New to backyard chicken raising!

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Lisa808

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Hi everyone. I'm Lisa. My family is new to raising backyard chickens. We have two 6-week old chicks that look like mini-chickens now. My daughter and I just HAD to get the cute little chicks before we had a chicken coop. Now, my darling hubby and I are racing to finish the coop and run. We only build on the weekends, so it is taking a while, but I think they will be happy. My biggest questions now are what to put on the floor of the coop and the run, when to switch feeds, how to treat my chickens if they get sick, what kind of DIY cleaners I can make to help clean and disinfect the coop, and a myriad of other questions all new chicken parents must have! I hope to learn a lot from everyone here at BackYard Chickens!

chicken coop 2.jpg chicken coop.jpg chicken coop 3.jpg chickens at 6 weeks.jpg
 
I usually switch feed around 18-20 weeks (the feed you use should say on the bag for how long to use it for).
For the flooring in my coop, I laid down a sheet of linoleum and my run is dirt.
I use a great cleaner in the spring and summer months: I fill a container with vinegar and about 4-5 orange peels. I put this in a dark area, it is ready to use when you open the container and you don't smell any vinegar.
 
Hello, Lisa, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Cute coop!
I feed Flock Raiser for life. It has a higher protein content than does grower and layer and does not force the chickens to consume the extra calcium found in layer mix when it isn't needed (during molts, pre-lay, winter breaks, etc). I have multiple containers of oyster shell I offer on the side for the active layers.
I use poop boards and hemp bedding in the coop. I clean the coop out annually and scoop the poop boards every morning.
I use free wood chips in my run with a solid roof.
 

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