newbie...I keep getting different answers & so confused

[mtadkins5]

I am new to chickens. I pick up my first chicks next week. So when I decided I wanted to get chickens I honestly looked at what was eye appealing to me and egg color. I came up with 8 breeds I really want. I am not going to be a breeder so to speak but down the road I would like to have a few chicks just so my girls and I have that experience. I asked on her 2 months ago when I started placing orders if it was ok to run these breeds together and got and overwelming YES. The more I read the more I worry now bc I love they way roosters look and I planed on one rooster for each breed. I planned on 32 chickens.Iplanned 8 breeds and 4 of each breed and all to be housed together. Now that I have placed almost all my orders I keep reading roosters can't be kept together. These are they breeds I have ordered from breeders or plan too LIGHT SUSSEX, SWEDISH FLOWER HENS, CORONATION SUSSEX, WELSUMMER, BIRCHEN MARANS, BLUE DOUBLE LACED BARNEVELDERS, BLACK & BLUE AMERAUCANAS & LAVENDER AMERAUCANAS. Forgot to mention the SAXONY & ANCONA ducks that will be arriving soon. For 32 birds what size does the coop and run need to be? If I have to house roosters in signal coops what size do the run and coop need to be? I need ideas on this! I am plum sick now I have all this $$$ invested and now everything seems to be falling apart before the first chick arrives. What does my setup need to be for these chickens in my backyard?

 

[Folly's place]

It's unlikely that eight roosters will get along in such a small flock, unless you have several separate pens. As the chicks grow, you can pick maybe two or three males that get along and aren't attacking people. That will be a beautiful flock of birds! I've no experience with ducks, but most people raise them separately because their needs are different. Do you have a good book about poultry? Mary

 

[Judy]

For the chickens, to use a standard rule of thumb, which is intended to prevent acting up from overcrowding, figure 4 sq ft per bird in the coop and 10 sq ft in the yard. So that would be a about a 12'x 10' coop and about a 20' X 16' yard. There are lots of factors to consider, though. You could probably get by with a bit smaller of a coop if there is not a lot of snow where you live, because they will be outdoors almost all the time during the day. They tolerate colder weather and even a fair amont of rain well, but they usually don't like to try to walk when there is, say, a foot of snow on the ground. If you can cover part of a run, or if you just don't get that much snow, you may not need that large a coop. On the other hand, space in the coop gives you the freedom to store feed and supplies right in the coop, plus make a separate roost if two factions are warring, or a separate pen for a broody to set on her eggs, or for a sick or injured bird. They can set on eggs and raise chicks right in with the flock, but the setting part can get rather uproarious because they will go back to the wrong nest after a snack, steal each others' eggs, lay in another's nest, etc. They need very little space for the setting, only the nest and maybe 3 or 4 sq ft to stretch their legs and of course for the food and water. I like to separate for the setting and have them raise the chicks in with the flock, in case you can't tell.

It is true that 8 roosters with 24 hens will probably be too many, because the hens will probably get overmated and, to one extent or another, the roosters will fight. This could be a bunch of chest bumping and chasing, or it could be more serious. There is really no way to know that til they grow up and their personalities become clear. But you will also find that one rooster with 3 hens will sometimes be too many, if they are together all the time; again, then hens can get overmated. Sometimes breeders have breeding pens where they put a selected few chickens together for a month or two, to get fertile eggs created by a hand picked pair or small group, then release them into the flock the resst of the time, and use the eggs for eating. Ot they have smaller coops and pens, all separate, with one breed per pen. One thing you have to consider is whether it matters to you whether they cross breed, of course.

It's probably a good idea to raise them all together in the same space, at least for a while, simply because it's much easier to separate chickens than combine flocks that have ived separately. Combining means rearranging the pecking order, which means a certain amount of pecking and fighting, in either sex.

Another thing you can do is have a "bachelor pen" for your roosters. If they are some distance away from the hens, they are much less likely to fight, as they don't feel they have to show the hens who is dominant. A lot of this is experience, both with chickens and with your particular flock and breeds. Again, if you prepare one area for breeding, say a corner of the coop with its own secion of the yard, you can have purebred offspring from one breed at a time.

