OH OH! Pick me pick me!!!!

[WildIrishRose]

Lol maybe with a new title I'll get some responses. Hehehe

Alright I am finally getting started with my own BY flock. I'm so very excited. I'm only getting a small number of chickens for now as we're moving sometime in the future (looking to buy a little farm). But I want to make sure I've got everything i need, so ya'lls help is greatly appreciated!

-So I checked my local ordinances and BYCs are a go! Just no roosters. To help ensure this I am buying 6mo pullets (that and so. I can skip over the costs and time of raising chicks, since I'm only getting 3 this is also more cost effective )
- I have a coop/tractor that is well ventilated. Roost higher than nesting boxes and enough space for my girls. 1/2" hardware cloth to protect from evil chicken eating predators. ;p
- All the best sites tagged and saved for reference to natural chicken keeping (and some on not so natural keeping sites cause, you know, plan B!)
- I've got a hanging feeder for their layers feed. A small feeder for supplemental oysters shell. Chicken nipple system being installed in the coop (as well as a normal style waterer for until they get used to the nipple waterer).
- Nesting boxes filled with shavings
- I've picked up my layers feed (H&H brand which is organic, no GMO, non-soy, non-corn, something that is important to me ) and have it stored in an airtight Vittles Vault.
- Oysters Shell (anyone have a favorite brand on this for the future?)
- food grade DE
- a cute egg basket (this is super important, right? Lol)
- I set up a portable fence for when they can have supervised time out of the tractor.
- And, of course, I have found a local chicken breeder with the girls that I want.

Aaaaand I think thats it... I may have forgotten to include something in there. Lol
Am I forgetting anything? I'm getting my girls after this weekend, and want to make sure i have everything i need for them!

I live in Central Texas so we get hot hot in the summers and cold in the winters (granted it doesn't snow, but it's still cold to me!). So I for my breeds I'm getting 2 Buff Orpingtons and 1 Austorlorp. I've read that they're supposed to tolerate the heat and the cold weather well. As well as they good egg layers and generally more docile in temperament (and I have 2 small kids who will want to be "involved" so this is important). I've also read that they're supposed to be more "quiet". Which is relative i suppose. Lol

Oh! Dust bath question! Should I have a bucket or some such in the tractor with them at all times?? I'm hoping it might discourage them from completely tearing up my yard. Lol

Thanks all!

 

[WildIrishRose]

Bump!

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you are ready! I would take the old fashioned waterer back, the nipple system will keep you water so much more cleaner, and they won't use it as long as the other water is there, but if you take it out, they will drink out of it in 30 minutes.

With the heat, I would also hope you have a bit of shade, pallets up on blocks, can give them shade.

I think you will be more than happy with 3 head of hens, they will start laying within 6 weeks or before. You might put a golf ball or two in the nests, so they get the idea.

This is such a fun hobby, I hope you enjoy it for years.

Mrs K

 

[WildIrishRose]

Wonderful! Thank you so much for the reply and the helpful tips! I love the idea of golf balls rather than those fake eggs, i imagine they're much cheaper!

And yes! Plenty of shade!

6 weeks? Thanks for the heads up! Do you think increasing their protein intake a bit may help them lay a little earlier? Or is it just a matter of their bodies getting back in tune on their own from the stress of the move?

I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to have my very own chicken tv. I've been dying for my own chickens forever.

 

[aart]

Have FUN!! They are so much fun...but be calm and talk softly as they will be very nervous.
Give them time to get used to their new place without too much interaction from you and others,
but do visit them frequently for short times so they get used to you being around.

Not sure I'd try to switch over birds in this situation (heat and moving stress) to nipple waterers...they are the bomb!! but I'd wait until the weather cools.

Find out what they've been eating...would be good to have some of that, sometimes they don't take to new food.....
........and again heat and moving stress is already 2 strikes against them.

Protein levels are important...especially if you are prone to feeding lots of 'treats'.



I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and all molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

 

[WildIrishRose]

Thanks all for the helpful tips! Picked up my ladies yesterday evening and they're doing great. I ended up getting 4. And went with an Orpington, Buff Brahma, Cochin, and an EE. They turned a year in May and are just about to go into their first molt. I'm so very excited.
Question about them roosting. Last night I showed the Cochin where the roost was in hopes the other would follow, but the Orp was the only other one up there when I checked on them later. The other two decided to sleep on the dirt floor. If they do this again tonight should I try putting the others on the roost or just let them figure things out?
Thanks!

 

[WildIrishRose]

And we already have our first egg!!! Credit goes to my crazy EE! She didn't lay in the nesting box, so I put the egg in one of the boxes to try and encourage them to use it next time. Super happy with her.
Oh and they're all on the roost this evening, so yay! I love how the all snuggle up together even though there's plenty of room to spread apart. Silly chickens.

 

[Mrs. K]

eat the egg,instead put some small golf balls or I have even used a river rock in the nest.

They might lay a day or two, then take a little break. Moving them upsets them a bit, but all should be laying in a couple of days.

Mrs K

 

[WildIrishRose]

Ok! I still have to pick up some golf balls, but I may have some smooth stones in the meantime.

And I'm not sweating it! They'll lay when they're ready, but I was so excited to get an egg from one of them already. Took me by surprise when I did an evening check on them.

Thanks again for more awesome tips and info Mrs K!

 

[aart]

And we already have our first egg!!! Credit goes to my crazy EE!

She didn't lay in the nesting box, so I put the egg in one of the boxes to try and encourage them to use it next time. Super happy with her.
Oh and they're all on the roost this evening, so yay! I love how the all snuggle up together even though there's plenty of room to spread apart. Silly chickens.

Sweet!!!