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Welcome to BYC! Glad you came. Enjoy your birds!
:frow
What a nice coop that is turning into! Great pictures. You can send questions or look in forums and Articles on the top of the page to see if there is already an answer.
 
janiedoe said:
Calcium and insoluable grit are not the same. They won't need calcium until 16 weeks or older.
I do feed mine eggshells for additional calcium, but I also offer oyster shell. My reasoning is, if they are producing their own calcium by way of their eggshells, there will be a deficit at some point.
Insoluable grit is usually made from ground granite and helps them digest their food.
At 6 weeks, I'm not sure they need to be on a starter feed at all. A grower should be fine. You can continue the starter if you are comfortable with that and switch to grower at 12 weeks. To me it is easier to just feed everyone in the flock a grower.
You can find electrolytes at Tractor Supply, Atwood, or just about any farm store. I don't keep a particular brand, but I always have some on hand.
You may want to read a couple of articles on emergency kits too.
Sorry, I just added to your list. 😁
Also, be aware that 6 week Olds can occasionally be mis-sexed too. You may still get a cockrel, but your odds of getting pullets are better. Still, you should have a plan for an accidental male, if you don't want a rooster.
Click to expand...
I’m back. More questions…
I ditched the idea of the open house with the second breeder on your suggestion and am getting all my girls from the same breeder, who doesn’t do open houses. I have a starter/grower medicated feed, electrolytes, and am madly working on my coop.

Today’s questions:
I will eventually have my roosts be 2x4’s with nice sanded edges, but should I attach them for the 6 week olds with the 2” edge up, or just put the 4” side up, so they can get used to the big girl perches, or should I stick a 2x2 up there for now? I want to encourage them to learn to use the perches as soon as they are ready. My luck they will all hang out on the floor and not use my amazing poop board (I’m so proud).

My coop is 15’ square, with the center all nicely open. I am making a ramp up to the poop board but wonder if 2 ramps would be better to encourage them to get on up there.

I think that’s it for now… my run is finished and critter proof and we are doing the rest of the rafter proofing on the shed tomorrow. So exciting!
 
PaigeWells said:
I’m back. More questions…
I ditched the idea of the open house with the second breeder on your suggestion and am getting all my girls from the same breeder, who doesn’t do open houses. I have a starter/grower medicated feed, electrolytes, and am madly working on my coop.

Today’s questions:
I will eventually have my roosts be 2x4’s with nice sanded edges, but should I attach them for the 6 week olds with the 2” edge up, or just put the 4” side up, so they can get used to the big girl perches, or should I stick a 2x2 up there for now? I want to encourage them to learn to use the perches as soon as they are ready. My luck they will all hang out on the floor and not use my amazing poop board (I’m so proud).

My coop is 15’ square, with the center all nicely open. I am making a ramp up to the poop board but wonder if 2 ramps would be better to encourage them to get on up there.

I think that’s it for now… my run is finished and critter proof and we are doing the rest of the rafter proofing on the shed tomorrow. So exciting!
Click to expand...
I'm excited for you!
I don't think any of mine use ramps, but yours might, if they are available. I have both 2" and 4" up roosts. They seem to all prefer the 2" no matter how large they are (brahmas) or how old they are. My winters are generally mild, though.
If you use the 4" side, they will still roost, but they make a big mess on the roost.
 
They are here! I got 8 today, and will get 3 or 4 more in about 4 weeks. Mine now are 3 who are 8 weeks old and 5 who are 6 weeks old, all from the same place. They are getting along great. I left them locked in the coop inside today, They are tending to hang out in the more covered area under the poop board, but I took a book and sat with them for an hour twice and they didn't seem drawn to OR scared of me. Everyone is eating and drinking (and I added electrolytes to the water) and they have grit. So far they have all stayed on ground level, 2 have stepped on the ramp but not gone up. Tomorrow morning I plan to let them have access to the run unless they seem to need another day to get the hang of their surroundings. They are already developing personalities, the Welsummer seems to be the bravest and also buddies with the smallest, a cream legbar. The golden Commet and Buff Orpington startle easily and go running for cover, and the rest kind of follow whoever is around. Nobody seems upset or hiding or mean so all good so far. I'm going to let them sleep on the floor tonight if that's what they choose, should I start putting them up on the roosting bars tomorrow night or let them have a week or so to get used to the idea and maybe find it on their own? I have both 2" and 4" side roosting boards, I will change them all to 4" side by next winter as it get's pretty cold here (it was 14 2 weeks ago and 28 last weekend... yuck). Also, should I try to pick them up occasionally or just stick with being around and being calm and talking to them for now? Don't want to wait too long but also don't want to freak them out.
Thanks!
Paige
 

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