New to chickens. I have lurked this site for a year and finally got myself 5 baby chicks. I'm scared to death they'll not do well under my care. Help

[WoDia]

Welcome! Continue to learn how to use this site, because everything you need to know is here. Plus, there are lots of members who’ve been through just about everything with their own flocks and can guide you through. Good wishes for you and your teeny ones!

 

[LTAY1946]

Hello and Welcome to BYC! Glad that you joined us.

 

[McChooky]

If you haven't been raised around chickens or ever had them before you might want to read the forum on coops and runs before you build one.I grew up around chickens but we free ranged them so when I started out making one for my chicks I didn't realize how much ventilation they needed.Fortunately I was able to raise the roof to add more ventilation before completing it. Otherwise I couldn't have used it at all. I wish you the best and hope your chicks do fabulous! Welcome to BYC!

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC! You've come to the right place! You will find a lot of great info all over this site. Since you are asking about chick care, I'd start with the sections Hatching Eggs & Raising Chickens and Raising Baby Chicks. Feel free to ask any of your own questions, we're glad to help.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

BYC can be a bit daunting at first, the more you use it, the easier it gets.

Congrats on your new chicks! Here is a good article on raising Baby chicks for the first six weeks... https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/brooding-chicks-the-first-6-weeks.74640/

Ask as many questions as needed!

 

[GreenJay]

This spring was my first time with chicks and honestly, I may have been more nervous about those tiny fluffs than I was about my first child .

Watch their behavior, if they're not happy they can be pretty vocal about it and keep an eye out for pasty butt the first few days. There are lots of helpful people and info here.

Oh, and you'll lose total track of time now just watching the chickens

 

[Boppo]

Welcome to BYC, and greetings from another former lurker!

FYI, not everybody agrees about the cider vinegar in chicks' water, so read more about it before you decide. I think the idea is to provide some probiotics to help their immune system. I think I get the same effect by feeding my chicks (and grown hens, too) with mash. You make it by adding water to your chicken feed and let it sit so it ferments. It only takes a few hours to get a good ferment. I keep mash in a quart yogurt container, sitting in another, larger bowl to catch any overflow. I fill the yogurt container about 2/3 full with dry feed, and add water to cover. I wait a few moments for the bubbling to stop, and cover again. Put on the lid and let it sit inside its catch bowl. Spoon it out into a low saucer or bowl that your chicks can reach. It creates a lot less wastage than when chicks toss out or tip over their dry feed. Problems with pasty butt stopped after I put them on mash.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

D. You can find posts just by entering your search word into the SEARCH box without choosing the Advanced Search option.

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.

 

[RoyalChick]

Welcome to BYC, and greetings from another former lurker!

FYI, not everybody agrees about the cider vinegar in chicks' water, so read more about it before you decide. I think the idea is to provide some probiotics to help their immune system. I think I get the same effect by feeding my chicks (and grown hens, too) with mash. You make it by adding water to your chicken feed and let it sit so it ferments. It only takes a few hours to get a good ferment. I keep mash in a quart yogurt container, sitting in another, larger bowl to catch any overflow. I fill the yogurt container about 2/3 full with dry feed, and add water to cover. I wait a few moments for the bubbling to stop, and cover again. Put on the lid and let it sit inside its catch bowl. Spoon it out into a low saucer or bowl that your chicks can reach. It creates a lot less wastage than when chicks toss out or tip over their dry feed. Problems with pasty butt stopped after I put them on mash.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

D. You can find posts just by entering your search word into the SEARCH box without choosing the Advanced Search option.

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

Welcome to BYC @hairquilt and enjoy your little chicks.
They grow up really fast so best get moving in the coop!
@Boppo’s post above is really good and a great place to start.
Remember to develop a critical eye for advice - is it backed by evidence, real experience, is it disputed by other experienced chicken keepers - there is a lot of folk lore around! It is always good to research by reading on here and on some validated external sites. Often state university extension services have good articles.