Another thought is, sexing is only 90% accurate. In a way it's too bad you ordered roosters at all (I'm guessing ou did) because you would very likely have gotten some anyway. If I were in your position, I would build the large, more or less rectangular coop (like a shed, roof higher on one end for good ventilation under the slightly overhanging roof) and the yard -- and wire and plumb it, at least with a faucet outside the people door, and then give myself about 4 months before I made any more major decisions. You will probably find you like some of their looks and personalities much better than others. You may choose to sell or give away one or two breeds. It's fifficult to get rid of a lone rooster, unless you don't mind if he is eaten, but a breeding set, with hens, should be much less of a problem. It's a good way for someone to get started. 4 chickens need only a small shelter, and if they choose to free range them, the rooster will provide some protection. You may have a couple of "mean" roosters -- or even hens -- that obviously need to be chicken stew. The roosters especially will start showing their hormones around maybe 12 weeks, and you'll begin to see who is going to be gentlemanly and protective, and who is going to be an aggressive jerk.

I have never owned a duck and know almost nothing about them -- except they really need some sort of small pool and they will get the water filthy every day and splash it around. Some people keep them with chickens, some don't. I wouldn't try it; a chicken coop is healthier if kept dry so I wouldn't want the water in there. There is a separate duck forum here with, obviously, folks who are a lot wiser about ducks than I. You might want to check out the stickies on that forum (threads linked in the brown box at the top of the forum.)

If you can build a rectangular walk in shed with an attached fenced run or yard for starters, I'm sure this will all sort itself out for you as the weeks go by. In the meantime, I hope you and your family enjoy raising the little critters! Maybe you did jump in a little too far, but you can work it out! Many people on here do worse, start with a few chicks then find themselves buying more and more, or get interested in incubator hatching, til they have no place to put them. You'll see that it's called "chicken math" here.

If worse comes to worse, you can probably sell some through your local feed store, especially chicks or hens.

I wish you luck! I'll add a couple of my favorite links, about space and coop ventilation, and open air coops.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700308/coop-and-run-size/0_20#post_9504811

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

 

[mtadkins5]

Thank you both so very much! I am so excited to start my little backyard hobby farm. My youngest daughter is starting school this year and I thought this would be the perfect time to do it since I am home all day. Our oldest daughter has special needs and think she might enjoy it as well. I think I did get over excited about picking breeds I like but hey I haven't found more I like in a month

I hear thats good! I just want them to be safe and happy. I want to do right for them but on the other hand I want to be happy too. I think you are right and things will sort out. I am going to only finish this first coop for now(one coop for ducks and one for chcikens). As they grow and I learn more I will address more coops or what I need to do. From all I have read I think I have pick a pretty calm bunch. We shall see I guess. Now to figure out the food. I keep hearing so many things. I have changed my plan twice now on feeding.

 

[Judy]

You can always go the simple route and feed regular old chick starter from the nearest feed store to begin, or starter/grower, then switch to layer when they are around 20 weeks or when you start getting eggs. There are certainly other ways to go, though. I'll give you a bit of lowdown on "medicated" starter. Generally it is edicated with amprolium. This is a thiamine inhibitor. It inhibits the absorption of thiamine in cocci, a protozoan in most every soil to which they shuld develop immunity as they mature. The amprolium helps them develop the immunity by keeping the number of cocci in each chick somewhat under control as their immune systems respond to them. It is not absorbed by the chick, or by older chickens, so it is safe to eat eggs and meat from chickens who have eaten feed with amproloium in it. Obviously, it's not an antibiotic, and really, it doesn't even medicate the chick, only the cocci. If you have had your chicks vaccinated against cocci at the hatchery, though, you should avoid starter feed with amprolium in it. -- And if you already knew all that, then just ignore me.

 

[mtadkins5]

You can always go the simple route and feed regular old chick starter from the nearest feed store to begin, or starter/grower, then switch to layer when they are around 20 weeks or when you start getting eggs. There are certainly other ways to go, though. I'll give you a bit of lowdown on "medicated" starter. Generally it is edicated with amprolium. This is a thiamine inhibitor. It inhibits the absorption of thiamine in cocci, a protozoan in most every soil to which they shuld develop immunity as they mature. The amprolium helps them develop the immunity by keeping the number of cocci in each chick somewhat under control as their immune systems respond to them. It is not absorbed by the chick, or by older chickens, so it is safe to eat eggs and meat from chickens who have eaten feed with amproloium in it. Obviously, it's not an antibiotic, and really, it doesn't even medicate the chick, only the cocci. If you have had your chicks vaccinated against cocci at the hatchery, though, you should avoid starter feed with amprolium in it. -- And if you already knew all that, then just ignore me.

