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Matilda Belle

Matilda Belle

Crowing
May 16, 2018
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SE Minnesota
My Coop
My Coop
I have four silkies...two are 5 weeks old and the other two are 1 week old. They are currently in my house under a heat lamp. I purchased a brand new Amish coop for them and I'm still brainstorming what to do for a run. Here are some pictures of my little cuties and their new palace.

Any advice you have for a new chicken owner? I purchased Storeys book and have been reading a lot online.
 

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Welcome to BYC!
:yesss: We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.
Heat lamps are hot.. sometime s too hot. Double check the temperature with a thermometer under the heat lamp. Overheating will cause problems.
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First off, those are some ADORABLE Silkie chicks and what a wonderful looking coop!

I am newer to chickens too, but this forum has been a life saver for me and it will be for you too! You will likely have many questions along your journey with your new birds and here is the place to ask them and get wonderful, educated responses.

My piece of advice, if you haven't already - I would build them a run around the coop itself. That way, they can come outside and you wont have to worry about predators. However, make sure you take a look at some of the articles online about how to build the run as you also need to make sure that's predator proof (certain type of wire, how to form it to the ground to prevent dig-in incidents, Top covering, etc)

Also, keep an eye out for hawks and other birds of prey. When my girls were little and free ranging in my front garden, I almost lost one. I never knew that hawks were so courageous and would attempt to take one while I was RIGHT THERE!

P.S I don't mean to scare you by typing this post! Keeping chickens is SO rewarding and enjoyable, I just wish that I was educated more on these things when I first started raising them.

Good luck with your new babies!
 
Thanks for the advice Christina. I have been doing a lot of reading about building a run. I would definitely have fencing on both the bottom and the top to keep them safe from flying predators and digging predators. Right now I'm still staining the coop and trying to find the right place for it. :)

I do have my first question (first of many I'm sure)...is it necessary to treat the chicken for mites/lice while they are outdoors? I want to keep my birds as healthy and happy as possible.
 
silkiekeeper said:
Thanks for the advice Christina. I have been doing a lot of reading about building a run. I would definitely have fencing on both the bottom and the top to keep them safe from flying predators and digging predators. Right now I'm still staining the coop and trying to find the right place for it. :)

I do have my first question (first of many I'm sure)...is it necessary to treat the chicken for mites/lice while they are outdoors? I want to keep my birds as healthy and happy as possible.
Click to expand...


Its ironic that you ask that, as I just went to a local poultry auction this past weekend and came home with 2 adorable birds. However, the not adorable part about them is that they came home with mites!

I am treating them now with diatomaceous earth dust baths and a liquid permethrin spray.

You'll find that everyone has different views and opinions on diatomaceous earth. I personally think its a good preventative for mites in moderation in their dust baths, but you just have to be careful because it can irritate their airways. If you can provide them a good area to give themselves a dust bath daily with dry dirt with a little bit of DE (optional) that should keep the mites away. My chickens love to roll around in the dirt every chance they get.
 

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