New and *completely* overwhelmed!!

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bradymom29

bradymom29

Hatching
Jun 29, 2015
4
0
7
We are brand new to having chickens. We definitely got thrown in "feet first" - we had no research phase, just "inherited" a little flock with the house we just purchased. There are 5 hens and a rooster, a great run and coop set up. We've only just been in the house 1 week now.

When we moved in, there were 2 chickens who had been "broody" and now we have 2 baby chicks! Which is great and fun and all, but NOW WHAT??? We have no idea what to do beyond what the previous owners told us about feeding, watering and giving treats to the adults.

Everything I am finding about chicks seems to assume you are hatching in an incubator. Any helpful links to info for beginners would be great - both how to care for these chicks (and the mamas) and also just general chicken care would be great. I just ordered "Chickens for Dummies", but any book recommendations would be welcome too. We don't have internet at our new home yet, so I snuck away to Starbucks and am trying to search, but just overwhelmed with information.

Thanks all! Looking forward to exploring the BYC site a bit more when we have internet at home!
 
Welcome to BYC!

Chickens are a lot of fun, but they can be overwhelming at times.

For your new chicks and mothers you should buy some starter/grower food and feed it to them. You could even feed this to the whole flock while your chicks are young, just supply some calcium by giving the hens a dish of oyster shells.
If the chicks are keeping up with their mothers and are in no danger of being attacked or of falling into a bucket of water, then they can be allowed with the rest of the flock. My chicks are in danger of drowning at a young age, so I put them and their mothers into a pen.

Best of luck with your new flock! All questions are welcomed!
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Hi, I am new, too. I ordered "A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping" by Robert And Hannah Litt. i downloaded it on my Kindle app, but Amazon probably sells it in paper- or hardback if you prefer that. I found it to be a very common-sense book that seems to cover a lot of topics. Easy to read or skim through, too. Hope this helps, and good luck!
 
Broody hens usually take very good care of their babies and teach them where the food and water is, how to scratch for bugs, even how to preen their feathers. Mama keeps the babies warm underneath her - so no need for heat lamps. The "Raising Backyard chickens," forum would also be a good read/education for you.
Welcome to the Backyard chickens flock, so glad you joined us.
 
Welcome to BYC!

One thing I wish we had been prepared for with our first chickens was for when "stuff" happens...illness, injuries, etc. Find a good book that covers health issues and be ready with a first aid kit (the book should give you some basic things to keep in a kit). The book we have is the "Chicken Health For Dummies" and it's a good intro book that covers a lot of issues.

Feel free to ask questions and make yourself at home.

Nice to have you here!
 

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