questions. New to chicks

[birdlover2]

So sad.... Found out 1 place near me doesn't have bantams at all. One does but not till MAY! there is a TSC near me that I can check once it is closer to March. So need to decide if I change and do standard chicks or wait and do the bantams that I grew up with..... Looking at past years order forms (this years aren't out yet) I also don't see Silver lace Wyandotte Bantams, or Light brahma bantams either and I wanted those. Was thinking of Cochins but don't know much about that breed. Does anyone know if they have a similar temperament as Wyandottes and Brahmas? I had thought about ordering online and having them shipped but struggling to find many bantams online either and most seem that I can't pick sex of the chicks just straight run........ So guess I have some thinking on what I want to do. Guess waiting till May gives us extra time to build the coop and run since they won't be out there till probably June full time........

Cochin bantams are good temperment and also beautiful, but that's just from my experiance and what I've read. A cage of some sort is a must-have when you have dogs and cats. Also, be careful what breed dog you get and be sure they are around the chicks and chickens when they are very young and you keep a good eye on them to make sure they view the chickens as friends and not food/toys. You should probably banish the animals from a room in the house to keep the chicks in just to be safe. Sometimes the most determined of animals can get your chicks and chickens even through the cage. The basement may be a good bet, that's where my mother brooded her chicks, didn't have too many problems down there at all. A heat lamp is a must, unsure if a heating pad will work. Tractor Supply does usually has bantams along with standard size in the spring.

 

[birdlover2]

I will now make myself sound stupid. As I said I raised and showed chickens growing up. We had all different breeds but basically all of them were bantams which is why I LOVE those! I am really short and have always been short. We had a few standard chickens, don't remember what breed they were and I remember the rooster being SO mean and chasing me and he was like half my size if not a bit bigger than that. The hens weren't as bad but also not as friendly as my bantams. So think that is part of my worry with getting standard chickens. Our neighbors have some, not sure of the breed of the ones behind us but them seem on the "smaller" size as they only come up to maybe mid calf and they are so friendly when they come over to this side of the street to visit. Then a neighbor across the street got some Rhode Island Reds last year around April. They seem a lot smaller than I remember our standards being as well but believe they are standards. They aren't mean but also aren't social either. I am interested in Brahmas which I know are on the bigger size. thinking of Wyandottes, but want silver laced and they are proving a bit harder to find especially in bantams, but thought they are on the bigger side as well. So then was thinking of cochin as I like the look of those as well but haven't done much research on personality yet. I would LOVE to get some silkies but afraid if I got standard size then they would end up picking on the silkies. So this is where my thought process is right now with it.

Also, for Silver laced, Seabright bantams are a good bet. Non-pure-bred are pretty common. We got like 4 or 5 Seabrights from Tractor supply, Probably breeders send their non-pure-breds and non-genetically perfect ones there and to other cheap places. Seabrights are absolutely gorgeuos and come in silver and golden laced colors.

 

[junior67]

Cochin bantams are good temperment and also beautiful, but that's just from my experiance and what I've read. A cage of some sort is a must-have when you have dogs and cats. Also, be careful what breed dog you get and be sure they are around the chicks and chickens when they are very young and you keep a good eye on them to make sure they view the chickens as friends and not food/toys. You should probably banish the animals from a room in the house to keep the chicks in just to be safe. Sometimes the most determined of animals can get your chicks and chickens even through the cage. The basement may be a good bet, that's where my mother brooded her chicks, didn't have too many problems down there at all. A heat lamp is a must, unsure if a heating pad will work. Tractor Supply does usually has bantams along with standard size in the spring.

from what I am hearing you can't find sexed bantams though. This is where my problem is coming in since I know they can make mistakes and you may end up with a roo when buying sexed chicks but a lot less of a chance than just purchasing a straight run which seems to be all they sell for bantam chicks.

 

[birdlover2]

Thank you this is good to know. So really need to think of what to do since I don't know what we would do with a rooster if we got 1 or more which thinking with a straight run if I got 8 I would end up with a few roosters.

If they're bantams eggs don't really matter too much anyways and the roos cant do too much damage, except maybe against eachother lol. When my mother got her bantams from TSC 4-6 were roosters, but once they got the initial fighting done with and figured who was boss, they got along fine. We did get some more hens from a local Amish kid to prevent over-breeding. Roosters get a bad rap, but can be the most affectionate or be best guard of hens if raised right. The submissive bantam roo half the size of the others was probably the best bantam I ever had. He was affectionate and curious, a little escape artist though. I miss the little guy I don't think he's dead but since I haven't seen them once after being given away who knows. Anyways, we also had one or two bantam hens who were really mean and bullied the other hens, pulled their tail feathers out, pecked them on head constantly ect, but when all together the hens kept the roosters in check and the roosters prevented fighting amongst the hens.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Yeah, I have never had bantams. My standard cuckoo marans are about 6 lbs and about mid calf height. They are a decent sized standard, not on the small side. Roosters are a bit bigger and stand taller. I don't have one of those.

