Oops... I may have gotten some chicks!

[kodster]

Update on the babies... looking like I’m going to be able to leave them together! The brahmas are 2 weeks old which is why I was worried. Everyone is getting along fine, and the babies are active! I added a second heat plate since there are so many lol, 18 total! How does my setup look? They’re soo cute! They are already scratching and dust bathing! View attachment 2567243

If they're only two weeks apart, you should be good to go with the mixed age flock. Any more of an age difference, and you'll likely have more issues.

 

[jlpierce45]

If they're only two weeks apart, you should be good to go with the mixed age flock. Any more of an age difference, and you'll likely have more issues.

They’re perfectly integrated now!

 

[kodster]

Since I already have 18 I am trying to steer clear but I always find myself wanting to go look “just in case”

I did the same thing at my local Tractor Supply today. Went to go pick up their feed, and lo and behold, 'Chick Dayz' have begun. Checked out their new set-up... professional stacked brooders where you can see the chicks up close and personal, with heat plates above them, rather than the horse troughs with the red heat lamps inside a dog pen inside the store. I LIKE the new set-up! However, they only had Golden Comets (aka Red Star Links, ISA Browns, Cinnamon Queen, et al) and White Leghorn pullets. I'm going, nope... already got enough ISA Browns in my flock (pullets almost to laying age... another week or two and they will be), and my personal experience with the leghorn breeds has given me enough to know I DON'T want leghorns in my flock again. So, I walked away from the chicks today. So proud of myself. However... I'm testing the fertility of my Barred Rock roo with my Black Sex Links and Barred Rock hens, so have eggs in the incubator, with Silkie eggs on the way, plus now, Toulouse geese hatching eggs. I'm in BIG trouble, as I have 21 pullets almost ready to lay, 2 that are 4 weeks behind them in age, 5 egg-layer hens, 4 meat hens (Freedom Rangers) that have become dual purpose... they lay HUGE brown eggs, regularly, every day... such sweet, docile birds that I hate to have to cull them, but if the time comes, I will. So, yea, chicken math IS real!

 

[Delmer_B]

22 roosters might get intense.

You know what the good thing is about roosters? They taste like chicken

 

[2ndTink]

Yall are cracking me up! We also didn't plan on getting any chicks this year, our current 11 chickens are all at a year old or just under. We figured we would get chicks every other year to keep our egg production steady.

My husband went to the feed store for layer pellets a month ago and informed me they had chicks. We went back 'just to look' the next day and came home with 10 chicks we lost one that just never ate, so went back and bought 2 to replace it (you can't just put one in the little box, it needed a travel buddy). Then 3 were looking like they might be roos, so we went back and got 3 more last week only in chicken math can 0 chicks = 14.

Our original flock size last year was 5 and we were thinking 7 or 8 max so we are currently at 25. Since we have at least 1 EE roo, now I'm wondering if we should get an incubator for next year also wondering if we should transition to purebred Ameraucanas and BR's

 

[wolfinator]

Oh no, I did it too but with ducklings. Well, actually I was once again looking at the chicks, ducklings and whatever else babies Rural King had as they got a 16 box shipment in. As I was looking, I spotted a couple of ducklings in distress and my heart sank. They were soaked and being trampled. The one was a little better off as it was trying to fight through the rest for food but wasn't very successful. So I broke rules and picked it up, moved it to the feeder pushing others away. The other poor baby just laid there with its leg outstretched behind it. I picked it up to and held it under the heat lamp as it shivered. The employees hadn't even noticed as they were busy placing over a hundred new arrivals in bins. I finally got the attention of the one I've gotten to know and told her if I could get both struggling ducklings at a reduced price, I'd take both. She actually did 60% off both. Head directly home. We ran the heater full blast with the pair on my lap to keep them warmer and dry them off. It worked, they both started perking up and chirping. By the time we got home, both were dry. Since I hadn't planned on babies, I had to leave them in the house in front of a nice sunny window as I went to the coop to prepare a bin for them. I already am caring for an injured hen and pullet in my largest brooder bin. Finally got everything set up and its now downpouring - great no umbrella as it was sunny. Run up the hill, now drenched, get the ducklings which are very vocal now, grab an umbrella and head to coop. Nice, they drank some water and nibble a bite of food. I let them settle in under the heat lamp as I hooked up the baby monitor and did a final check on all the rest before heading up. Next morning the one was a bundle of energy, the other was limping but moving about some. I put the injured one over to the food, it nibble a little and drank a tiny bit. I was hopeful. I had a few errands to run and shortly after getting back, I went and checked on my little ones. the injured one had died and the other was curled up on it. I removed and buried him/her. I took an old wash rag, banding it into a semi-circle, placed it in with the duckling hoping it would think it wasn't alone but it chirped sadly throughout the night. Today we're getting it a couple mates, hopefully they still have the Runner or Swedish blue ducklings. I hope I can get females as I think the one is a male and I already have 4 drakes to 10 females.

