LittlesNBigs self introduction

LittlesNBigs

Chirping
Apr 27, 2022
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My partner and I just started raising chickens recently. We got our plans together, talked to our parents and siblings who all have their own flocks and decided to commit. We were convinced to start with leghorns and Americano, though Silkies barely missed the cut.

We checked with our local feed store, Cal Ranch, in January for when the first batch of the year would come in. We bought the cute little coop, a massive bag of crumble, feeders, waterers and everything else we knew we would need except the birds. After we got it all set up, we waited anxiously for the first weekend in February to go and pick out our girls.

Once we brought our girls home we argued whether they would go in the downstairs spare room (where I had already set up or brooder/crate) or in our bedroom. I lost that debate, though I was pleasantly surprised that their odor and noises turned out to be minimal. Instead of the litter pellets the store recommended, we used straw for brooder bedding. I would strongly recommend using straw. The small bale still has some left to give months later. Within three days I was sleeping on the floor next to them so they wouldn't cry at night.

I'll update later with the next chapter. For now here are some pics from the scrap book!
 

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@SilverBirds thank you for your reply and concern. The pictures and story currently end in the middle of February. I'll be adding to the story in a couple of installments rather than posting a massive wall of text up front :)

They had a 250 watt heat bulb focused just inside the door of the crate we used for the brooder. We would adjust the focus to where the birds would choose to remain toward the middle of the crate. That allows them to choose how warm they want to be.

The coop is similar to [this one](https://www.calranch.com/superior-hen-coop-xl.html). The run is not going to be big enough for four grown hens 24/7, but we let them run our 1/5 acre back yard during daylight hours so that's not the big a concern.
 
@SilverBirds thank you for your reply and concern. The pictures and story currently end in the middle of February. I'll be adding to the story in a couple of installments rather than posting a massive wall of text up front :)

They had a 250 watt heat bulb focused just inside the door of the crate we used for the brooder. We would adjust the focus to where the birds would choose to remain toward the middle of the crate. That allows them to choose how warm they want to be.

The coop is similar to [this one](https://www.calranch.com/superior-hen-coop-xl.html). The run is not going to be big enough for four grown hens 24/7, but we let them run our 1/5 acre back yard during daylight hours so that's not the big a concern.
Ah, I see.

You can finish your story in the Pictures & Stories of My Chickens forum section. That way more people will see it and follow along. :)
 

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