No I knew NONE of that tyvm! I am only buying from breeders so no meds will be given. What is your oppinion Flockraiser? I will have ducks and chickens so I thought this would be good. I was thinking I would feed both Purina Start & Grow SunFresh Recipe Poultry till I move them outside. I know ducks are less likly to need it but since they will be free ranging with the chickens I thought it might be a good idea. Then I will switch to Purina Flock Raiser SunFresh Recipe until they start laying. I thought this would keep it simple if we add or whatever. When they start laying I will give them Purina Layena SunFresh Recipe, Pellet and add Manna Pro Oyster Shell. I do plan to offer grit early on because I will feed greens, herbs, flowers, leftovers, fruit and veggies. Manna Pro Chick Grit[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] & [/FONT]Manna Pro Poultry Grit I will use Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth with Calcium Bentonite Supplement in the coop and food. ACV in the water.

 

[ottbjumper06]

X

It's unlikely that eight roosters will get along in such a small flock, unless you have several separate pens.  As the chicks grow,  you can pick maybe two or three males that get along and aren't attacking people.  That will be a beautiful flock of birds!  I've no experience with ducks,  but most people raise them separately because their needs are different.  Do you have a good book about poultry?  Mary

x2 I have two ducks though that I run with all the chickens and they do just fine eating poultry layer feed. Make sure in the beginning though to brood them separately from the chicks as I was warned from a breeder the chicks will attack the ducks. I let mine run together at 3 weeks. Watch out for angel wing on the ducks, which is another good reason to brood separately from chicks because then you can feed food with a lower protein level to them. I'm not sure how much homework you have done but angel wing is also called twisted wing and it happens when the ducks feathers get too heavy for the undeveloped wing so it twists the wing/s outward. It shouldn't hinder the duck too badly, but it is unsightly. If you catch it fast enough you can fix it . I recommend you get the book Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks by Gail Damerow, everything you need to know about brooding!

 

[mtadkins5]

X
x2 I have two ducks though that I run with all the chickens and they do just fine eating poultry layer feed. Make sure in the beginning though to brood them separately from the chicks as I was warned from a breeder the chicks will attack the ducks. I let mine run together at 3 weeks. Watch out for angel wing on the ducks, which is another good reason to brood separately from chicks because then you can feed food with a lower protein level to them. I'm not sure how much homework you have done but angel wing is also called twisted wing and it happens when the ducks feathers get too heavy for the undeveloped wing so it twists the wing/s outward. It shouldn't hinder the duck too badly, but it is unsightly. If you catch it fast enough you can fix it

. I recommend you get the book Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks by Gail Damerow, everything you need to know about brooding!

Thanks for the info.I love this site because I am learning so much. How many Roosters do you think will be ok? Thanks for the book info.

 

[mtadkins5]

X
x2 I have two ducks though that I run with all the chickens and they do just fine eating poultry layer feed. Make sure in the beginning though to brood them separately from the chicks as I was warned from a breeder the chicks will attack the ducks. I let mine run together at 3 weeks. Watch out for angel wing on the ducks, which is another good reason to brood separately from chicks because then you can feed food with a lower protein level to them. I'm not sure how much homework you have done but angel wing is also called twisted wing and it happens when the ducks feathers get too heavy for the undeveloped wing so it twists the wing/s outward. It shouldn't hinder the duck too badly, but it is unsightly. If you catch it fast enough you can fix it

. I recommend you get the book Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks by Gail Damerow, everything you need to know about brooding!

Is there a certain time to watch for the Angel Wing?

 

[ottbjumper06]

Thanks for the info.I love this site because I am learning so much. How many Roosters do you think will be ok? Thanks for the book info.

Personally I wouldn't have more than 3 roosters in the same pen, but they have to all get along..