Greetings and welcome to BYC Don! So glad you joined us. There's a wealth of info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home!
OK, down to the nitty gritty... First, to be a real "Chickeneer" you NEVER plan ahead... You want to order your chicks to be delivered with the idea that you'll build the coop and run in the interim, before they arrive. Of course we ALL know this aint never gonna happen
Next, when the chicks arrive (or preferably the day before) you freak out
and hurriedly construct some sort of brooder box/area to hold the chicks till they are old enough to be put out in the coop and run (that you have yet to start on
).
At about 2-3 weeks, when the chicks have grown (including flight feathers) enough to have the ability to fly up and out of the brooder, to explore their surroundings (the spare bedroom, bathroom, basement, garage, etc), you run around frantically once again
until you find some screening or fencing that you can put over the brooder to keep them contained
You then start really putting together a coop and run as you realize time is running out (as is the patience of your significant other). But then you find out there are thousands of designs and hundreds of decisions that must be made before you can even start.
When your chickens are finally 8 or so weeks old, and have made their room/space a complete dusty, stinky mess,
you have completed your new coop and run. And just in time as your significant other has been threatening divorce (or murder
). So you cut corners to save money and you threw together an adequate coop (you know you did!) and run. It's OK, the chickens don't care what it looks like.
Now, you put the chickens in their new coop and run and though there's enough room NOW, you will find out very shortly, that there really isn't, cause chicken math occurs and there are more coming. Much sooner than you can imagine.
And so Chickeneering goes... Congrats on your new adventure!
Now, for the ten items... Really, all you need to start:
1. a brooder for the chicks to grow out in.
2. a SAFE/SECURE, well ventilated coop/run area, with adequate space for them to move into and live in.
3. a way to keep their water from freezing in the winter.
4. shade enough to keep them from cooking in the summer.
5. chicken feed.
6. a good sense of humor
Oh, if you haven't done so already, PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. Old folks like me
will never remember from this post. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes.
