New to raising chickens and FULL of questions!

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aurinia

aurinia

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Upstate NY
Hi, all...I came across this forum about a week ago and just wanted to say how wonderfully informative I've found it so far! I'll admit trying to sift through all the information is a little overwhelming, although it has definitely helped me decide what I want to do. So...thank you! :-)

I do have a few questions I was hoping to get answered. The first has to do with housing. The house I just bought sits on almost 2 1/2 acres with a little under 2 acres of that wooded, although I'll eventually clear most of it. There is room to put up a coop, but in the interest of frugality, was thinking of using part of the garage instead. It's detached, approximately 20x24, made of concrete block (built in 1920-ish, according to tax records) and is totally unsuitable for use as an actual garage (doors are too small, ceiling too low). The floor is mostly gravel. There are lots of windows so plenty of light. I was thinking of sectioning off a 10x10 area in the back corner and building the coop there. They'd have access to a run out back (would convert the back window to a door with a ramp on both sides) and they'd have a big triple window that faces east for morning wakeup. Do I need to worry about it being too damp bcz it's a concrete building? The other benefit I see is there's plenty of room for expansion (yay, chicken math! Lol).

I'm planning on starting out with a dozen hens for this year. Just haven't quite decided on breeds yet. I have 4 kids (15,8 and 4 year old twins) so they need to be calm and generally friendly towards people and kids. Ideas? Right now, I'm leaning towards BO's, Brahmas, EE's, Speckled Sussex (if I can find any), barred rocks and maybe cochins? My dad also wants to get a few RIR and keep them at my house bcz my mom refuses to let him keep any at their place. So, ok, maybe it'll be more than a dozen birds. Lol. Our main goal is eggs (and just the overall fun of having them) but I'd also like to eventually raise a few batches of broilers.

The few questions I have are:

At what age should you start giving them grit? If you put a bowl of it out will they just eat it on their own?

Do you generally give them vitamins or probiotics and if so, when?

Should I pay the extra to get them vaccinated for Marek's? I have no idea how prevalent that may be in this area.

Given that a good portion of my property is wooded, should I fence that off or is it ok if they free range wherever they want when I do let them out (probably several hours a day)?

Any other helpful tips would be greatly appreciated! So, so glad to be here!
 
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welcome-byc.gif
I'm glad you joined our "flock!"

I'll try to answer your questions as well as I can:

The concrete building sounds like it will work fine. I wouldn't worry about there being too much moisture, as long as the bedding is changed regularly and there are a few windows/vents for ventilation. Make sure you put a thick layer of bedding on the floor to protect from the cold and hard landings, too.

You can give chickens grit as soon as you start feeding them anything other than chicken feed. For example, give grit if you feed them tablescraps or let your chickens out to eat grass. You can simply leave a bowl of grit out in your coop, and the hens should eat what they need. If you let your chickens outside, they may also find small stones on their own, which serve as grit as well.

You do not need to give your chickens probiotics or vitamins, but there are two times that it can be helpful to do so. The first time to give vitamins/probiotics is when your chicks are very young (assuming you get them as chicks). For the first week or so of a chick's life, vitamins/electrolytes and/or probiotics help get the chicks off to a healthy start, with the correct intestinal bacterial and necessary nourishment.

Another time to give supplements like vitamins is when a chicken is sick, injured, or otherwise stressed out (such as when it is very hot outside). In general, though, there is no need to supplement your chickens constantly, since their feed should provide them with adequate nutrients.

Marek's Disease is certainly more prevalent in some areas than others, but I personally would recommend paying for the vaccine and having your chicks vaccinated. The Marek's disease virus is very hardy, and can be found virtually anywhere that poultry or wild birds have previously lived. Some birds exposed to Marek's are naturally resistant, but most of the time, the disease gradually kills them (either through paralysis or wasting away). It is terrible to watch a loved bird or productive layer slowly die due to a disease that could easily have been prevented.

It is your decision as to whether you want your birds to free range. Chickens definitely enjoy free ranging, but there are many hazards that they can run into. Hawks may swoop down from the sky, they might eat something poisonous, or a fox might suddenly grab one of them. If you live in a high-predator area, I would recommend a covered run, not free ranging (other than a little supervised free range time each day if you want). If you do free range your hens, be prepared for losses.

The breeds you're considering are all excellent choices for kids. They are hardy, productive, cute, and relatively gentle. One other breed that I might recommend is the Wyandotte. In my experience, Wyandottes are docile, entertaining birds to have around. They also come in some beautiful color varieties, and tolerate many weather conditions.

If you haven't already, I'd be sure to check out the informative Learning Center: Learning Center Articles Other than that, I wish you luck with raising chickens!
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Hi and
welcome-byc.gif
!

Glad you could join our community! You've received some excellent answers to your questions already. Good luck with your future flock and I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I'll be happy to help answer them as well as I can.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Great advice has been given to you by BantamLover21.

The short answers are: 1.) They need to have grit as soon as they start eating foods that aren't just chick feed. 2.) I give mine probiotics about once a month just to keep them healthy. 3.) Marek's isn't a very common disease but it wouldn't hurt to get them vaccinated just in case. 4.) Here are some pros and cons for letting chickens free range
Pros

-Happier chickens
-Generally healthier chickens
-More room=exercise and ability to have more chickens
-They will eat less food

Cons

-Easy targets for predators
-Generally more prone to diseases and parasites
-Can get hurt and killed more easily.

I would highly recommend buff orps, silkies, cochins, black australorps and speckled sussex. They are all very friendly, affectionate and docile. Plus they are all pretty good layers.

Good luck to you!
 

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