Newbie in Florida looking for tips for me and my 6 new chicks

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WDflchick6

WDflchick6

Hatching
5 Years
Apr 8, 2014
5
0
7
Brooksville, FL
Hi All ,
I am very excited, to be a member and I am looking forward to any and all tips. We have started our Coop (modified Purina plan found on this site under medium coops). We have had our chicks for a week now.
I have a few questions
1) Should I paint the interior of the chicken coop? can I use a latex exterior paint?
2) plans state that it offers enough ventilation, I want to add a window that we can open close (covered with hardware cloth), should we have additional venting in the nest box area we have built a 3 box nest area with access on the back wall?
3) our chicks seem very afraid of us I talk with them , but the second your hand goes near them they run back and forth like crazy.
4) we are building the run next I have read that the door should open in any other tips?


Thanks looking forward to answers, tips and stories

Wendi
 
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Welcome to BYC!

You have come to the right place for all things poultry! Yes, you can paint the interior of you coop if you like. If this is a prebuilt coop, sometimes they claim there is enough ventilation when there isn't enough. So it never hurts to add more! Windows are great because you can really let in a lot of air, and control how much air gets sucked in and out too. You do not need to ventilate the nest box area. Unless they are broody, then don't spend enough time in the boxes, and you really don't want too much air movement down near the floors. Venting should be in the roof or eaves along with a window and your coop will do fine.

Chicks are animals that get preyed upon. So it is natural for them to be scared of you. Just be gentle with them and handle them a much as you can. They will tame up over time and realize you are not out to eat them. The more you work with them, the easier they will be to handle as adults. Chickens generally don't like their feet to leave the ground. But they do get used to it. Then by the time they head out to the coop, they will consider you protection and love, and will be all over you. Food is a great bonding agent as well.
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You can have your doors open in any direction that is comfortable for you. I like doors than open out when going into the coop or run because if your chickens are all excited to see you, they are going to gang up at the door. And by opening in, you will be shoving them out of the way and they could get hurt. So I like a door to open out so that they don't have to jostle out of the way of the door, although they just keep standing there and I have to be careful not to step on them! LOL

Do some reading in our learning center here on BYC for lots of great tips on raising your new brood. There is also a great section on raising chicks as well...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

Enjoy your new babies! If you have any questions, fee free to ask. Welcome to our flock!
 
Hello :frow And Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great tips and links. I do like to paint the interior of the coop, especially around the roosts, chicken poop will get on the walls etc, and it makes it easier to clean and last longer... I use exterior latex both inside and outside, seems to work fine.
Check out the link to the Learning Center TwoCrows left, there are several nice articles in the Hatching Chicks section on raising chicks as pets and taming them. It does take patience, and even if they aren't tame when young, many of them will become a lot braver and tamer when they start laying eggs... and X2 food is the way to their hearts.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan
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Painting will help keep moisture from getting into the wood of your coop, and make it easier to clean. My run doors open outwards. More ventilation is usually better.
 
I don't know if paint fumes will hurt babies or full grown chickens. Maybe someone here can answer that for you and me. I'd just be sure the fumes were gone first.
 

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