Newbie in need of help!

[akahn01]

I thought it would be a cool idea to have chickens so after a couple days of persuading my dad finally built the coop. That is basically all we have done so far and i would like some suggestions of what to do or what to order so when the baby chicks get here everything will be all ready.

 

[BeckyLa]

Welcome to BYC!

First, it would be helpful to know how many and what breeds of chickens you are ordering. Is the coop all set up with bedding, waterer, feeder? If you are getting day old chicks you will need an area that is draft free with a good light, like a clamp-on light with a reflector, for warmth. You will be able to tell if the chicks are too hot or cold by the way they act. If they all cram under the light or in a corner they are too cold and will suffocate each other. If they stay away from the light and have their beaks open like they are panting they are too hot. Just lower the wattage of the light bulb you are using. You will need bedding, most folks use pine shavings available at your local feed store, but put paper towels over it for a few days until the chicks learn that chick starter is food and not the shavings. Once they're eating their feed well you can remove the paper towels. You'll need a chick waterer up on a piece of wood or brick or something to keep it from filling up with shavings quite so badly. A chick feeder. These you can also get at the feed store. You'll need chick starter for feed. And if you are ordering chicks through the mail, it would be wise to also pick up a pack of vitamins with electrolytes to give them in their water for a week or so. When they come, you'll need to watch for pasty butt, when their poop sticks to their downy feathers at their vent and causes them to not be able to poop correctly. This will have to be cleaned off with a warm damp rag often though this usually stops after the first week.

 

[akahn01]

Thanks
I think i am gonna get about 4 or 5 chickens. Do you have any suggestions what kind of chickens i should get? My main goal is to have good egg layers and "friendly" chickens.

 

[BeckyLa]

Though I've never had them, I would recommend Buff Orpingtons. I have heard so very many good reports of their laying nice brown eggs and that they are very friendly and make good pets. The best breed I have for eggs and being good pets are my Americaunas. They are so cute with their beards and muffs and their egg color ranges from blue to green to beige or even pink once in a while. And they are so very friendly, trusting, and curious. And they adore cornbread muffins. Yep, I like Americaunas the best in the pet/egg department. Have fun with your flock! Chickens are great!