Newly-Hatched Chicken Addict

[Eclucktic]

Hello everyone. After many hours perusing this very informative site, I decided to bite the pullet (ha ha) and join BYC.

My family and I have had guinea hens on our northern Ohio farm for the past year, and although they earn their keep by eating tons of bugs and leaving tiny very hard-shelled eggs for our enjoyment, we decided to raise a "few" chicks too. Unfortunately, we only live 20 minutes away from Meyer Hatchery, and so we have visited them for the past few Mondays to pick up various breeds of chicks from their overhatches. So far, we have 30+ chicks, consisting of Ameraucanas, Speckled Sussex, Egyptian Fayoumis, Barnvelder, Polish, Silkies, black Frizzled Cochin bantams, Black Copper Marans, Olive Egger, Easter Eggers, White Sultan, Australope, Salmon Faverolles, German Spitzhauben, and a mystery feather-footed chick from their $1.99 "grab bin."

Currently, these are in a large tub in our mud room (my husband reminds me how hillbilly I am to let the chicks live in our house) but their coop is currently in the finishing stages and should be ready in a few weeks for their outdoor debut. Since these will be free-ranging most of the time, we now have to train our German Shepherd to protect the chickens and not treat them as appetizers.

I look forward to continued learning and to meeting all of you nice yolks (...er, folks).

Diane





Above are our guineas with a surprise pheasant visitor that popped out of the woods.

 

[Chickadette]

I am new also. I grew up with guinea running free - loved them. We may be adding them to our new farm as well - especially as 'natures pest control'. Good luck!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Nice looking flock! Sounds like Chicken Math really struck you! If you do search there are quite a few threads on training dogs around chickens, you might find some ideas that would work with yours, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/829562/training-teaching-a-dog-about-chickens

 

[NoChickLftBhind]

Your post made me laugh, only because I can completely relate! I am new to this site too, I had ordered a few chicks from a hatchery, went to TSC to get supplies, and after a weak moment I am now typing this in my living room next to a six foot TSC livestock tub with 25 chickens inside! And my husband is flabbergasted I'm OK with it! This has definitely been an interesting week! Good luck to you!

 

[gander007]

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

If your hubby thinks you are a hillbilly raising chicks in the house, then he will think we all are too! LOL Most of us raise chicks here in the house. Too hard to brood outside in cold weather. I have my new chicks right here on the kitchen counter right now!!!! LOL Maybe it will warm up enough in a few weeks I can finish them off outside. But other broods have all been brooded for 6 weeks here in our kitchen and living room. LOL Who needs TV!!

Great to have you aboard and enjoy your new flock!

 

[ochochicas]

You're not the only hill-billy here! Haha. Ours are still living in the house because it is too cold outside for them (plus I really like having them in the living room). DH doesn't mind them, so it is all good! However, I'm going to have to admit soon that they are almost too big to stay in their pool. Maybe one more week?!?!? Here is a pick from last week
.

The pool has a net over it to keep them from flying out.

 

[SummerSaige]

Make yourself at home and ask plenty of questions!

 

[drumstick diva]

Wow that's a lot of chickies in a brooder, they are going to outgrow that fast. When chicks are crowded tempers flare, pecking, pulling feathers, etc. If your temps are still cold you will need a larger brooding area very soon.

PS wish you luck with your dogs, they can decimate a flock in no time.