Newbies in the chicken world!

[inuvik]

We just bought a coup and we're getting our chicks this afternoon. We want to start off small, so we want three. My husband said we should start off with two. I think that with three they'll keep each other warmer. We are keeping them inside for a few weeks, until they get big enough. Do you think three would be better? We're very excited!

 

[DeerFangRanch]

Chicken math says the more the better - have fun.

 

[kazoo1111]

Good Luck!

 

[bj taylor]

the more the merrier for them. that is until they reach sexual maturity. if you're going with just girls then everything is fine. if a rooster is in the mix, he will need a lot more girls than that to keep him from making their backs bare for his loving attention.

 

[flyingdave]

I like the magic number of six to ten, especially if a straight run is how you are getting the wee ones.

 

[BlueChocobo]

Yes, the more the better, and they are not expencive to keep.

HOWEVER, you might want to check your areas chicken laws.

I bought 6 before I found I can only have 5 according to my county, but I'm not telling if you arn't.

Some tips!​

1) You don't ~have~ to buy feeders. They can eat from a shallow bowl just fine.

2) While in your house they can stay in anything from a Rubbermade tub to a cardboard box just fine.

3) Keep the habitat light on at all times.

4) When getting a coop don't bother buying one. Build one! You can get free wood off Craig's List or construction sites (if you're lucky). Plus, there are many great plans on this site for FREE! Also, make sure to buy your chicken wire at a feed store. It's WAY more cost effective than Home Depot or Lowes. Personally, I'd recomend a "chicken tractor" as they can be moved around your yard.

5) Check Butts! A chick ~can~ get blocked up. If this happens they can die within a day. Get Save-a-chick or Chick Boost from a feed store. It's, like, 10$ and lasts a LONG time. 1 scoop per gallon of water (scoop included). I give it to my chicks all the time anyhow. It has electrolytes and vitamins ( A, D3, E and C)

Hope this helps! Good luck!

(forgive spelling)

 

[inuvik]

Thanks! We're starting out with three cuties! My daughter named one Nidma, we named the other two Lucy and Ethel. They are adorable! My little schi tzu loves Lucy. We're making sure our little dogs get use to them. The cats we are keeping away. My daughter has them in her room with a heat lamp and they're in a tote. My husband is building the coop for us. We bought all females. We can't have roosters in town. Though we border town. So I don't think we'd have complaints. We're new to this, so I've been reading up on the care for them. We want egg layers, there's nothing like fresh eggs. Thank you all for your help. I look forward to more discussions on the chickens. I want to add a picture, the store didn't know what kind the grey ones with a yellow spot on their heads were. Can you help me out. I think it's a silkie but not quite sure.

. I hope you can see her. She's awfully fuzzy.

 

[DeerFangRanch]

Love the names.
When we got a shipment of Easter Eggers one of them was red. As I took her out of the shipping box I said "Here's Lucille".
It was the only one that got named...

 

[inuvik]

We feel we need to name all our animals. My daughter and I had to figure out their names before the day was done. Ethel, who's gray with a yellow spot on her head, now has beautiful white feathers on her wings and her tail. Her tail feathers are super fuzzy. Lol very cute!

 

[MountainMeadows]

Yay that's so exciting! When I was young my family got chickens and we started with 5, then a coon got one, and then one announced he was a rooster so he had to go live on a farm (we lived in the city). So then there were 3, and they were great! Martha, Jacqueline, and Rosalynn (named after first ladies). Martha was the biggest and always laid double yolks! They were awesome! Good luck to you, 3 was an awesome number.