New Member Brahmas East TN

Pics
Date sort Score sort
L

LateSeptember

Chirping
Mar 23, 2024
10
119
63
We just got 5 Buff Brahma chicks 2-1/2 weeks old. So far so good. Husband has built a cute little frame for them to get a bit of outside time when the temp is warm and sun is out. Next he will build us a coop. We are hoping all 5 are female - we were told they were 90% sex guaranteed (not sure what the remedy would be if we are in the 10% wrong category hahaha) but will cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm really enjoying their different chirps & interactions with us and each other.
 
Glad to meet you, LS, and welcome to BYC. Congratulations on starting your chicken adventures! And best wishes from New England where we are giddy with spring.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.
 
janiedoe said:
Welcome to BYC! I love brahmas. They are the sweetest of the large breeds, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the welcome. My husband was fascinated by them, and I have to say they are very easy to handle so far. We have never had chickens before, I have had one or two parakeets & one love bird over the years but even that has been some years, so this is all new for us.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom