So I'm new to the world of chicken raising, and am kind of still just gathering information at this point! We are moving soon and once we get settled into our new place I plan on getting a flock!
I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping more experienced chicken moms can help me with.
1. I plan on starting with a flock of about 10. My husband thinks we should buy three chicks at a time until we reach a number we are comfortable with (I'm hoping to get close to 20 eventually). Does anyone think this is a good idea? Or should I just buy 10 chicks at once and then get another 5-10 later? I feel like with my husband's idea of having so many sets of young chicks come through may not be good for the flock as a whole.
2. We will be living in Southern Louisiana where it is pretty hot, around what age could my chickens go out into the coop?
3. Why are there so many different kinds of feed? Starter, layer, grower.. what the heck am I supposed to feed them? I know that chicks need the food just for chicks, but what about after that?
I'm just so lost and feel like I'm drowning in information that I don't understand. I want to make sure I know what I need to do to take care of my babies before I bring them home. I would feel horrible if I somehow did not give them what they needed and they died or got sick.
I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping more experienced chicken moms can help me with.
1. I plan on starting with a flock of about 10. My husband thinks we should buy three chicks at a time until we reach a number we are comfortable with (I'm hoping to get close to 20 eventually). Does anyone think this is a good idea? Or should I just buy 10 chicks at once and then get another 5-10 later? I feel like with my husband's idea of having so many sets of young chicks come through may not be good for the flock as a whole.
2. We will be living in Southern Louisiana where it is pretty hot, around what age could my chickens go out into the coop?
3. Why are there so many different kinds of feed? Starter, layer, grower.. what the heck am I supposed to feed them? I know that chicks need the food just for chicks, but what about after that?
I'm just so lost and feel like I'm drowning in information that I don't understand. I want to make sure I know what I need to do to take care of my babies before I bring them home. I would feel horrible if I somehow did not give them what they needed and they died or got sick.