New with chickens in California

[Attack Chicken]

from Indiana!!!!!!

 

[HenalayLady]

Hi, I'm new with chicks in California, too...Carmel Valley to be exact. I started a month ago with four 2-week old chicks: a black australorp, a Dominique, a Speckled Sussex and a Sex-link Golden... no idea what the Golden part means. Then 2 weeks later I added 5 chicks@ 2 days old. Tried to separate them, as instructed, but they immediately squeezed through my barrier basket mesh and integrated happily. The older chicks never did any pecking, but the younger ones pecked the older ones' toes. The later group contains a Plymouth Barred Rock, a New Hampshire Red and 3 Ameraucanas. I would suggest not selecting new chicks to blend with older chicks if there's more than a 2-week age difference. Separation would be safer, if so.

All are still in the brooder box in the sunroom downstairs with one 100w red heat bulb, placed to the side. I also added a "loft" or "penthouse" and several roost bars at various altitudes. allowing them all to find their own comfort zone. It seems to be working. Even the babies got on the roosts at 1 week. I've raised the heat lamp several inches now. They seem to be fine with temps ranging from 80 under the lamp to 60 at the cool end (2 thermometers in place). In another week we'll start moving them into the new Chicken Chalet outside. I've taken them outside in a mesh cage for a couple of hours twice when the weather was ~70 and sunny. We are having unusually cool and cloudy days, though, so I'm going slowly. Nights are 45-50. Good luck with your chickies...it's been a hoot so far. Myrleen

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:

to you too!

 

[NonnasBabies]

&

from Louisiana!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined.

 

[Desert Rooster]

Hello

from Hesperia,CA and

 

[Jferlisi]

you will have loads of fun.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama.

 

[3chimama]

Welcome! I love barred rocks. They are so friendly and lay great eggs.