Newbie and first post!

[Dryfly]

We are starting a chicken coop. Finally. With all the time we have now, it’s a great opportunity to start! With that said, my daughter really wants silkies.
I was thinging
3 female barred Plymouth rocks
3 female silkies

Problem is that I can’t find a hatchery with both breeds.

Any ideas?

also,
Other combos I could try?
We live in Maine so we need cold hardy and good with children.
We are looking for eggs and family pets.
thanks,
Chris

 

[sourland]

Hello, Chris, and welcome to BYC. Is there a Tractor Supply Co. close to you ? You can order through them, but silkies and other bantams are generally not sexed.

 

[Dryfly]

Yes. I pulled the trigger and got

3 female barred Plymouth Rock
3 female Easter Egg

As for the coop, does anyone have experience with a pre fab? Can you modify them to make them more rugged ?

any recommendations for websites?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Very few good quality prefabs out there (the ones that are worth their money also cost more due to better materials, craftsmanship, labor). Also for 6 chickens you're looking at a minimum of 24 sq ft of floor space IN the coop not including nest boxes (do not be deceived by coop/run combo numbers) and possibly as much as 48 sq ft of floor space due to cold climate (which can be mitigated with a climate protected run).

I'd highly suggest you post any coop you're considering on here before you buy it. so we can troubleshoot it.

 

[Dryfly]

Thanks. I bought the below for my chicks from my pet chicken. I’m concerned the cozy coop heater is not right for chicks. However, I’m a newbie and it came with the kit. I’m now seeing more information on eco
Glow 20. Will we be ok with just the cozy coop heater?

Build Your Own Baby Chick Starter Kit (Save big!) ($10.75)
-->Feeders->One Jar Feeder(+$0.00)
-->Waterers->One Waterer(+$0.00)
-->Feed->None(+$0.00)
-->Bedding->3200 cubic inches pine shavings(+$18.50)
-->Brooder Panels->10-pack Brooder Panels(+$16.50)
-->Thermometer->Incubator/Brooder Thermometer(+$4.50)
-->Heater->Cozy Coop Heater(+$29.00)
-->Chick Grit->5 lbs(+$7.25)
-->Chicken Health->EcoPet(+$6.99)

 

[rosemarythyme]

Cozy coop heater really isn't (I think) designed to be a chick brooding heat source, but some people have used it. Main thing is because it's upright (so has less surface area for chicks to make contact with), and other heat pads are horizontal. You can probably lay it horizontally but I'd check the instructions before doing so.

Also it looks like this kit don't come with something I consider essential - a cover for the brooder. By 2 weeks old chicks can jump up a good 1 1/2 feet or more. Anything from a window screen with some weights to hold it in place, to wire mesh on a frame is suitable for a cover.

 

[RebeccaRN]

Yes. I pulled the trigger and got

3 female barred Plymouth Rock
3 female Easter Egg

As for the coop, does anyone have experience with a pre fab? Can you modify them to make them more rugged ?

any recommendations for websites?

I bought the over easy medium chicken coop and I love it!

 

[briarandwillow]

Seconding what rosemarythyme pointed out lol. My chicks are just barely a week and a half and they're already well able to flap out of the brooder. They love to do it, too!

 

[Dryfly]

How do these look?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/innovation-pet-chicken-homestead-coop-222-87

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...nd-ranch-supplies/livestock-equipment/7453681

Or can anyone advise a reputable website to buy a quality coop?

 

[briarandwillow]

I've seen the TSC one in person and can tell you it's not big enough for six standard sized chickens even if they'll be free ranged throughout the day. It's really quite tiny in spite of how large it looks in the photos. The other is definitely too small as well.

With six full sized hens you'll need 24 square feet of space and at least six feet of roosting space. I purchased a coop from TSC that might fit your needs to have something up for my chicks until I get the big one finished. It's the Petmate Superior Construction coop. Bear in mind the one I have will only have the BARE minimum space your chickens need for a coop and they'd probably benefit from a run or free ranging during the day, but it will give them somewhere safe to be at night without overcrowding them.