New Chicken Parent

[dosanjhfarms75]

Hi I'm from California and I have just gotten my 8 chicks from my local feed and farm supply store, before I forget I have NEVER had chickens and so I was REALLY excited an nervous at the same time. A friends mom told me about this site and since then I have been in LOVE!!! This sight has some what prepared me, but I still have MANY questions.
Love from California
Dosanjhfarms75 and the 8 chicks

 

[dosanjhfarms75]

Ohh also we are keeping them in a large crate with bedding, at night we will be putting them inside our den which is warm. I was also wondering when I should put them in our coop.
Thx
Dosanjhfarms75 and the 8 chicks

 

[orumpoultry]

Welcome to BYC from Texas. You're stumbling into the right place for questions!

 

[gander007]

 

[jmcgee83]

I'm new here too! nice to meet you!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! The Learning Center is a great place to start reading, all kinds of good articles about chicken keeping https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center This is a nice article about how to care for chicks the first few weeks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens What are you using as a heat source in your brooder? Chicks need 95* the first week and it can be lowered 5* per week... so when you can put them in your coop depends on your set up and if you can give the chicks the heat they need, if you can put the heat lamp out there etc, some people have the chicks outside from the start.

 

[TwoCrows]

Congrats on the new babies, they are adorable!

You will want to brood them under a heat lamp for about 6 weeks before they head out to the coop. Start the heat around 95 degrees for the first week, and then lower it by 5 degrees each week for 6 weeks. You can take them outside for short field trips after 2 weeks old, but keep it short and always supervise them at all times as they are hawk bait.

Follow the link to the learning center that Kelsie has left for you. Lots of good reads on all the aspects of raising your new brood.

Welcome to BYC and enjoy your new babies!!

 

[dosanjhfarms75]

Thanks a lot!! That helped tons!!

now that you've brought some light It will insure that my babies won't be inside for eternity because I wasn't sure if it was safe yet

THANKS AGAIN
dosanjhfarms75 & the 8 chicks

 

[dosanjhfarms75]

Hello!! It's been a while since I've been on here, so here is a little update of my 2 week old babies...

Love from California
Dosanjhfarms75 and the 8 chicks

 

[dosanjhfarms75]

Today was their first day outside, I think it went well, it was kind of scary(for me) at first, but otherwise it went great...
Dosanjhfarm75 and the 8 chicks