New chicken owner

[Starkominski]

hi everyone , my family and I have our first flock of 6 chickens. I've always wanted chickens and 4 weeks ago my dream came true. We bought a coop from urban farmers online which was rated up to 6 chickens but once we put it together it seems to small for my girls . I do plan on letting them free range as much as I can, but we live in the woods and we have a hawk that lives in one of our trees . So he /she is my biggest fear .
I am learning as I go and I'm reading a whole lot. So if anyone has any Input or any advice.
My one question is do people use sand or straw in their runs? I have duet know and it's been really rainy so it's really messy. So I have read people switching to sand because it's easy to clean and it drys quick.

 

[Top Rooster]

You don't need to put anything in their runs they will scratch around for bugs in the dirt and they'll take dust baths I don't have anything in my run but rocks and trees

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck with your birds.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

You'll find lots of info in the Learning Centre - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/learning-center.11/ and if you have a specific topic in mind, just type it in the search box - there's a wealth of information on past and present threads.

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best

CT

 

[ally512]

I'm new too and I need help I have 12 birds they are about 6-7 weeks old my question is how much food do I feed them and do I leave the food in there also how big does coop roughly have to be for 12 of them any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[pennyJo1960]

Ally512 I would like to Welcome you also the general rule of thumb is 4 ft per bird so you need a coop that is for 12 birds 18 x 18 coop to house them

 

[pennyJo1960]

hi everyone , my family and I have our first flock of 6 chickens. I've always wanted chickens and 4 weeks ago my dream came true. We bought a coop from urban farmers online which was rated up to 6 chickens but once we put it together it seems to small for my girls . I do plan on letting them free range as much as I can, but we live in the woods and we have a hawk that lives in one of our trees . So he /she is my biggest fear .
I am learning as I go and I'm reading a whole lot. So if anyone has any Input or any advice.
My one question is do people use sand or straw in their runs? I have duet know and it's been really rainy so it's really messy. So I have read people switching to sand because it's easy to clean and it drys quick.

that is a really personal choice for you to make you can also use shiny fabric in strips at the top to scare the birds they do not want to fly where they may catch their wings

 

[Starkominski]

I'm new too and I need help I have 12 birds they are about 6-7 weeks old my question is how much food do I feed them and do I leave the food in there also how big does coop roughly have to be for 12 of them any help will be greatly appreciated

Hi, I'm still new but my chicks are 4 weeks and 2 days. And I just started taking their food away at night since that is what I'm going to do once they are moved outside at night ( right now they are only out during the day then in at night).