We're enjoying our new found hobby of chicken ownership, with five chicks of various breeds. We are about 1/3 of the way done building their coop (need to finish it this weekend, as the chicks are almost 5 weeks old and are getting restless in their brooder). I almost gave in today when I went to the feed store...they had more chicks, all of breeds we don't have (IIRC, silver wyandotte, rhode island red, polish, black star, barred rock), so I was reeeeealllllyyyy tempted to pick up two or three more chicks, just for fun. Am I nuts? My husband pointed out that we don't really NEED any more chicks, but they are so darned cute!! We have a decent amount of space (our coop will be 24 square feet when it is done, with an attached run of more than 50 square feet, and eventually access to a large yard), so that really isn't a problem. Of course, I just realized that most of you have waaaay more than 5 chickens, so I'm probably asking the wrong crowd if I'm nuts to consider buying more chicks. Katy
Hi my chicks are about the same age as yours and are about bored out of their little minds in the brooder. I try to shake things up by bringing them a casserole pan of dirt every day or so... but it just isn't the same. My coop is slated for 2 weeks from now. No doubt the urge to get "just a few more chicks" is nearly too much -- they are soooo cute. However, the only issue with picking up more chicks is to practice appropriate bio-security and quarantine the new ones from the old one for a minimum of 30 days -- otherwise some really ugly things can happen. Suppose the new chicks bring in coccidosis or coryzia or staph? One really knowledgeable and experienced chicken owner on here brought in "just a couple of hens" from a breeder he felt confident had a "clean" flock. He didn't quarantine and next thing he knew his entire flock was wiped out. It doesn't seem worth the risk. Fivew happy healthy hens is a very nice place to start. Jenny
see the post from a few nights ago "chicken math" it addresses the same question. LIke me, I had one chick die and I replaced it with FIVE. the post is entertaining if you care to look it up.l have fun,
I too had one chicken die and replaced it with five. How does that work? I used to be really good at math...
I would totally go get more chicks! I have more coming next week....I have an addiction. I need Chickens Anonymous!
I almost did that.... I went to feed store to pick up my chicks. Next week, my aunt asked me to pick up her chicks. I was at store for long time, do or not. Then didn't do.... Kinda sad, but this is my first year. SO if I'M GOOD this winter, I might pick up few more chicks next spring
Chickens Anonymous! I like it! I told my husband last night we should just buy a farm somewhere, so I can indulge in chickens, horses, dogs, alpaca, and whatever strikes my fancy. Too bad its not in the cards at the moment. I can separate any new chicks from the older ones (the older ones have been moved into a dog crate from the original brooder, since it was waaaaay too small for them!), so that isn't a problem. I had envisioned getting more chicks next spring, but I could just get them now.... I'll check out the 'chicken math' thread. Thanks! Katy
Going against the flow here (as always ). I think if you are new to raising chickens it's very easy to get caught up in the cuteness factor and forget that they are going to grow up to be full grown chickens and need space and care. Keep adding cute little biddies to your brooder(s) and one day you'll wake up to realize you have overcrowded conditions - which can lead to problems such as feather pickin' - and a host of other troubles. Best to start small or reasonably small anyhow and work your way up from there. I started out with 23, whittled my way down to 14 (one death from heart attack, others sold or given away). Now that I have a few years of chicken keeping under my belt, I feel completely comfortable with adding another flock. Trust me, the chicks will be just as cute if you wait until you are more adapt at taking care of the first batch. Just MHO.
Well. not trying to be rude. But I am not even going to answer your "Am I crazy question" for one you are most likely to cave no matter what my answer is and second in order to point a finger at you I have to have 4 pointed at myself. Not going there. we are both perfectly sane and lets just keep it between the two of us. But since I do expect you to give in and be right back there at the feed store. i will suggest you look for at least a couple of Japanese bantams. Since you mention your birds are pets I think they would fit the bill very very well. I am trying to get started with Serama. but when my first batch of 14 eggs resulted in only 1 chick hatching, we had to buy a couple of companions at the last minute. since we needed as small as we could find we felt lucky that our feed store had Bantams in stock. they had White Japanese and Silver Sebrights, We got one of each. The little white is now just over 6 weeks old and has stolen everyone's heart. Extremely sweet and gentle and is very suited to being a pet. she was acting frightened the other night and flew out of the brooder and climbed up my daughters shirt to perch on her shoulder. Turns out she is afraid of the dark and we had turned off her night light. I describe her to others as very Dove Like. pretty soft feathers and gentle with more of a bird song voice than a chickens clucking. Good luck staying away from that feed store, and if you need any more help just let me know
