New member and chicken owner!

[BullChick]

Congratulations on the new chicks, and your upcoming infant!
The box of bedding doesn’t need moved. If they don’t want in it, they are fine. In the beginning, babies sleep on the floor. When they are 8 weeks or so, I will put them up on the roost at night if they have not begun sleeping up there. It takes a few days, and they begin roosting.

 

[Caryar18]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens Carleigh. I had a c-section and a son who is now 34 years old. Really like the name you have chosen, Levi.

Thank you so much!! Super excited for both of these new adventures

 

[Caryar18]

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Congratulations on the new chicks, and your upcoming infant!
The box of bedding doesn’t need moved. If they don’t want in it, they are fine. In the beginning, babies sleep on the floor. When they are 8 weeks or so, I will put them up on the roost at night if they have not begun sleeping up there. It takes a few days, and they begin roosting.

So as I did some research on the forums I didn’t even think about rats/raccoons trying to get the chicks so I ended up bringing my 5 week old chicks inside due to not having the proper fencing. The chicks are laying right up against the fence and a raccoon can reach in and strangle the chicks. So I’m going to Rural King tomorrow to get what everyone is saying “hardware cloth” to prevent raccoons and rats reaching in.

 

[Caryar18]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!! If you have any questions on breed and/or gender, please post here. You'll get lots of good help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/

Congratulations on your new baby boy! How very exciting. 4H is such a great program for kids. Our youngest is named Levi and was also in 4h, but he's 20yrs now

Hello! Welcome to BYC!! If you have any questions on breed and/or gender, please post here. You'll get lots of good help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/

Congratulations on your new baby boy! How very exciting. 4H is such a great program for kids. Our youngest is named Levi and was also in 4h, but he's 20yrs now

Yes Levi Lawrence! Great minds think alike! Very excited for him to enjoy the chickens and 4H!

 

[BullChick]

So as I did some research on the forums I didn’t even think about rats/raccoons trying to get the chicks so I ended up bringing my 5 week old chicks inside due to not having the proper fencing. The chicks are laying right up against the fence and a raccoon can reach in and strangle the chicks. So I’m going to Rural King tomorrow to get what everyone is saying “hardware cloth” to prevent raccoons and rats reaching in.

Oh, yes. I didn’t make my babies sleep inside one summer. Come morning... I hadn’t had a predator attack before, so I didn’t think they were in danger. I was lulled into a false sense of security.

 

[I love my ducks34]

Welcome to BYC!! Hope it all goes well!

 

[Caryar18]

Here is a picture of my coop. I have churches it up a bit since this and added marigolds around it and trimmed the branches. Also going to repaint it! I guess I am going to get some 1/2 hardware cloth to keep the raccoons and rats out I didn’t even think of that until I was reading through some forums. And I reckon I’ll get some hay to put down on the floor?

 

[DiYMama540]

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining our flock! My girls had quite the culture shock when it was time to put on their big girl feathers and go to their coop. Had to "put them to bed" for about a week before they got the hang of things on their own.

That silly girl was the last to get the hang of it...she preferred her climate controlled brooder inside

 

[Caryar18]

Welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining our flock! My girls had quite the culture shock when it was time to put on their big girl feathers and go to their coop. Had to "put them to bed" for about a week before they got the hang of things on their own.
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That silly girl was the last to get the hang of it...she preferred her climate controlled brooder inside

oh man! What did you do to pit them to bed? I feel like my girls are going to be the same way!

 

[DiYMama540]

oh man! What did you do to pit them to bed? I feel like my girls are going to be the same way!

Had to carry them to their coop and I set them on their roost bars. some people though, just keep their flock confined to the coop and run for about a week so the birds get used to their new surroundings. You may still have to set them on their roosts at night though.