New to the whole Chicken Thing.

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SouthernChickz

SouthernChickz

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5 Years
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Mar 30, 2014
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Hello! My name is Mariah and I'm not just new to this site, I'm new to chickens in general!

Through a recent series of unforeseen circumstances I have come into possession for four adult hens and one coop. (I do not yet have a run for them, but I am working on building one!)
I don't know what to feed them, I looked up what not to feed them all I have is basic knowledge i gleaned from the web.

I cannot give them up, I was not prepared for how much I love these birds. They are my gorgeous ladies, so I thought just browsing the web is fine but I could miss something.
So here I am, ready to learn! I already want more chickens but I'm trying to take it slow.

So expect me to pester y'all for bunchloads of information~

I live in Southern Louisiana, I have four hens, Susan, Beatrice (betty), Jackie O and Reba.

It is nice to meet you all!
 
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Congrats on your new flock!

You will want to get them some layer feed. It has extra calcium so they can put on the hard shells and pass the eggs. You can get this at the feed store. It comes in crumbles or pellets. While you are there, pick up some oyster shell. It is a calcium that you can offer up in a separate small tub or bowl. If the hens need extra calcium, they will eat this on the side.

You might want to start with doing some reading in our learning center. There is a section on feeding your flock that might help you out. I will also include the link to the entire learning center as well as there is lots of good reads on all the aspects of keeping your new flock...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/housing-and-feeding-your-chickens

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Welcome to our flock and good luck with yours!
 
Wow! Thanks so much Two Crows! I'm super excited, it is 9pm here and I want to go to the Tractor Supply Co down the road so bad. So gung-ho.

Thanks Drumstick! Glad to be here.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your four new hens, sounds like they will be very lucky to have you as their owner. TwoCrows gave you some great links to get you started! TSC will become one of your favorite new stores.
 
Hi Mariah, My name is Cathy living in Southern Arizona. I'm new to both this site and have 8 chicken Georgie, Karen, Emma, Toots, Roxie, Rosie, Dorothy, Dora the explorer ( because she/he was the first to explore things) I'm not sure if we have roosters or hens as of yet so name changes may be in order. :-) and 4 ducks Donald, Daffy, John Cash ( Black Crested Swedish) He's so Pretty and last and the loudest is Suzy Q our only hen (duck) . My mother lives with us now and an animal lover so I thought they would be a reason for her to turn the TV off. It has worked so far.

We love our flock and wouldn't think of giving them up or (eating them) ;0) Mom would never talk to me again.


We are still giving ours the starter feed (only 5 months old in April) and on cold mornings we would give them chop up apples (that no one was eating) cooked in oatmeal or add chop up celery or raisins. It was new to them so it took awhile for them to try it once they did it was history. Pull weeds from around the run, grapes, watermelon, tomatoes which they also love.

When I wasn't sure I did the same thing you did whet online and found this site. It has helped me with our little flock so I hope it works as well for you. I'm looking forward to collecting eggs from our (I hope ladies) soon.

I have started a vegetable garden this year and use the ducks water to water my garden. It's seems to be working well. We added the straw and chicken crap form the coop to our Arizona dirt, works pretty good as well, So they will be receiving garden scraps soon.


I'm new also to chicken, ducks and a garden so not much help to you. We can lean together. Good luck with your girls
 
You guys are awesome I feel so at peace here. I've already learned a lot and I'm browsing designs for a larger coop to house my ladies~!

And thank you Cathy, that is really encouraging! I'm considering some ducks in the future, i'm also very happy with the fact that the ladies love to eat the grass over my backyard! So now I can plant more, it makes tilling a whole lot easier! I love my ladies.
 

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