New to this! Helpfull tips! That you have learned fromk raising chicks chickens and hens

[avecat]

I am new to this! we will be creating our coop 8 by 12 feet, we are getting 30 chicks! already have them ordered and i wante to get a couple ducklings and some silkies not to many just a few. I am also getting 6 laying hens, what do you think!? Any tips?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

If you get 30 chicks in a 8'x12' coop, they might be squished by the time they are all grown up, especially if you add ducklings, silkies, and hens to that mix. I would suggest a bigger coop. But other then that,

, and happy chickening!

 

[avecat]

I will have a big fenced in area attached to the back probably it will be 8x12 too and were only keeping the chicks for 8 weeks? Still think its too big? Thanks for your help!

 

[roostersandhens]

Welcome! Here are some tips: U should use Medicated Chick Feed. Have your chicks under a heat lamp untill they are fully feathered. Try to tame them so you dont end u with a meen rooster. With 30 chickens you can have that size coop BUT only if they are free-range.
Good luck!

 

[roostersandhens]

I will have a big fenced in area attached to the back probably it will be 8x12 too and were only keeping the chicks for 8 weeks? Still think its too big? Thanks for your help!

Wait I am confused. You are only keeping the chickens for 8 weeks?

 

[avecat]

The chicks are cornish rock chicks for meat..

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Here's my tip with Cornish Rocks--they're gross. They don't act like other chickens. They will lie in the food dish and eat instead of running around catching bugs. They can also eat themselves to death, so instead of free-choice feed, many people give them 12 hours of feed/12 hours of no feed. They will grow so fast that they will have bald patches where they get so big they outgrow their feather production. They have the world's stinkiest poo, and LOTS of it.

That being said, they are delicious and they are worth the work, in my opinion.

If they were layers, you'd need at least four square feet of coop space per bird.You'd also need 10 square feet per bird in a run. Since your chicks are meaties, the recommendation changes to two square feet per bird in the coop up to eight weeks. If you keep them any longer, they'll need more room. Space is important for all birds, but with meaties, they will not put on weight well if they're overcrowded and you'll have skinny, stringy chickens for your efforts.

My biggest recommendation to you is to visit the meat bird experts in the Meat Birds, Etc. forum. Those people are awesome!