Spring 2017 first timers post!

[jessnurse05]

I had a rooster with my 2 girls for the first year and he was the instigator of mischief. He refused to sleep in the coop, he would take his girls and they would roost on top of my 6ft wooden fence! I had to go out there every night and pluck them down off the fence and put them in the coop, then they would stay. He would also take the girls on chicken adventures and fly over the fence into my front yard. Since I got rid of him, my girls stay in their yard and sleep in the coop. He never hurt them though, their feathers were all intact. I like how he took care of them and it was sweet to watch him, but I don't miss the mischief that he caused or the crowing!

 

[bajabirdbrain]

The time is come! We had posted the following in the Introduce Yourself area but I thought I would re-post it here since it is now official we are going to be parents!

Hello, all. We are located on Whidbey Island, WA and are planning on joining the ranks of chicken owners this spring. For the past couple of years my wife has taken care of our neighbor's 4 chickens when he went on vacations. This has become a daily activity as she makes them breakfast daily, cleans the coop, lets them out for some exercise and generally watches out for them. Don't know how much we have spent on our neighbor's chickens, but with "treat", better fencing, heated water dish, new bedding material, etc, we have taken over most of the responsibility of the girls with no ownership.

For the past 2 years we have gone on the 4H Chicken Coop Tour of Whidbey Island and have seen some really neat coops/runs. After much anguishing we have decided to jump in and start our own family. Plans are to clear a location for the chickens soon, will need some fill and then we will level and construct a coop and run suitable for maybe 8 chickens. We plan on having the area completely secured against predators. My wife has researched things pretty well, books, internet, and talking to others. She has tentatively decided on buff orpingtons, black australorp, wyandotte, rhode island or new hampshire reds, and barred rocks for her breeds. Nothing set in stone, YET!

We don't know where we will buy our chicks, we do not want roosters, these are for eggs and pets, NO MEAT! Today I bought a thrift store aquarium and some wheat bran, the first step in raising meal worms for the girls. Do you think this is putting the cart before the horse??

We are sure that help and advice will be sought and appreciated. This site is a treasure trove of information, a bit daunting to negotiate, but will undoubtedly very valuable for us in our efforts.

So, we are looking forward to spring, some warmer weather and a new adventure!! TBC BB


After much hand wringing we placed our order with Meyer Hatchery this afternoon, gulp. We ordered 15 girls for delivery end of March. We are planning on keeping 9 or 10 and sharing the balance with a neighbor who stepped up to claim some so that we could order the "minimum" order for pre April 1st orders. This has now started the clock running in getting our coop and run constructed. To date we have bought a heated water dish(in usage at neighbor's now), a heating pad, 2,000 live meal worms, and numerous books,

We have selected the location for the girl's new home, spent a day trimming limbs and some brush to allow good visibility from our house and 3 half days of burning said trimmings. Have now placed stakes on the perimeter and taken elevation readings to determine how much material we have to bring in to have a level location. Our coop/run will be 10' x 30' and will be totally predator proof( we hope). In the next couple of days we will be placing our wall's foundation and starting the assembly of our fence panels, sigh.

We will try and post updates as the project evolves. We are going to attempt to post pictures as we go and the first one is of our proposed location and our biggest predator.

The journey starts now. BB

 

[naturegeek168]

Thank you @junebuggena and @jessnurse05 for the advice. I just finished placing my order at Meyer Hatchery for a May pick-up date for 4 Buckeye hens and a Meyer Meal Maker. It's officially getting real, gulp!

 

[Treerooted]

The time is come! We had posted the following in the Introduce Yourself area but I thought I would re-post it here since it is now official we are going to be parents!

Exciting stuff! Good luck with your coop build!

Thank you @junebuggena and @jessnurse05 for the advice. I just finished placing my order at Meyer Hatchery for a May pick-up date for 4 Buckeye hens and a Meyer Meal Maker. It's officially getting real, gulp!

Buckeyes sound like a great choice, congrats on getting that order in!

 

[LadyVictorian]

Had to update my brooder from the large rubber bin cage I built to a rabbit playpen I got years ago for my rats. The chicks are 4 weeks going on 5 and getting so big. For being bantam's they certainly aren't as small as I assumed they would be. I think my Silkie's are a little on the bigger side.

 

[Kiki]

Had to update my brooder from the large rubber bin cage I built to a rabbit playpen I got years ago for my rats. The chicks are 4 weeks going on 5 and getting so big. For being bantam's they certainly aren't as small as I assumed they would be. I think my Silkie's are a little on the bigger side.

May I ask ..where did you purchase them?
An online hatchery?
I'm thinking about adding some bantams to my flock.

 

[lazy gardener]

What is this "mama" heating pad I've heard about? I read a great post about making a little cave using a heating pad for the babies while they are inside but it sounds like people use the mama in the coop?? Someone clarify please

Ahhhh yes, ok, that's the post I read but I didn't realize that's what was being called the Mama heating pad. Got it!! Thanks! If I get one of those set up in the coop at what age is safe to move them outside? It's chilly here in the northeast. Probably won't get the chicks until march so I'm hoping by May they will be big enough and it will be warm enough to move them.....

Build your coop, and start them in the coop with MHP. YOu'll be so very glad you did it in that order!

Question to those few experienced chicken keepers on here, should I start off with a rooster in my flock? I know I don't have to but would it be better if I do? I was originally just going to get 4 Buckeye hens but then I started thinking maybe I should get a rooster to watch out for the ladies. Thoughts?

In a flock of that size, I'd never have a roo! Too much wear on the girls. One of your hens will take over as flock master.

 

[LadyVictorian]

May I ask ..where did you purchase them?
An online hatchery?
I'm thinking about adding some bantams to my flock.

I got mine from a fantastic show quality local breeder. I know Meyer and My Pet Chicken has them however as well if you don't mind getting them shipped.

 

[Chicanewbie]

Count me in, We are getting 6 chicks, 2 buff Orpington, 2 black Australop and 2 Plymouth barred rock hens. First time for us. We plan to build a 4x6 coop in a 10x10
Dog run with chicken wire on top. We have a small prefab coop we may use for a brooder. I was considering heating with either brinsea Eco glow or premier 1 brooder inside and later moving it to outside coop. We ordered our chicks for April 20-21 and are very excited total newbies!

 

[Kiki]

I got mine from a fantastic show quality local breeder. I know Meyer and My Pet Chicken has them however as well if you don't mind getting them shipped.

Thanks!
I have only ever ordered from Ideal and unless I find a local brewer I would be ordering from them again.
Ive been please with the breeds Ive gotten from them in the past.