Not really about raising chicks, but more so about getting them.

[CcJ]

Hi I am a newer member and I dont have chicks yet...but I am trying to convince my parents to let me get some silkie chicks. Can you give me some reason I can throw at them to persuade them into letting me get some and raise them. Thanks in advance.



CCJ

 

[Fresh Eggs]

They are EXTREMLY freindly. I have never heard of an agressive silkie! Mypetchicken.com has silkies if u want to look into that.

 

[espressola]

As a parent, I would like to see a well-researched plan including plans for how to brood the chicks, build a coop in ADVANCE of buying any chicks, figure out how fencing would be done with the predators native to my area... and a budget for how this would be paid for. Chickens require a certain amount of effort and the startup costs can be quite expensive. I'd also like to see an awareness of the care involved (feed and cleaning the coop) and an acceptance of that responsibility. If I felt good about these things I'd allow my child to get her own chicks/pets but I am an animal lover, so more of an enabler, LOL! How old are you?
Patty N.

 

[CcJ]

Quote:
Thanks espessola thats a huge help. My family consists of all animal lovers. We have three dogs and all, but my dad doesnt like the chicken idea and my mom had chcickens as a kid. She doesnt want them because she said they smelled terrible. Do yo have any ideas to how I can get by the smell? Any ventalation ideas? I have a coop idea in mind. All I can say is God Bless BYC...what would we do without it? Oh, and I am young enough that I still live with my parents and they have the final say.


CCj

 

[aidenbaby]

I have the plans for the City Biddy coop which is a relatively small coop. I can tell you from my shopping yesterday and the day before for supplies that they can be expensive even for a small one. So far, my expenses are running around $350. That is for a 3'x3'x4' coop and an 8'x3'6"x3' run. This is to house 2 standards and 2 bantams. According to the designer, it could house 3-4 standards or 4-6 bantams. Also, that money does not include the cost of the birds, chick feed, feeder, waterer, heat lamp, bulbs and litter; those ran me another $60. I'm using a 35 gallon rubbermaid tub I already had.

 

[CcJ]

Oh, I think I may make my coop of pallets and the like. I live in a rural area so thank goodness for craigslist....I plan to use tons of cheep and recyled products. I want to go green while building this coop.

We will see how that goes.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Chicken coops only smell really bad if they're not cleaned. Demonstrate - if you haven't already - to your parents that you're up to the responsibility of keeping a coop/animal clean. My coop gets cleaned weekly and I've got just 3 chickens in it right not.

 

[warmfuzzies]

We do something like the deep litter method. We just keep adding straw or some type of litter to the floor, on top of whet ever is ther. It will start composting the bottom layers, and so it doesnt stink if you keep adding layers often enough. It is great if you have a garden, because it is already composting in your chicken house. It also helps keep the coop warm in the winter, as the action of the microbes in the litter actually give off heat.

I would think your parents would like to see a list of expenses, such as start-up costs, and then a list of monthly expenses such as feed and stuff. This will help them see you are doing your research. Start-up costs dont have to be much more then the cost of the birds and food, if you do your research and get creative as far as coops and stuff. Which it sounds like you are already doing!

I would also go over to the breeds section, and ask for Silkie owners to tell you all about the pros and cons of the breed, so you can get a balanced veiw of them. That will show your parents you are serious about learning about them, and not just trying to show them only the good side of it.

 

[BorderKelpie]

When my daughter started begging for a beagle, I made her write me a little research paper on the breed. She wrote on origins, care, grooming, etc. After doing her research project, she actually realized that a beagle was not for her and she rescued a deaf cat instead (yippee - that's said sarcastically).
I'm not saying that you should research and that it will change your mind, I'm suggesting that you show your parents that you have a plan, have learned what you can and are willing to put forth the effort to get into chickens.
As far as the smell - keeping the coop clean and dry will take care of that problem, prove to your folks you are serious by keeping your room clean without being told, you may even volunteer to do a few extra chores around the house. Couldn't hurt - might help.
Best wishes to you!

 

[wings]

If they finally let you get Silikies, I would get them as chicks.

It's more fun, you'll get a better chance to bond with them, and...


WHO DOESN'T WANT ADORABLE CHICKIES????