn to scratch for food. I don't think two Roos is a problem if they are raised together.

 

[redsoxs]

Hi, coop-er...Great to have you on BYC - I'll give your questions a shot.
Hello all... Long time lurker here. I have wanted to start raising chickens for years- long story short My wonderful husband finally bought me a coop ( used) the kids and I rehabbed it last fall and just this past week we picked up our 8 new babies.
Question #1 I went to get 3 chicks and came home with 8....how does that happen? It's called "chicken math." When you end up with "just one more"....and then another...and then another...
Question#2. I may have 2 roos, will this be a problem?..I believe they are buff brahmas. It could be a problem. A good rooster to hen ratio is about 1:12 or so hens. Problem is the hens getting overbred.
Question 3. The chicks are in a large dog crate- they are 10 days old- will they become "bored" and pick on each other?- should I give them something to do... Spread their feed out ( so they can search it out), give them treats ( for variety), take them out to a chick corral to "play"?? Put in a roost? They won't be bored...right now they need about 1 sq. ft per bird but that size grows as they do. Treats and things of that nature are always good (but not too many) . They won't roost for awhile yet - but they will hop up on things. A little variety (chick corral) gets them used to new things.
Sorry if these seem like dumb questions, but I live in a cold climate and it will be weeks before they are fully feathered and able to go into their coop. Just trying to plan ahead. Thanks in advance for the help- unbelievable how friendly people on this website seem to be! The only "dumb" question is the one unasked! These were all good questions. Hope you enjoy your chicken journey. BYC is here to help should the need arise! Best wishes!

Gre

 

[sourland]

# 1 - 3 became 8? Chicken math is the answer.

#2 - 2 roosters raised together may get along, but two large roosters like that with your number of hens will most likely result in overbreeding and damage.

# 3 - They will rapidly outgrow that dog crate - plan on moving them to a larger brooder as soon as is possible.


Good luck with them, and enjoy!

 

[thasista]

Hi from Kentucky!

 

[liz9910]

ah good ol' chicken math gotta love it.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Chicken math is an existential entity that strikes without warning. Just be sure that as your chicks grow they have plenty of space - standard size fowl need about 4 square feet of floor space in the coop per bird when they have grown. I also think 2 roosters to 6 hens is on the high side, unfortunately - maybe you need more pullets!

 

[coop-er]

Thanks to all for your advice-I knew I would find answers here! I have plenty of coop space so I am not worried about that... But now sort of concerned about my roosters-(I THINK I know which are the roosters) If I need to get rid of one should I do it now? Or wait until he's older? And Yikes how do I decide which to give away? When I ordered them I asked for the most docile, friendly roos available to hopefully avoid issues. I got them from Meyers Hatchery and the folks there were wonderful- I am really happy with how healthy and robust these little guys are.

 

[GallusGirl]

I just got 4 new chicks, and I've been looking into ways to keep them entertained while in their little brooder. Right now I have a few varieties of food and grit, a little upturned box lid with some dirt for digging (in addition to their bedding which they love kicking into their water) a "babycake" treat, and a little cardboard box (actually from my brooder heat lamp light bulb) with a few cutout "doors" for them to hide in or chase each other around, along with one stick resting in the bedding for them to peck at or hop onto. I've been collecting ideas for "chicken enrichment" in a small brooder, and here are a few ideas I've found:
-Logs/sticks (with bugs)
-Tray with dirt
-Dangling string
-Cat toys
-Food hanging from string (Leafy greens, apple)
-Suet Feeder full of fruit, veggies
-Babycakes
-Potted plants, wheat grass (in run or brooder)
-Laser Pointer
-Pile of straw
-Cheerios on string
-Cooked rice, oats, quinoa, corn
Some of them are probably better when the chicks are a bit older, as you have to introduce new foods or treats a little bit slowly, but they should keep chicks happier in a smaller environment for a longer period of time. Good luck with your roosters, there's always the chance they will get along or one will be dominant and rule the roost, while the other is happily subordinate!
~L

 

[drumstick diva]

welcome to BYC - you are in great hands here. I agree your chicks are going to rapidly outgrow your brooder- do you have somewhere inside to make them a larger area? Until weather & feathering make it possible to put them in the coop.