Number one mistake

[bellasooky]

My biggest mistake was not knowing the symptoms of illness and disease to lookout for and as a result I believe I lost two pure bred black australorps, one to coccidiosis and and the other may have had an impacted crop. In the case of chicken keeping ignorance is not bliss,it is death and tradgedy, so if your chickens look unwell do something about it.

 

[bellasooky]

 

[OldGuy43]

In my book the first mistake is not letting your chickens be chickens. You don't need to know a lot about raising chickens. The chickens know all about it, so relax and enjoy.

Number two mistake, paranoia:

Congrats everyone! Your wonderful personalities and support are really making a difference. We hope it won't be too long until our mission of A Chicken In Every Yard is fulfilled!!!

Well, yesterday was one of the (if not the) busiest days ever on BYC and today we set a new record for the most people online at one time, 539!

You guys know that I'm a statistics junkie, so here is where we are for daily averages since the beginning of 2009:

New Users 54
New Topics 317
New Posts 4718

Just amazing! That is 3.27 posts every minute of every day!!!

We've got some really exciting things planned for this year. You thought 2008 was a fun year on BYC, well hold on tight because we've got a log of really fun stuff planned for 2009!

The BYC Staff thank you for all your support. It is the wonderful members of this great community that make this a place that more than 50 new people visit and join every day!

And that was in the year 2009(!) Backyard Chickens has grown a lot since than. Remember, very few posts are from folks who say, "Everything is going fine with my flock." They post about unusual problems and concerns. Don't over think your poultry concern, just enjoy. You can't prepare for every event.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with all of the above--especially not buying chickens at swaps and from people you do not know. Some unscrupulous people will sell you sick chickens just for profit.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

What is the number one mistake newbies make with their chickens?

I sell a lot of birds. The mistakes I see newcomers making fall into a few general areas:

1 - Not knowing what they want and/or trying to get by on the cheap. Chickens are not all alike. Some are better bred than others. Some are healthier than others. Some are older than others. If a laying hen seems really cheap there is probably a reason for it. I sell the two year old spent hens from my laying flocks for half of what I sell started pullets for. I get folks who fall all over themselves to pay $7 each for a two year old hen that choke on the idea of paying $14 for a fourteen or fifteen week old pullet. A little pencil work will show the more expensive pullet to be the more economical in terms of the number/quality of eggs she'll lay over the older bird who will soon have to molt then will lay fewer eggs in her second lay cycle. Also, if the bird does not appear to be keeping herself clean and neat then pass her by. She may be half the price of the pullets in the next stall but if she's got a dirty behind and a pale waxy comb she is going to make you sorry.

2 - Not knowing how to feed for production or trying to do it cheap. Chickens are like computers. Garbage in - garbage out. Scratch feed CAN be a useful part of a laying hen's diet, but only in its proper proportion. If you'll be feeding the typical 15-16% protein layer ration then the proper proportion of scratch is about HALF a handful per bird per day, preferably fed in the morning. If they are free ranging all or most of the day you can increase that if your range is at all good. Hanging a feeder that is half 16% layer ration and half scratch is going to result in fewer eggs and fat birds.

3 - Inadequate predator protection. I've had two customers come back this spring who lost the birds I sold them last spring or fall because of predator attacks. Many times your own dog will turn out to be your worst predator. Or your neighbor's dog, or some stray. Foxes are fast and clever. Coons even more so and they can climb better than you can. Most especially night time predator protection is vital.

4 - Overcrowding leads to stress which in turn can express itself in a number of unpleasant ways such as feather picking and cannibalism. If you can't free-range them then try to provide at least ten square feet of space per bird for stationary coops/runs. For tractors that you really are going to move every day or at least every other day you can get by with maybe five square feet.

Those are the most common mistakes that I think I've seen.

 

[ducks4you]

NUMBER #1 NEWBIE MISTAKE
I am going to free range my birds.
I got 3 free roosters from my friend. His first "free rangers" were dessimated by raccoons. When he replaced them the farmer sold him roosters as well as pullets, and he didn't want the roos.
Remember....everybody loves chicken. Keep them safe and contained.

 

[jak2002003]

NUMBER #1 NEWBIE MISTAKE
I am going to free range my birds.
I got 3 free roosters from my friend. His first "free rangers" were dessimated by raccoons. When he replaced them the farmer sold him roosters as well as pullets, and he didn't want the roos.
Remember....everybody loves chicken. Keep them safe and contained.

I thought raccoons were nocturnal? I would think a hen can easily get away from one in the daytime if she is free range. If your friend left the chickens out at night, then that is asking for problems.

 

[shmccarthy]

I thought raccoons were nocturnal?  I would think a hen can easily get away from one in the daytime if she is free range.  If your friend left the chickens out at night, then that is asking for problems.

Raccoons are only primarily nocturnal. Most that are out during the day, it's safe to say they have some kind of disease (rabies, distemper ect) but not all do. I've seen just as many coons out during the day as I have at night. They're just as dangerous during the day.
I do agree with you though, a chicken can get away easier during the day. They can see better and aren't as sleepy, therefore more alert.
I free range my birds and I haven't lost a single one to a predator yet *knock on wood*
But I do shoot every possum and raccoon that steps foot on the property.

The biggest thing I've learned is to be prepared! You can't predict what's going to happen but it's a really good to go over "what if" scenarios in your head and prepare yourself accordingly. I never thought my chickens would get coccicidosis, so I never worried about it. Sure enough, two of my cockerels got it and and I ordered medicine and ended up culling them. The medicine still hasn't arrived :/ but luckily none of the others have symptoms so *fingers crossed*

Predator preventative is extremely important! Like they said, everybody loves chickens! It's a good idea to know all the predators that live or could live in your area. I had a weasel attack one of my chickens, and I didn't even know weasels live where I live.
Knowledge is your best defense!