Maybe look into breeds that tend to have really chill roosters? I think I heard that about buff orpingtons? Or see if you can visit somewhere with standard roosters. If you're considering them.

I think I also heard that if the bantams are the oldest they are less likely to be picked on by the other larger chickens who joined the flock later. But still might not want to risk it if you aren't ok with 2 coops as a last resort.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would not use a heat pad because it will get soiled quickly.

A roll of Glad Press N Seal is am easy way to keep a heating pad clean throughout the brooding process. Just peel it off and toss once you're done for the season.

 

[spartacus_63]

We are not planning on more than the initial clutch. My husband was thinking maybe 4 chickens, I want 6-8 since I want certain breeds and don't want to have to choose and would like 2 of each breed so there isn't anyone "left out". so don't see him agreeing to more than the 6-8. I was shocked when he even brought up having chickens but think our neighbors chickens that come to visit here and there got him wanting some. haahaa.

Someone should do a poll of how many BYC members did not plan to add to their flock after the initial flock...

 

[TLWR]

We have done baby chicks/ducks several different ways.
I keep them outside since I'm allergic to things and their dust/dander just make me miserable.
A large dog kennel is a great option when put up so you are reaching in to interact or can sit and be at their level. I use sand for chicks. I put cardboard around the edge to keep the sand in (and the dogs out).
I have used a regular light bulb, a heat plate and a broody duck.
I prefer the heat plate. Birds can go in and out as they please when they are chilly. I put press and seal on top of it and replace as needed rather than buying the dome.
The more time they spend around the family and the more time you all interact with them and handle them, the more likely it is you will have friendly birds.

How big of a dog are you thinking of getting - if a large one, get a large kennel. I have a great dane sized kennel (with the great dane and a doberman) and that works great for quite a while for a few birds.

I'd personally keep them somewhere in the house for the first few days and then move them out (they are messy) to an enclosed/protected area outside if you can keep them warm enough or move them to their coop. If you move them to the coop, interact with them a lot.

I don't know of many places, even online, that sex bantams. My understanding is that it is easy, even for well trained people, to injure bantams while sexing them.


I started the last batch in the house in the doberman's baby kennel in my office - on towels. Then moved them to the bigger kennel with sand.

 

[junior67]

We have done baby chicks/ducks several different ways.
I keep them outside since I'm allergic to things and their dust/dander just make me miserable.
A large dog kennel is a great option when put up so you are reaching in to interact or can sit and be at their level. I use sand for chicks. I put cardboard around the edge to keep the sand in (and the dogs out).
I have used a regular light bulb, a heat plate and a broody duck.
I prefer the heat plate. Birds can go in and out as they please when they are chilly. I put press and seal on top of it and replace as needed rather than buying the dome.
The more time they spend around the family and the more time you all interact with them and handle them, the more likely it is you will have friendly birds.

How big of a dog are you thinking of getting - if a large one, get a large kennel. I have a great dane sized kennel (with the great dane and a doberman) and that works great for quite a while for a few birds.

I'd personally keep them somewhere in the house for the first few days and then move them out (they are messy) to an enclosed/protected area outside if you can keep them warm enough or move them to their coop. If you move them to the coop, interact with them a lot.

I don't know of many places, even online, that sex bantams. My understanding is that it is easy, even for well trained people, to injure bantams while sexing them.


I started the last batch in the house in the doberman's baby kennel in my office - on towels. Then moved them to the bigger kennel with sand.
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Thank you for all the great information! and they are just too cute!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be getting a Rottie but have a small house so normally crate train at first then once they are housebroken and out of the into everything stage (as much as any dog is) we leave the door open until they really don't use it anymore and pack it away since we don't really have the space for a crate to be up 24/7 unless absolutely needed. We have done this with our last 4 dogs and it has worked out well. So we don't need a crate that will fit a full size rottie which is why I asked about what size would work best. I am thinking of doing a 36" crate since it should fit the chicks and the rottie for a good while after chicks are done with it.

 

[birdlover2]

Thank you for all the great information! and they are just too cute!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be getting a Rottie but have a small house so normally crate train at first then once they are housebroken and out of the into everything stage (as much as any dog is) we leave the door open until they really don't use it anymore and pack it away since we don't really have the space for a crate to be up 24/7 unless absolutely needed. We have done this with our last 4 dogs and it has worked out well. So we don't need a crate that will fit a full size rottie which is why I asked about what size would work best. I am thinking of doing a 36" crate since it should fit the chicks and the rottie for a good while after chicks are done with it.

Do you still have the crates from the other dogs? What dimensions are they? Also, how many chicks are you getting again?