Hello everyone. After more than a year of thinking about it, months of convincing my husband we can do it, and weeks of coop & run constuction - I now have chickens! I am completely new to caring for chickens, so we just have 2. I got them yesterday from Conner Prairie, a living history museum here in Indiana. I have a Dorking, named Storm, hatched April 14, and a Barred Rock/Leghorn cross, named Rogue, hatched sometime in May. I'll try to figure out how to upload their picture. So far they are settling in and seem to feel secure in their coop and run. I believe I need to create a dust bath for them to help keep down lice and mites. We don't have any dusty area in our backyard, so I'm thinking of taking a short storage bin of some sort, filling with dirt and sand, a putting in the run for them to use. Should I add Sevin or diatomaceous earth to help kill mites? Also, I bought layer crumbles, 16% protein, and oyster shell. Do they need scratch grains as well? What about grit? They have access to TONS of green grass, weeds, and the left overs from our salad garden. Any replies would be much appreciated. I'll try to post their picture. Thanks.
So glad you joined here! And Congratulations on your new chickens! You will have so much fun having them around. You sound like you have done a lot of research on them, too. I am still learning on here as I've only had chickens for a little over a year, but mine love to dust bathe. I do not put anything in their "baths" but maybe I should?? Hmmmmm.....Anyone???
You can give them a free choice grit. Just put a small bowl with some grit in it and they will eat it if they need it.
Welcome!! And congrats on your chickens!! I sprinkle a little DE in their bathing area. Just got it so not sure how it is working just yet but nobody's complaining!!
Welcome to BYC...it's addictive in case you don't know that...forewarned is forearmed!! You are so going to love having those chickens! I think the idea of creating a dust bath area is great! They do love them for sure!! I would add diatomaceous earth...that's what we do and have never had a problem with lice. Layer crumbles and oyster shell is good. They don't NEED scratch grains...they do LOVE them...but it's a bit hot to give much corn where I am. If your weather is cool, it wouldn't be a problem. I'd put a small container of grit in there. One thing...be sure not to feed them grass clippings. They tend to get impacted in their crop...bad thing! What they pick off the grass, weeds, etc. is fine. Please do post their pics...we'd love to see them.
HI, welcome. Regarding the dust bath....if you access to ash, add it. My Chickie loves dust bathing in a mix of sand, fine dirt but mostly fireplace ash.
Did you say they hatched in April and May? Was that of THIS year? I don't think you should be feeding them layer food until they are older (about 18 weeks) because they still need more protein as youngsters. If I'm wrong someone will chime in i'm sure. That is what I have been told here when I asked. And no oyster shells until they start to lay . All they should need now is starter crumbles. and of course fresh water. And you said they get lots of fresh grass, I bet they love that! Congrats on your new chickens! Can't wait to see pictures. If I'm wrong on this someone let me know please
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. Hangin', thanks for the info about keeping my girls on starter feed. I'll look into that. I'll also look into getting some DE for their bath. They pick at their feathers quite a bit so the insects might be bothering them. Aren't my girls pretty? I'm already having fun with them. Rogue is curious and active. At first she was really anxious, but she calmed down pretty quickly. Storm is mild mannered and sweet, and she seems almost protective of Rogue. They lived with about 30 other chickens at Conner Prairie, so I hope they don't feel lonely. They sit close together on the roost which surprised me. I'll post more about my girls later. Thanks again for the replies.
