New chickens

Sara Tarazi

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Hi,
I'm new to this
I just brought home 8 hens, mostly 6 month pullits, one 2 month legbar. Three full grown hens, Americaunas and one black and white stripe don't know what she is. I got some maran mix and a cucoo maran. One layed a soft egg in the bottom of the coop and pooped on it so I tossed it. One has some leg mites I'm treating with corn oil and Vaseline. I blocked some of the nests because I only Have a couple layers now but the ones I left open had poop inside so I think I need to block them at night so they can't sleep in them. I would like some advice

1. What scraps should I never feed them
2. Best leg mite treatment
3. Best preventitive care for lice, etc
4. Diatomaceous earth use?
5. How to keep chickens from pooping in nests
6. Should I get a rooster? What is the benefit?
7. Coop cleaning tips

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Welcome to BYC! I recommend checking out the Learning Center to answer a lot of your questions: https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center in regards to the pooping in the nest box, I would definitely block the nest boxes off at night until everyone gets used to sleeping on the perches instead. There is an awesome thread regarding installing poop boards: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures having a rooster is a personal preference, if you don't plan on breeding chicks than a rooster is not necessary for the hens to lay eggs. They are flock protectors and are very beautiful. They can also be dangerous to small children if they feel that the child is a threat to the flock. Hope that helps, good luck to you.
 
Hi,
I'm new to this
I just brought home 8 hens, mostly 6 month pullits, one 2 month legbar. Three full grown hens, Americaunas and one black and white stripe don't know what she is. I got some maran mix and a cucoo maran. One layed a soft egg in the bottom of the coop and pooped on it so I tossed it. One has done leg mites I'm treating with corn oil and Vaseline. I blocked some of the nests because I only Have a couple layers now but the ones I left open had poop inside do I think I need to block them at night so they can't sleep in them. I would like some advice

1. What scraps should I never feed them- RAW POTATEOS,SUGAR, SALT, AVOCADO, CITRUS, RAW BEANS, NUTS, ONIONS,ALCOHOL, RAW EGGS, ETC.
2. Best leg mite treatment-SORRY, I DON'T KNOW!:/
3. Best preventitive care for lice, etc-DIRT BATHS
4. Diatomaceous earth use?-I HAVEN'T EVER USED I CAN'T HELP WITH THIS EITHER.
5. How to keep chickens from pooping in nests- DON'T ALLOW THE HENS TO SLEEP IN THE NESTS.
6. Should I get a rooster? What is the benefit?- THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, THEY PROTECT THE FLOCK, THEY FERTILIZE EGGS, THEY ALWAYS ARE CARING FOR THE FLOCK, THEY ARE ALARM CLOCKS!
7. Coop cleaning tips- DEEP CLEAN TWICE A YEAR, MAKE ROOSTS MOVABLE SO YOU CAN TAKE THEM OUT WHEN CLEANING, USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR INSTEAD OF BLEACH.

Thanks!


Welcome! Hope this helps^ Make yourself at home and we are here to help. Good luck with your flock!
 
1
I don't feed citrus, onions, banana peels or avocado hulls.
limit bread because it's too high in salt and low in protein.
veggies, fruit, meat, fish are all good.

2
Scaly leg mites are very hard to control once they have them. Culling is the best approach. They will spread slowly from bird to bird. To treat, smother the mites by applying a kerosene/linseed oil mix every 10 days. The raised scales may never return to normal after the mites are gone. You could use ivermectin but then you couldn't use the eggs.

3
Cleanliness.

4
I sprinkle it on roosts, bedding and all nooks and crannies when I clean out the coop.

5
Block the nests at night and make sure the roosts are higher than the nests so they don't get the urge to sleep in them.

6
Roosters protect the flock from predators, find food for hens and stand guard while they eat, make fertile eggs and often keep peace in the flock. Pullets tend to reach sexual maturity sooner if they can see a rooster.
I keep one with each flock.

7
Use the deep litter method and thoroughly clean everything when the feces is more prominent than the pine shavings.
That could be anywhere from 3 months to a year depending on stocking density.
 
images


Welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community!

Here is the link to our treats chart on what is good and a few things that are not good for them...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

As for leg mites, I have never had them in my chickens, but have had them in my quail. I had great success with vaseline and oil as you are using. Apply it daily for several months. They mites will die within a week, but it will take a while for the scales to lay back down, depending on how bad the case is. But keep using the vaseline until the scales are back down. You might do a weekly dip and vaseline rub on all the other birds too while you are working with this bird with the mites.

Mites and lice are best controlled with cleanliness, however in some areas of the country where there are no deep freezes, they can be hard to control. DE can be used to dust the floors, nest boxes, roost bars and underneath roost bars once a month. Keep it as clean and dry as you can.

Close off all nest boxes until they are ready to lay to keep pullets from sleeping and pooping in boxes.

You do not need a rooster for eggs. Hens lay them regardless. If you want fertile eggs for hatching, then keep a rooster. If not, then don't bother. Some of them can be mean or rough with the hens. So pass on the rooster if you are just looking for eggs and birds as pets.

Good luck with all your new adventures and welcome to our flock!
 

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