New Chicks! Happy Spring

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countrydreamer8

countrydreamer8

Chirping
7 Years
Jan 27, 2013
28
2
77
Brockport, NY
I just got my very first chicks this morning and I'm so excited! I got 6 Buff Orpingtons and they're so adorable. They all seem to be doing great except for 1 she seems a little groggy. I was told that I should give her some time and if she didn't perk up to call the grain feed store back. Well he was right because it seems as though she must have had a pretty rough trip and she just needed some time to recuperate.
 
Congratulations on your new chicks.
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I'm thinking that I might want to get a couple more chicks to make 8 count. Wouldn't it be smart to do this now while they're all young so as to discourage 'pecking'?
 
How many chickens can your coop hold? How many are you allowed to have in your city? It is tempting to fill our coops the first year but the truth is that it is often better to leave room for next years chicks. If you get new chicks every year or two you will have a more regular egg supply. It also leaves you room to decide later on that you want to try a new breed. That said if you do plan on getting a total of 8 chicks this year it is better to raise them together. They will bond better and you should have fewer issues in the future. Good luck.
 
Good Point. right now the coop I set up is only 4'x8' which allows for at least 8 chickens if I'm understanding everything I've read. However, you do make a good point by stating that I might want to add every year. I will have to think this through, thanks for the 'wisdom'
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes definitely think over the points Odelia gave you. If you do decide to get them, then definitely do it soon and before they establish the pecking order.

Buff orpingtons are my favorite breed!
 
countrydreamer8 said:
Good Point. right now the coop I set up is only 4'x8' which allows for at least 8 chickens if I'm understanding everything I've read. However, you do make a good point by stating that I might want to add every year. I will have to think this through, thanks for the 'wisdom'
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Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join to our flock. Are you free ranging your chickens during the day or keeping them in an enclosed run? The 4' sq. per bird is just for the coop which means your coop is the bare minimum size for 8 birds. More coop space would be even better as overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, fighting, biting and feather plucking, and even cannibalism. If you are keeping them in an enclosed run, you need a minimum of 10' sq. of floor area per bird for the run which would be 80' sq. for 8 birds (again more is better). Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
 

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