Newbie "Help"

[jammzb]

I have 4 kids and they talked me into getting chickens so we could have eggs. We live in the city with neighbors. We have 2-Rhode Island reds 2-Sex Link and 1-Bantam, they are about 3 weeks old. I plan on building a 6x4 raised coop in the backyard with a 9x7 enclosed run. I am starting to get cold feet before I start building the coop. I'm worried about the smell. I don't plan on letting the chickens roam in the backyard. Should we still go forward or should I abort this mission before its to late. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[chicmom]

Hello! If you keep your coop clean, and rake out your chicken run, there really won't be a smell. But living in the city, you'll definitely have to keep after that. Keep your shavings relatively clean. With just 4 1/2 haha chickens, it shouldn't be too bad....You could change the shavings completely each week, and spot clean daily with a kitty litter scoop and all should be well.

If all that cleaning seems like something you don't want to do, then list your chicks on Craigslist in the farm and garden section, or some other advertisement. I'm sure they'll go quickly.

Be honest with yourself. It's not a crime to change your mind. It truly isn't. On the other hand, it would be a good experience for the kids to have to be responsible for caring for chickens.

Take care!
Sharon

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

X2 If you keep it clean, there is no smell. BUT....there is something that will really help to keep all stink down, and that is using sand as bedding. Sand sand and more sand! I use it everywhere...coops, runs and even nest boxes. Sand stays dry, even when wet. It is easy to clean, the poop gets a coating of sand and won't stink at all, sand keeps the flies away, you can hose it down in the summer and keep the birds really cool, it is soft on the pads and many times the natural sands contain gizzard stones for the chickens.

Here is a link to sand if you want to read up on it's hows and whys....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/444759/got-sand-you-should

Good luck and if you have any questions, that is what we are here for. Welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good advice above, keeping the run and coop clean and dry is the biggest thing to keep odor under control. There are also some products like Sweet PDZ (originally made for horses and available at most feed stores) that really help when mixed into the coop litter in controlling odor. With the run, be sure that it is high enough so that it stays dry, if it is in a low spot you will need to add sand or gravel.

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have your family joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center

 

[drumstick diva]

Chickmom has given you very good advice. There is no shame involved in changing your mind, I'm sure you have given it a lot of thought. But, maybe you are just experiencing newbie jitters kind of like cold feet before a wedding.

 

[subhanalah]

There's always a lot of anxiety involved with any new endeavor. If you are honest with yourself about it and believe you just aren't up for it, that's okay.

However, I believe once you get the coop built, it will relieve a lot of the anxiety and you will have such a wave of relief. Chickens are a lot of work at first, but then once everything is set up, they are just like cats or dogs! They are also very rewarding and entertaining I can't count the number of days I've just sat outside watching them scratch, fly around and chase bugs!

 

[Teila]

Hi jammzb

I am probably considered a beginner, only having chickens for a couple of years now and you have received some really good advice to date from those with a lot more experience than I. However, as our situations are similar, I thought I would post a reply.

I also live in a built up area with neighbours very close. I have 5 Bantams, 3 are still very young and not laying yet.

My compost bin which hardly smells at all, smells more than the chicken coop and run! The only time I even remotely detect a smell is if it is has rained substantially and then it only lasts for a short while and is probably more damp earth than anything else.

I clean the coops every morning, collecting the overnight poop and give the run a good clean every weekend.

All of my grass clippings go into the run and with their constant turning it over, the poop gets buried pretty quickly.

I let my girls roam the garden (supervised due to predator possibilities) every afternoon after work and they spend most of the weekend supervised free ranging. We have a nice garden and the girls keep the weeds totally under control. All of my plants are in large pots which not only stops them from digging in them, it also gives them lots of fun places to explore around the pots, under the shade of the foliage. Yeah, I have to sweep the path every afternoon when they have gone to bed but being bantams, they are not too destructive. Plus, I have the added bonus of great compost. They have shown no interest whatsoever in jumping the fence or straying too far from their favourite spots.

My neighbours are always asking how the girls the doing and I find sharing some eggs with them adds to our mutual benefit.

For what it is worth; I totally recommend giving it a go! Not only will your kids probably get so much enjoyment out of your chickens, I reckon watching your girls mooch around in the garden is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face

And, as already mentioned, no shame in changing your mind if it doesn't work out. I bet if they were given the alternative option, your kids would make sure you have the cleanest coop and run for miles around