New to Backyard Chickens

[AmsoilJim]

I just received my order of chickens from Murray McMurray today. I ordered 10 Jumbo Cornish X Rocks and 5 Pearl-White Leghorn and received a free rare chick which is possibly a Cuckoo Maran.

As I am new to chickens I am wondering if one of my new chicks is not going to make it. 15 of the chicks are running around like crazy and eating and drink. but the one is just laying down looking like she is sleeping, but if i touch her, pick her up or try to get her to move she seems to week to do anything.

Other than that its nice to be here. I'm in western New York. The summer is nice now but I'm hoping the winters are not to cold for the chickens.

I build my own Brooder that the chicks are in now and I also built a large chicken tractor. I live in a rural area and have 2.5 acres of field behind my house. I am some what worried about predators once they move into the tractor as I have skunks, possums, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes around me.

I do have a friend that has chickens and just this week butchered his meat chickens and some older layers. So beside have help here I can ask him for help as well.


Chicken Tractor (almost completed in this picture)


New Chicks in the brooder


My son really likes the chicks


this is the free rare breed from Murray McMurray

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

Welcome! Whenever I get a weak chick i always separate it and see if it improves within 45 minutes. If it is lethargic still, I mix 1 Tbsp of granulated sugar and mix with a half gallon of water. Just dip the beak in every once in a while. For predator protection, (other than my labrador) I put a heavy strip of rubber/tarp around the perimeter and hang mirrors and old cds around the corners, raised up to emulate owl/predators hunting at night to frighten off smaller critters. Other than that, your coop should do the rest (It looks very good!). Good luck with your chicks!

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[joshram]

Welcome to BYC

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[AmsoilJim]

Unfortunately I did lose the one chick. Murray McMurray has already issued a refund for the one chick.

 

[sex buff]

Hey,New to byc. Just getting started. My favs are sexlink and buff orp.

 

[AmsoilJim]

i have now lost 3 chicks. kinda sad. i think they were all leghorns so i will only end up with 2 layers, three if the freebie is a pullet.