newb questions

[TeaChick]

I imagine these questions have already been asked and answered, but.... I'm not good at online stuff (it took me "forever" to figure out how to start a new thread on the mobile site and I STILL only found it on accident). Enough of my technology woes and on to my questions.
My pullets (were reasonably sure we don't have any boys) are about 2.5 -3 mos old.
This is them:

This is their "coop":

And I put a sheet of aluminum over the opening at night so they're safe.
Do I need to CHANGE their bedding at this age?
I know the coop isn't pretty, but they are safe and they know it (running to it when I cluck at feeding time, etc.) I bent a sheet of aluminum across the bottom of one short side and ran chicken wire around the bottoms of the other three side, so they can't scratch out and nothing can dig in and get to them. Is there anything I should know or change?
They scratch and peck around my backyard during the day, eating bugs and grass seeds and p-nut butter sandwiches and fruit scraps from my compost pile (we're careful about what we put out there) and then I give them chick feed in the evenings in their coop (I think it helps get them into the coop at "bedtime". Anything I should know on this front?
Please share anything you can that might help me. Everyone I've spoken to on BYC has been so kind and helpful!
Oh, I also have a frizzle. Since she can't fly, I have a net to catch her and put her out of the coop in the mornings. IDK how, but she can get in but not out. Is there anything else I should know or do differently with or for her?
Also, DH saw chicken vaccinations online and wanted me to ask about that, so... do we need them? Do you do them? How? When?......etc.?
I'm sorry this is so long. Thank you for reading it.

 

[annanimal]

I imagine these questions have already been asked and answered, but.... I'm not good at online stuff (it took me "forever" to figure out how to start a new thread on the mobile site and I STILL only found it on accident). Enough of my technology woes and on to my questions.
My pullets (were reasonably sure we don't have any boys) are about 2.5 -3 mos old.
This is them:

This is their "coop":
And I put a sheet of aluminum over the opening at night so they're safe.
1.)Do I need to CHANGE their bedding at this age?
I know the coop isn't pretty, but they are safe and they know it (running to it when I cluck at feeding time, etc.) I bent a sheet of aluminum across the bottom of one short side and ran chicken wire around the bottoms of the other three side, so they can't scratch out and nothing can dig in and get to them. 2.) Is there anything I should know or change?
They scratch and peck around my backyard during the day, eating bugs and grass seeds and p-nut butter sandwiches and fruit scraps from my compost pile (we're careful about what we put out there) and then I give them chick feed in the evenings in their coop (I think it helps get them into the coop at "bedtime". 3.)Anything I should know on this front?
Please share anything you can that might help me. Everyone I've spoken to on BYC has been so kind and helpful!
Oh, I also have a frizzle. Since she can't fly, I have a net to catch her and put her out of the coop in the mornings. IDK how, but she can get in but not out. 4.)Is there anything else I should know or do differently with or for her?
Also, DH saw chicken vaccinations online and wanted me to ask about that, so... do we need them? 5.)Do you do them? How? When?......etc.?
I'm sorry this is so long. Thank you for reading it.

OK so first things first, the bedding, you can look at this site, but i think you are good... https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/quick-guide-to-common-brooder-and-coop-bedding-materials
2.)They sound perfectly safe.
3.)Peanut butter has lots of protein in it so that is fine.
4.) If the net doesnt freak her out than you are fine, but if it does than try picking her up, if she doesnt peck.
5.) I dont vaccinate them and i have never had any problems so..... Your choice.
Hope i could help!

 

[Rich386]

Clean is the key to avoiding most disease so change bedding as often as necessary.

 

[JanO]

At this age they don't need chick starter any longer, and if they are free ranging in their yard they are probably finding everything they need. However I would get a good scratch and give them that at night as a supplement/treat. I feed a 3 grain scratch every evening when it's time to coop them up just to let them know it's time to call it a day.

 

[TeaChick]

OK so first things first, the bedding, you can look at this site, but i think you are good... https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/quick-guide-to-common-brooder-and-coop-bedding-materials
2.)They sound perfectly safe.
3.)Peanut butter has lots of protein in it so that is fine.
4.) If the net doesnt freak her out than you are fine, but if it does than try picking her up, if she doesnt peck.
5.) I dont vaccinate them and i have never had any problems so..... Your choice.
Hope i could help!

yes, your reply is very helpful. I will look at the link right away. It fraks her out A LOT MORE for me to chase her around the pen (or yard when she couldn't get back in) than it does for me to scoop her up in the net. She doesn't peck, but she doesn't seem to like being held either, so..... I'd like to have a pet "snoodle" but I might have missed the boat on getting her used to being held/petted. IDK?

 

[TeaChick]

Clean is the key to avoiding most disease so change bedding as often as necessary. 

IDK when NECESSARY is. I thought about layering the bedding like layering mulch, but I didn't know how "clean" the bedding on the top would be with the bedding on the bottom "turning into dirt". KWIM?

 

[TeaChick]

At this age they don't need chick starter any longer, and if they are free ranging in their yard they are probably finding everything they need.  However I would get a good scratch and give them that at night as a supplement/treat.  I feed a 3 grain scratch every evening when it's time to coop them up just to let them know it's time to call it a day. 

I'll see about getting them some scratch when they finish the bag of feed we have (can't throw away $). What should I look for in a scratch? How much should I put out? (oh, I forgot to say I have 10.)
Also, thank you!