Secret Farm in my Backyard

[Devastating]

Awesome story, I hope you get to keep your chickens for a long time and maybe even take them with you if you ever get to move to a place that allows them they really are the best.

I had to do something similar last year when I rescued some newly hatched chicks from one of my college courses (the professor was just going to cull them all after our incubation experiment, so he allowed the students to take as many as they wanted until they were all claimed). I lived in a townhouse apartment and my lab partners helped set me up with some bedding and food while I had to keep them in a brooder box in my bedroom until the holiday break when I could bring them to my family home. I was afraid someone in a neighboring unit might hear the peeping and report me but my roommates didn't mind because the chicks were so cute.

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

Awesome story, I hope you get to keep your chickens for a long time and maybe even take them with you if you ever get to move to a place that allows them they really are the best.

I had to do something similar last year when I rescued some newly hatched chicks from one of my college courses (the professor was just going to cull them all after our incubation experiment, so he allowed the students to take as many as they wanted until they were all claimed). I lived in a townhouse apartment and my lab partners helped set me up with some bedding and food while I had to keep them in a brooder box in my bedroom until the holiday break when I could bring them to my family home. I was afraid someone in a neighboring unit might hear the peeping and report me but my roommates didn't mind because the chicks were so cute.

Thanks! Good for you and for the little guys. chicks are really cute. I wanted to order some chicks because it's easier to bring them inside the building but i know they need a brooder and i don't have one.

Anyways, how are the chicks so far? Am glad you saved then. They are lucky birds!!

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

It's been three weeks since i got the first batch of birds so i decided it's time to build a coop for them. I dont want them roaming around my backyard as they might be seen by my neighbors.

My brother and my dad came over to help me with my coop.

it used to be like this:

then we did the flooring and put doors

If you open the doors, you can put the side gate

And finally, the cover!

At night i just remove the gate and the cover then close the door.

 

[Devastating]

Unfortunately most of the ones that I rescued from that class ended up catching an illness, suddenly became weak and died one by one. a few others did get to come home with me and my parents took care of them while I finished the semester, so they grew to be young pullets but were taken by predators so they aren't in my flock today. They were all hatched at my school's poultry farm unit just as part of my incubation course, so they weren't vaccinated or anything....at least they got to have a short comfortable life, though, I just couldn't stand the idea of so many chicks being left to die and wasted, and I guess all my classmates had the same idea, lol.

Since I was at that apartment and didnt have access to the chick supplies that I have here at home, I first used my floor lamp for warmth and then quickly ordered a reptile heat bulb from Amazon on 2-day shipping, one that was small enough to replace the bulb of the lamp. it worked really well! Ordering chicks is really exciting, the ones my dad ordered last week arrived yesterday and I love them, hope you can experience it in the future!

I actually still have the pics I took of their hatching day, and the first ones I brought with me. This was in October/November 2013.

edit to say woah, even a coop! You really got this all figured out!

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

Unfortunately most of the ones that I rescued from that class ended up catching an illness, suddenly became weak and died one by one. a few others did get to come home with me and my parents took care of them while I finished the semester, so they grew to be young pullets but were taken by predators so they aren't in my flock today. They were all hatched at my school's poultry farm unit just as part of my incubation course, so they weren't vaccinated or anything....at least they got to have a short comfortable life, though, I just couldn't stand the idea of so many chicks being left to die and wasted, and I guess all my classmates had the same idea, lol.

Since I was at that apartment and didnt have access to the chick supplies that I have here at home, I first used my floor lamp for warmth and then quickly ordered a reptile heat bulb from Amazon on 2-day shipping, one that was small enough to replace the bulb of the lamp. it worked really well! Ordering chicks is really exciting, the ones my dad ordered last week arrived yesterday and I love them, hope you can experience it in the future!

I actually still have the pics I took of their hatching day, and the first ones I brought with me. This was in October/November 2013.

edit to say woah, even a coop! You really got this all figured out!

sorry to hear that. though they lived for a short period of time, i'm sure you took good care of them.

It's really heartbreaking when you think of chicks being culled. I can't take that either.

i love my coop. It's very easy to setup plus i don't have to check for poops in every corner of my backyard lol.

 

[Devastating]

Yeah, it's sad. And I was also pretty disappointed when the first chicks suddenly declined in health after being so active and strong for the first couple weeks, but I guess that's how it goes with chicks, sometimes you lose some and can't figure out what went wrong. At least the rest of them got to come home and grow.

Anyway, I'm impressed by how you've made a whole haven for chickens in a small apartment backyard and in secret! I hope no neighbors will raise a fuss over it, I'll keep an eye on this thread as you update it.

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

Yeah, it's sad. And I was also pretty disappointed when the first chicks suddenly declined in health after being so active and strong for the first couple weeks, but I guess that's how it goes with chicks, sometimes you lose some and can't figure out what went wrong. At least the rest of them got to come home and grow.

Anyway, I'm impressed by how you've made a whole haven for chickens in a small apartment backyard and in secret! I hope no neighbors will raise a fuss over it, I'll keep an eye on this thread as you update it.

Thank you. I planted some herbs around my backyard. I'll take a photo tomorrow. Cheers!

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

what a sad day. One of my birds died today and the other one looks ill. This is my second bird that died. my brother found her dead earlier. She was sick since yesterday and did not want to eat. she pooped blood and it looks like she's molting too. Her feather were falling off. I wonder if it's normal for a nine month chicken to molt.

When Prince Billy died, i felt so devastated. And now Hazelnut joined him. May both of them rest in peace.

Princ Billy

Hazelnut

 

[Devastating]

Aww no, I'm sorry for your losses I hope your other chooks stay safe from this illness, I've never experienced a chicken pooping blood but others on this forum may know what caused it.

 

[mmmyyykkkeee]

Aww no, I'm sorry for your losses I hope your other chooks stay safe from this illness, I've never experienced a chicken pooping blood but others on this forum may know what caused it.

Thanks. I was told, my bird might have sufferef from cocci. She suddenly lost her appetite, feather began to fall off, then the bloody poop.

I hope the remaining birds stay healthy and happy.