Hi there 
and 
! It’s great to have you here. I hope you enjoy your time here. Best wishes 
and ! It’s great to have you here. I hope you enjoy your time here. Best wishes 
Newby from Bozeman, Mt
- Thread starter Montview
- Start date
Welcome!
- Thread starter
- #23
Montview
Chirping
Thank you, everyone, for your links and advice! I decided to go to Murdoch's (local farm supply) today and they had just gotten in their first chicks this morning. The only chicks from my list they don't have in yet are the Wyandottes I believe. Sooo.... I'm thinking of heading down again tomorrow and picking up some chicks. Maybe a couple of buff Orps, a Rhode Island red, an Ameraucana mix, and a couple of others? I have some stuff someone gave me to get started- I will likely keep chicks inside for a while to allow more socialization and keep them warmer. I'm not sure what else I need besides feed, shavings (I was given 2 metal trash cans to keep these items in)... I have this plastic bin (needs to be cleaned/disinfected since it is still dirty from the person before me using it) made into a chick house, a waterer, a feeder, a heat lamp and ground-type heating tile, and a bag of chick grit? I'm completely new to this... I have a book on starting with chickens but there is very little in the way of shopping lists for first time/new chicks.
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Hello! Welcome to BYC!!
Good luck on your new adventure! I'm also from Montana. My marans are friendly and cold hardy, orpingtons, barred rock. I have a few large combed breeds and they do just fine. Coop conditions are a big variable
I have 94 right now and have had 150 ish in the past. If you have any questions please ask. You'll get a lot of help here.
Feel free to check out the links below for some interesting reading.
Good luck on your new adventure! I'm also from Montana. My marans are friendly and cold hardy, orpingtons, barred rock. I have a few large combed breeds and they do just fine. Coop conditions are a big variable
I have 94 right now and have had 150 ish in the past. If you have any questions please ask. You'll get a lot of help here.
Feel free to check out the links below for some interesting reading.
Thank you, everyone, for your links and advice! I decided to go to Murdoch's (local farm supply) today and they had just gotten in their first chicks this morning. The only chicks from my list they don't have in yet are the Wyandottes I believe. Sooo.... I'm thinking of heading down again tomorrow and picking up some chicks. Maybe a couple of buff Orps, a Rhode Island red, an Ameraucana mix, and a couple of others? I have some stuff someone gave me to get started- I will likely keep chicks inside for a while to allow more socialization and keep them warmer. I'm not sure what else I need besides feed, shavings (I was given 2 metal trash cans to keep these items in)... I have this plastic bin (needs to be cleaned/disinfected since it is still dirty from the person before me using it) made into a chick house, a waterer, a feeder, a heat lamp and ground-type heating tile, and a bag of chick grit? I'm completely new to this... I have a book on starting with chickens but there is very little in the way of shopping lists for first time/new chicks.
Well... It will work for about 2-3 weeks and then the chicks will be too big for that. Use extreme caution using a heat lamp with a plastic tote. Add additional means of securing the lamp.
Do you already have your coop and run built? Those wee little darlings grow FAST!
lcwmt
Songster
Thank you, everyone, for your links and advice! I decided to go to Murdoch's (local farm supply) today and they had just gotten in their first chicks this morning. The only chicks from my list they don't have in yet are the Wyandottes I believe. Sooo.... I'm thinking of heading down again tomorrow and picking up some chicks. Maybe a couple of buff Orps, a Rhode Island red, an Ameraucana mix, and a couple of others? I have some stuff someone gave me to get started- I will likely keep chicks inside for a while to allow more socialization and keep them warmer. I'm not sure what else I need besides feed, shavings (I was given 2 metal trash cans to keep these items in)... I have this plastic bin (needs to be cleaned/disinfected since it is still dirty from the person before me using it) made into a chick house, a waterer, a feeder, a heat lamp and ground-type heating tile, and a bag of chick grit? I'm completely new to this... I have a book on starting with chickens but there is very little in the way of shopping lists for first time/new chicks.
WOW! chick days in Bozeman already !!!
I was at Murdoch's in Helena two days ago - no chicks there yet, thank goodness <G>.
You have a good start with supplies. Heads up! They will outgrow the bin very quickly. I use a portable dog playpen for the fluffy ones after about 1 week. By 5 weeks they are going to want serious space. Your coop may or may not be ready by then... and who knows what this Winter/Spring will bring us. have fun and good luck.
lcwmt
Songster
Update:
Two days ago I was at Murdoch's in Helena. No signage regarding Chick Days, no sign of chicks.
Today, Jeff was there. Chicks, ducklings, poults, oh my! It is a month earlier than usual. I wonder why this is.
I will have to delegate the purchasing of feed etc for a while. Much as the little fluffy things pull at my heart strings, the coop is at capacity.
Chicken math is a thing and addition can not be part of my reality this year. sigh (LOL)
- Thread starter
- #29
Montview
Chirping
Brought home a variety pack to start with- just missing my gold and silver-laced Wyandotte’s which come in next week. I figure it’s a good way to find our favorites and build on that in the future. 2 buff Orpingtons, an Ameraucana mix, a Welsummer, a black Australorp, a Rhode Island Red, a light Brahma and a dark Brahma.
We have a refurbished “barn” of sorts- turned into a heated “event center.” So we have plenty of room when they start outgrowing the little brooder... also, as a dog sport competitor and so forth, I’ve got a number of crates and exercise pens I can use. Right now, our coop is cold and dirty (we bought the place in June and never cleaned this)- a repurposed garden shed that is housing lawn mowers while there is 18+ inches of snow and more coming.
We have a refurbished “barn” of sorts- turned into a heated “event center.” So we have plenty of room when they start outgrowing the little brooder... also, as a dog sport competitor and so forth, I’ve got a number of crates and exercise pens I can use. Right now, our coop is cold and dirty (we bought the place in June and never cleaned this)- a repurposed garden shed that is housing lawn mowers while there is 18+ inches of snow and more coming.
- Thread starter
- #30
Montview
Chirping
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