Spring 2017 first timers post!

[Wavechickens]

Update: 
So I have 19 laying chicks now (original 13 and then another 6 I got this past week) also 4 that we are raising for meat
The 2 ducks multiplied into 4 after a visit to Tractor Supply and we are getting 2 geese and 2 turkeys that will arrive the week after easter. 

The oldest (4 weeks)  are living in the spare bathroom and are getting too big for the brooder but the coop isn't ready yet and its too cold outside for them at night not sure what I am going to do with them until we can get some heat out there. We had placed the younger chicks with the older ones but there were problems so I had to separate them into their own brooder.  Now we have 3 brooders (Older chicks, younger chicks and meat birds, and Ducks)

My family believes that I am crazy but they are enablers so we are happy. 
The little babies 4 weeks ago have changed so much I heard someone refer to this stage as the ugly stage tho I still think they are still pretty in their own way tho scruffy looking and their little cheeps have changed not quite clucks yet but getting there. 
I will share pics of them tomorrow and maybe the coop

I totally understand we have 16 chicks all 4 weeks old as of yesterday. They have all grown so much, and we ran out of room in their current brooder and being to cold out for another couple weeks we made a makeshift pen inside. It's a puppy play pen. Works really good actually, bought us at least another two weeks by the looks.
As for adding the groups together you may run into an issue there, chickens are very temperamental sometimes (depends on the breeds and individual chickens). There are a lot of suggestions on how to introduce them to each other. We ended up getting them all at the same time as day olds to avoid it. In the past (many years ago) my parents had chickens and attempted to add new ones after six months of bring separated but togther they finally could kinda coexist.
Best of luck, i would love to see some pics of them!

 

[igorsMistress]

Quote:
So I had a minor change of plans. I ended up getting 6 (+1 more the next day) this past Friday. Barred Rock, Sagitta, Ameraucana, Buff Brahma, Dark Brahma, and then I had a Buff Orpington. It seemed to be the odd Chick out, so I bought another Buff Orpington the next day. They all came from my local feed store. They seem to be doing really well and thriving well. Fingers crossed that they keep doing well.

Congrats on your new babies! I got mine from the feed store and they are about 8 weeks now so I'm sure yours will do great!

 

[bajabirdbrain]

COULDN'T WAIT!!! BB went to the Country Store and bought 2 speckled sussex, they were not available when she put in her Meyer's order. They are about 4-5 days old and our Meyer's will be delivered TOMORROW!!!!! After the first night under the MHP, all seems fine. TBC PS Where is Merrymouse??

 

[LandersLittles]

Update:
So I have 19 laying chicks now (original 13 and then another 6 I got this past week) also 4 that we are raising for meat
The 2 ducks multiplied into 4 after a visit to Tractor Supply and we are getting 2 geese and 2 turkeys that will arrive the week after easter.

The oldest (4 weeks) are living in the spare bathroom and are getting too big for the brooder but the coop isn't ready yet and its too cold outside for them at night not sure what I am going to do with them until we can get some heat out there. We had placed the younger chicks with the older ones but there were problems so I had to separate them into their own brooder. Now we have 3 brooders (Older chicks, younger chicks and meat birds, and Ducks)

My family believes that I am crazy but they are enablers so we are happy.
The little babies 4 weeks ago have changed so much I heard someone refer to this stage as the ugly stage tho I still think they are still pretty in their own way tho scruffy looking and their little cheeps have changed not quite clucks yet but getting there.
I will share pics of them tomorrow and maybe the coop
Originally Posted by Wavechickens


I totally understand

we have 16 chicks all 4 weeks old as of yesterday. They have all grown so much, and we ran out of room in their current brooder and being to cold out for another couple weeks we made a makeshift pen inside. It's a puppy play pen. Works really good actually, bought us at least another two weeks by the looks.
As for adding the groups together you may run into an issue there, chickens are very temperamental sometimes (depends on the breeds and individual chickens). There are a lot of suggestions on how to introduce them to each other. We ended up getting them all at the same time as day olds to avoid it. In the past (many years ago) my parents had chickens and attempted to add new ones after six months of bring separated but togther they finally could kinda coexist.
Best of luck, i would love to see some pics of them!

We lucked out with mixing our original 4 with the 2 we got a week later... We watched closely the first day after introducing them, but everyone did really well. If there is a bigger age difference than that though, try putting them in separate brooders where they can still see each other... then they know the sight of them, but can maintain their own space... then slow integration after that.

 

[Wavechickens]

We lucked out with mixing our original 4 with the 2 we got a week later... We watched closely the first day after introducing them, but everyone did really well. If there is a bigger age difference than that though, try putting them in separate brooders where they can still see each other... then they know the sight of them, but can maintain their own space... then slow integration after that.

Wonderful advice

 

[kmlane79]

I'm brand new to raising chickens myself, just bought 6 chicks this past Sunday. I don't have any good pictures yet, but I just adore them. I joined this site because I need help and I'm still learning. My area doesn't allow for roosters, so I'm trying to be proactive on finding any roosters I might end up with a good home. The chicks I currently have are only about 4 days old, and from what I've researched so far, it seems like I won't know exactly what I will have until about 5-8 weeks. I'm hoping they are all hens, but need help from chicken experts on the best way to find any roosters I might end up with a good home. I'm from the western Massachusetts area. I currently have 4 Plymouth rock and 2 Bantam Silkies, all seem to be very healthy so far.

 

[ImportTheBest]

[COLOR=EE82EE]COULDN'T WAIT!!!  [/COLOR][COLOR=000080]BB went to the Country Store and bought 2 speckled sussex, they were not available when she put in her Meyer's order.  They are about 4-5 days old and our Meyer's will be delivered TOMORROW!!!!! After the first night under the MHP, all seems fine.  TBC     PS Where is Merrymouse??[/COLOR]

Hahaha, if we could just buy 2 or 3 at a time locally I'd be in hot water with the hubby! With our local minimum being 6 for a farm store purchase it helps keep me in check a bit! Enjoy the new babies and do be sure to show off some pictures!

 

[ADVaughn]

Hahaha, if we could just buy 2 or 3 at a time locally I'd be in hot water with the hubby! With our local minimum being 6 for a farm store purchase it helps keep me in check a bit! Enjoy the new babies and do be sure to show off some pictures!

Idk if you're in Texas but we have a six minimum from farm stores too...but I found a place to get one or two at a time. Made it easy to get what I was missing...ameraucana and welsummer.

 

[Jiffyrocks]

Coop done! I still have to do some detail (the fun decorative stuff) but the structure is standing and working!

 

[AlynaD]

We lucked out with mixing our original 4 with the 2 we got a week later... We watched closely the first day after introducing them, but everyone did really well. If there is a bigger age difference than that though, try putting them in separate brooders where they can still see each other... then they know the sight of them, but can maintain their own space... then slow integration after that.

Well the chicks did fine it was the ducks that the older chickens didn't like the problem is that the brooder is in the small bathroom and there is barely enough room for me and the 13 in there much less a second brooder but I have a plan the older ones will go into the coop in about 2 weeks sooner if it stays nice and warm ..... then I am going to take the younger ones outside into the fenced yard in their brooder where the other chickens can meet them but not get close enough to peck at them once a day for increasing amounts of time and then will let them out of the brooder for supervised play until I am comfortable that the younger ones won't be picked on too badly