Newbie here

[outdoor junkie]

Hello All, I am new to all of this and found this great site. I've looked around and looked through some old threads and just want to say this will be a very helpful tool. I've always though it would be cool to have some chickens to roam around the yard. So yesterday me and my two young sons went and picked up four baby chicks. I don't really know what types they are, all i know is they are all supposed to be hens. Two I was told were egg layers and the other two were a watch dog type? I don't know the boys picked them out. If all goes wel lwith them this year I will get a few more next spring. My questions are, i have them set up in a large rubber maid tote now in the spare bedroom. How old before they can get moved outside, is it a certain age or a certain temperature outside, or can they be moved into the garage sooner, then outside later? i don't want to do anything to jeopardize them. Also after it is time to move outdoors, I have about an acre fenced in and will let them free roam on it. Are they prone to fly over then fence and wander off or onto the neighbors property. no big deal on one side, but the other neighbor has some pretty wild dogs. Also I have an old salt box style shed i don't use. It's roughly 6' long by 3' wide by 7' tall, will this be ok for a coop for them to be put into a tnight. And if so wha tdo you do to set up the inside of a coop, wha tneeds to be built in there? Thanks all for any info you can share.

 

[KZ]

You will have to let me know what kind those watch dog chickens are. I can't help but wonder if they are really guineas....

 

[outdoor junkie]

I have no idea, I'm new to this, but I'll keep ya updated. i tried posting a pic, but it wouldn't let me because I'm new. Are Guineas all black as chicks?

 

[outdoor junkie]

One more thing. Sorry. I usually have a lawn care company come and fertilize my lawn and weed kill it every few weeks throughout the year, I'm pretty sure this is a no no correct. Since my chickens will have free roam of the yard should I call and tell them i will not be having it done. Thanks guys and girls.

 

[KZ]

Quote:
No..... they are not all black. I guess you got a chicken after all!

 

[AKsmama]

I have never heard of any chickens being describes as "watch dog type." I am truly curious as to what breed these might be and why, exactly, they are called that! Pullets are not watch dogs- they have their behinds up in the air looking for food all the time!

ETA: Wait- maybe they meant, or said, Wyandotte? I dunno, I'm trying to think of something that sounds like "watch dog type." This is going to drive me crazy until we figure it out!

 

[outdoor junkie]

No I am certain he said watch dog type. i didn't know either, but hey these are the first birds I've ever owned. How long before I can post a pic, maybe that would help someone identify them. They are all black, even their beak. he said they weren't much for egg laying. i guess it will be a mystery until they mature.

 

[AKsmama]

Uh-oh. . . watch dog type, not much for laying. . . sounds like roosters!

I'm just teasing you! I wonder if they could be some sort of game breed? I'm sure someone else will come along and know what you're talking about. Was they guy you bought them from older? Sometimes the "old-timers" call chickens different things than we call them now. Reminds me of when I worked at a vet clinic and a guy called about his "black and white screwtail bulldog." I had no idea what he meant until the vet told me some people call Boston terriers that.

 

[ginormous chicken]

My questions are, i have them set up in a large rubber maid tote now in the spare bedroom. How old before they can get moved outside, is it a certain age or a certain temperature outside, or can they be moved into the garage sooner, then outside later? i don't want to do anything to jeopardize them. Also after it is time to move outdoors, I have about an acre fenced in and will let them free roam on it. Are they prone to fly over then fence and wander off or onto the neighbors property.

8 weeks for outside.
It is 95 degrees the first week and drops 5 degrees per week. so week 2 90 etc.

You can move them into the garage I would say by 2 weeks with a heat lamp if you don't live where there is tons of snow and the garage is you know... in the 20's. If it is reasonable in the garage, you can brood there.

Flying over the fence... sounds like you have LF so not really....wander off to the neighbors property... yes.. you need a fence.

PS I want watch dog chickens

! Don't know what breed, you are going to have to post pics. and keep us posted!​

 

[chickencrazyinHT]

Chicks need to be about 95 degrees the first week of life and you can cut down by 5 degree increments every week until the weather outside allows them to be transferred to a coop. You can transfer them to the garage as long as you hang a brooder lamp warm enough for them. We keep ours in the house for the first couple of weeks. We set up a plastic storage tub, brooder lamp with 100 watt bulb, pine shavings as bedding, chick starter food and water. For the first week we use the 100 watt bulb to keep them warm. We have found that the 250 watt heat lamp bulb is way to hot for a storage box in the house. If you move them to your garage and its cool out there then you may need to use a heat lamp bulb. Check the temp in the box because you don't want to get them overheated. After two weeks we move ours to a coop in a storage shed that we also have a brooder lamp hanging from. We use the brooder lamp at night and on cold days. We usually move ours to a coop around 5 or 6 weeks. If the weather was warmer you could probably do it sooner.

We wanted our chickens to free range also but learned that we just couldn't unless we were outside with them. We will let them out on days we are in the yard and lock them up if we have to go any where. We had a Hawk to get a few. That depends on what kind of predators you have in your area. I would be cautious of those wild dogs. They can kill all your chickens quickly if they can get to them. Chickens are very low on the food chain and you have to protect them from all kinds of predators. Around here we have coons, fox, skunks, hawks, owls, all of which love to eat some chicken!I would use that saltbox as a coop for them to at least have a safe place at night. You need food, water, a perch for them to sleep, and nesting boxes ( place for them to lay when they start laying eggs.) You could do that later if you want since they are still young.