 

[Judy Todd]

Hey guys! I just wanted to share how "crazy" I am lol. I have a flock of 25, and I told myself that I could add 10 more chicks this Spring. Well.... we all know how that goes. I now have 18 chicks in my brooder. Good thing I built huge! My coop is 280 sq ft, with a 5k sq ft yard so space is not an issue. However, I just wanted to come on here and share that I apparently have no control when it comes to cute fluffy chicks. Now my question is, how many birds do y'all have in your flock? How many did you start with, and how many do you have now? Did you get more chicks than you planned for this year? Thanks! I just want to know if I'm alone in this craziness lol.
New chicks: 3 Dark Brahma, 6 EE, 3 OE, 3 Welsummer, 2 Lavender Orpington, 1 Barnevelder

Oh boy, yes, I do not need anymore , at 21 now, but, Yes, I am getting 3 Novogens, and 3 Blue Rocks, why, just because it is spring, and must have chicks when it is spring. Am picking them up next Weds, so will see if I can walk out with just 6. Oh well, new addition to coop, so I can justify more chicks, right. !!!
No, you are not alone, every spring I promise myself I will not be tempted, but -----. Yup.

 

[Judy Todd]

I did the same thing at my local Tractor Supply today. Went to go pick up their feed, and lo and behold, 'Chick Dayz' have begun. Checked out their new set-up... professional stacked brooders where you can see the chicks up close and personal, with heat plates above them, rather than the horse troughs with the red heat lamps inside a dog pen inside the store. I LIKE the new set-up! However, they only had Golden Comets (aka Red Star Links, ISA Browns, Cinnamon Queen, et al) and White Leghorn pullets. I'm going, nope... already got enough ISA Browns in my flock (pullets almost to laying age... another week or two and they will be), and my personal experience with the leghorn breeds has given me enough to know I DON'T want leghorns in my flock again. So, I walked away from the chicks today. So proud of myself. However... I'm testing the fertility of my Barred Rock roo with my Black Sex Links and Barred Rock hens, so have eggs in the incubator, with Silkie eggs on the way, plus now, Toulouse geese hatching eggs. I'm in BIG trouble, as I have 21 pullets almost ready to lay, 2 that are 4 weeks behind them in age, 5 egg-layer hens, 4 meat hens (Freedom Rangers) that have become dual purpose... they lay HUGE brown eggs, regularly, every day... such sweet, docile birds that I hate to have to cull them, but if the time comes, I will. So, yea, chicken math IS real!

Do you raise your Freedom Rangers in the coop with your regular hens and feed them the same layer pellets, will that make a difference in their groth and taste when it is time to butcher?? I was thinking of raising 2 or 3, but do not have another pen.

 

[Pegmlee]

I decided to get back in the chicken game after a few years of being without. I decided just to get 2 bantam easter egger pullers since I'm not set up for biddies. Well, I can't find what I want! So, I came home with 2 chicks. Now I guess I have to keep them inside until they are big enough to stay out in the coop by themselves. Wish me luck! I'm in central Louisiana. When do you think I can move them out..temperature wise?

 

[mopalia]

Started with3, still have 3. Stupid zoning laws. But semi-planning a move from CA to Texas where I can have as many as I want . . .