New Ohio chick mama:)

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mamatink7

mamatink7

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We FINALLY are getting chicks!! Been wanting them for 20yrs now and planning to the T for past 5 yrs. Went to MEYER HATCHERY and ordered
2 buff Orpington
2 black australorp
Surprise chick
For May &
3 easter Eggers
Surprise chick
For July
I'm so overly thrilled-anyone this happy about chicks here?
My issue is my coop. It's for 6 hens, 2 nesting boxes. I'm getting 9. It's the prestige hen house, has an attached small run area. We live in the country so of course we have the room for run area, but should I let them mainly free range or set a specific space limit? I'm positive when hubby sees the set up-mind you, we have OVER 1 month till we pick 4 up then of course another 2 months after, until they go in the coop full time-that we'll put something more appropriate together.
What's your opinion? Besides, I know I'll want to pick up a few more chicks in July and I hate turning them down.
Larger coop altogether, larger run area but fenced or just train them to free range (I know it's natural but I'd be training them to come back when I call).
I'm sure I shouldn't be worried yet but as I said, it's been a desire of min forever and I'm anal about all this being perfect.
Thx chicks (lol)
 
Thank you much. I have a brooder question. Where or how can I ask that? I can't find where I ask or start a post.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC - great to have you onboard with us! 20 years is a lonnnggg time to wait to get your chickens! Im not sure I'd be sleeping well, knowing that D-day is coming soon.


I'd say the larger the coop the better as chicken maths is a chronic condition (that you already seem to have
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) and ditto the run.
I'd suggest that you go to the predators and pests forum as well as join your state thread (just type the name of your state in the search box) as both will give you an insight into what predators you have and how you can manage them.

If you have treats and call your flock to you and feed them, they will very quickly learn that your call means food - so don't worry about that (for supposedly stupid animals, they learn that so quickly its amazing).

The following links may help you with your chicks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks

As will the Learning Centre.

To begin a thread with your brooder question, go to "Forum Nav" which is just above the title of this thread that you created, scroll down and click on the relevant forum, then click on "start a new thread" and post.

I wish you the best of luck in your new chicken adventure.

All the best

CT
 
Thanks so much for your warm welcome!! I ACTUALLY will be getting them sooner now. Hatchery called, saying they will have black australorp and easter eggers hatching on the 27th!! Wahoo still have to wait for buff Orpingtons though, which is fine.
Yes, I agree with you. We will work on the coop issue while still in Brooder Stage. Will the first set be outside by the time the second set comes? It'll only be a few weeks (27 april-16 may), we're in Ohio. I was hoping-original plan-to have 1st set out in coop before, but that was going to be 2 months in between.
What were your starter chick how many did you have and how long have you had your chickens?
 
I would not think that your first chicks will be sufficiently old to be in the coop before your younger ones arrive - you may need to divide your brooder and have two heat sources. The age and hence size difference could be problematic for the younger chicks in terms of access to warm, food and water. Alternatively, you could search "mama heating pad" and read about that process - its seems that lots of members are very happy with that set up.

If you search "from brooder to coop" you will find lots of info about how to go about getting your chicks to the coop safely.

I've never had day old chicks as i use a broody hen to do all the work for me
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I've had chickens for a very short time - only 1.5 years or so, but three hours a day on BYC can give one a lot of knowledge, if not direct experience. Don't worry though, i don't guess when making suggestions - if its not my own experience, its based on posts and articles from members who have both the knowledge and the experience.

You could re-post this question on the "Raising baby chicks" forum for more in-depth advice.

All the best

CT
 
CTKen said:
I would not think that your first chicks will be sufficiently old to be in the coop before your younger ones arrive - you may need to divide your brooder and have two heat sources. The age and hence size difference could be problematic for the younger chicks in terms of access to warm, food and water. Alternatively, you could search "mama heating pad" and read about that process - its seems that lots of members are very happy with that set up.

If you search "from brooder to coop" you will find lots of info about how to go about getting your chicks to the coop safely. 

I've never had day old chicks as i use a broody hen to do all the work for me :)

I've had chickens for a very short time - only 1.5 years or so, but three hours a day on BYC can give one a lot of knowledge, if not direct experience. Don't worry though, i don't guess when making suggestions - if its not my own experience, its based on posts and articles from members who have both the knowledge and the experience.

You could re-post this question on the "Raising baby chicks" forum for more in-depth advice.

All the best 

CT
Click to expand...

Thanks for your info. I'm still learning my way around. Making new posts seem to still be struggling with :( I can reply to ask but going to that forum and startinf, I can't figure that part out grrr. I'm learning so much more.
 
Thank you. I'm so glad to be here and I've already learned so much. Especially how I want to expand on what I always wanted to do with chicks.
 

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