need advice

[so lucky]

Welcome to the BYC forum. Chickens are worth their weight in gold just for their ability to lift your mood.
You can feed them the crumbles you have until they start laying, then switch to all-flock feed, and make sure they have oyster shells to eat at that time, free choice. I don't think you would ever want to try to feed them grains, such as corn or wheat, as a regular diet, as it is not complete nutrition. A little as a treat would be fine, though.
You will find everything you need to know here on this forum. If you ever think someone is being critical of your set-up or treatment of your chicks, it is only because they have learned by trial and error what works and what doesn't. And a lot of us are on fixed budgets here. Scavenging and dumpster diving are great ways to find quality building supplies, also Craig's list. Good luck and have fun!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hi and thank you so much for answering so quickly. What advice? umm everything?
is the coops big enough? i now understand that using poultry wire was a bad idea. But i have little resources and used what i had and what I could get from friends and nieghbors. the property is fenced. But I am sure that anything can get in. probably biggest threat is coyotes and hawks. the coops have solid roofs and the bottom is enclosed with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. One coop has 1/2 hardware cloth and the other has 1 inch poultry mesh. the weather out here is HOT right now, 95 to 105 in afternoon. rain not a problem maybe 3 times a year and never much at that. I have a fan i tuirn on in the afternoons for them. I was also wondering if a misting thing would be ok? I have some drip irrigation stuff i could convert to misters. The coops or runs i guess they are called are 4x4x6 feet and 3x3x5 feet with the enclose box at the end which are as wide as the run and 24 inches deep and 18 inches high. i drilled a few ventilation holes in the sides up high and am going to cover them with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. also i am feeding them the crumbles the feed store recomended how long do I feed them this? is it hard to get them to start eating grain/ When should i switch? They are really going to be pets. Am not really after the eggs but I know they will lay them. And would never ever consider eating them. Jeez i am running on and on. thank you and any advice would be appreciated Wes SDchickie rescuer

Which birds are in which set up? Bantams in the bigger or smaller one?

I don't live where it gets that hot so I can't help with that. Chickens suffer in the heat, so if you see excessive panting you know they aren't doing well.

If possible I would try to eventually add some hardware cloth as you can afford it.

I would also just continue to feed a good chicken feed. Either a non medicated starter grower or an All Flock ration. Offer oyster shells free choice for the calcium needs.

 

[wesleyzhere]

What advice do you need?

Hi and thank you so much for answering so quickly. What advice? umm everything?
is the coops big enough? i now understand that using poultry wire was a bad idea. But i have little resources and used what i had and what I could get from friends and nieghbors. the property is fenced. But I am sure that anything can get in. probably biggest threat is coyotes and hawks. the coops have solid roofs and the bottom is enclosed with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. One coop has 1/2 hardware cloth and the other has 1 inch poultry mesh. the weather out here is HOT right now, 95 to 105 in afternoon. rain not a problem maybe 3 times a year and never much at that. I have a fan i tuirn on in the afternoons for them. I was also wondering if a misting thing would be ok? I have some drip irrigation stuff i could convert to misters. The coops or runs i guess they are called are 4x4x6 feet and 3

Welcome to the BYC forum. Chickens are worth their weight in gold just for their ability to lift your mood.
You can feed them the crumbles you have until they start laying, then switch to all-flock feed, and make sure they have oyster shells to eat at that time, free choice. I don't think you would ever want to try to feed them grains, such as corn or wheat, as a regular diet, as it is not complete nutrition. A little as a treat would be fine, though.
You will find everything you need to know here on this forum. If you ever think someone is being critical of your set-up or treatment of your chicks, it is only because they have learned by trial and error what works and what doesn't. And a lot of us are on fixed budgets here. Scavenging and dumpster diving are great ways to find quality building supplies, also Craig's list. Good luck and have fun!

OMG a fellow diver and craiglister!! i have no problems with critics, was only boy with 4 older sisters, was critiqued daily lol

 

[wesleyzhere]

i believe that chickens are country crack. cant get enough! lol

 

[aart]

For the heat aspect:

Deep all day shade is best but....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves. It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

 

[feathermaid]

I think the size of your little coops will be fine for a roosting/nesting house, not necessarily a true coop. Do you have a nest box and a roost bar inside each one? They'll probably spend all their free time outside.

The ventilation holes are not enough, you need much more air flow than that, it's very important. An easy way to add more is to cut out all of the little window areas and replace the bigger square openings with 1/4" hardware cloth. If the coops are too hot & stuffy and dark, the chickens may not even want to go inside to lay eggs or sleep for the night.

Do you plan to let your birds free range during the day? Or even just a few hours? At some point down the road you might want to build a bigger and more secure run space. If you have your birds separated now in 2 groups in 2 coops right next to each other, they will learn where their home is and return on their own if let out. Eventually, they may even share the same larger run just fine.

The following articles contain valuable information that can help you get familiar with how to best provide for your new flock. Please do take a look:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need

Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

Predator Proofing

Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging

Key Points to Successful Free Ranging

 

[slordaz]

Welcome to BYC, nice starting point to set up and I'm sure the builders can give ya some ideas on shoring it up, A lot of times used or recycled Materials will work for shoring up defenses, for the time being maybe hot wire it where money is an issue right now

 

[wesleyzhere]

I think the size of your little coops will be fine for a roosting/nesting house, not necessarily a true coop. Do you have a nest box and a roost bar inside each one? They'll probably spend all their free time outside.

The ventilation holes are not enough, you need much more air flow than that, it's very important. An easy way to add more is to cut out all of the little window areas and replace the bigger square openings with 1/4" hardware cloth. If the coops are too hot & stuffy and dark, the chickens may not even want to go inside to lay eggs or sleep for the night.

Do you plan to let your birds free range during the day? Or even just a few hours? At some point down the road you might want to build a bigger and more secure run space. If you have your birds separated now in 2 groups in 2 coops right next to each other, they will learn where their home is and return on their own if let out. Eventually, they may even share the same larger run just fine.

The following articles contain valuable information that can help you get familiar with how to best provide for your new flock. Please do take a look:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need

Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

Predator Proofing

Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging

Key Points to Successful Free Ranging

 

[wesleyzhere]

Thank you and thanks to everyone who has replied to my questions. I was feeling kinda out of my depth untill i found you guys. feeling much more confidant, was terrified of harming my little chickies. its been only 2 months but i am very attatched to them. yes the back part of the coop area has 12x12 nesting boxes, i will put in a 2 inch dowel for a roost. is 2 in big enough? Was originaly going to cut out the windows but was afraid it would be too much. thank you for the suggestion. i have box fans blowing into the runs, set on a timer for 11 am to 6 pm. its been very hot here 95 to 100 in the afternoons. havent really noticed them panting but they do seem to wander in front of the fans a lot. the coops seem to be rain proof i used the hose setting on shower and let it "rain' for 10 minutes, didnt see any leaks. i will attatch a little rain sill above each of the windows i cut out. should i do all of the windows? 2 on the back and one on each side? Again thank you very much cant tell you how much of a difference you guys have made. LOVE THIS WEBSITE!!!!

 

[Folly's place]

You can use saplings or branches as roosts, bark on. Mine are from 2" to 4" diameter and work very well.
Mary