Texas

[GFamily]

my will-power held strong yesterday!! i had to go to the feed store yesterday to stock up for the chickens...just so happens that thursdays are when they recieve their shipments from IDEAL as well (yes i plan these things). they had so many chicks and i didnt leave with a single one!! they had RIR, BR, BA, Salmon Favs, light brahma, buff brahma, some ideal 236, BO's, red/black/gold sexlinks, Cochin bantams, Asst Bantams, and not to mention the guineas, burbon red and blue slate poults, and some beautiful ridgeback pomeranian (am i saying that correctly?) goslings!

Oh man, I have to stay away from the local feed stores when they get their shipments of chicks. We're only allowed 20 hens and 1 rooster by city ordinance and we have 15 girls so I have to be VERY careful with what I do!


On a side note, ...Ok so I was wondering is it normal that during shipment ALL chicks survive? I guess since it was my first time ever ordering chickens I was actually expecting some to not do so well. However, all of our girls are doing great at 4 weeks old. They had some pasty butts at the beginning from stress in shipping the first few days, but cleaned those off with warm wash cloth. But, other than that they're doing good. Even our runt is doing good. I was just surprised that they all lived and are doing great even though they were shipped through the mail.

 

[Fentressfarmer]

When I ordered from ideal all of my chicks arrived in good condition out of 65 chicks we only lost 4 and that was after about week two!
So i say kudos to you for doing so well and keep up with whatever you are doing

 

[CherishHolland]

I am in between Amarillo and Canyon closer to Canyon than I am Amarillo.

 

[GFamily]

When I ordered from ideal all of my chicks arrived in good condition out of 65 chicks we only lost 4 and that was after about week two!
So i say kudos to you for doing so well and keep up with whatever you are doing

That's the thing! I'm not doing much! I mean I put some nutrients in their water and the water lasts about a week in the bucket we're using, feed them their chick feed in the mornings and fruits/veggies/worms/crunched up (pulverized) egg shells at night. They get free range time after work and (door is open to the temprorary/half way permanent run that still needs to be added onto) all day long. That's it..... So that's the only reason I was wondering.

 

[Fentressfarmer]

That's the thing!  I'm not doing much!  I mean I put some nutrients in their water and the water lasts about a week in the bucket we're using, feed them their chick feed in the mornings and fruits/veggies/worms/crunched up (pulverized) egg shells at night.  They get free range time after work and (door is open to the temprorary/half way permanent run that still needs to be added onto) all day long.  That's it.....  So that's the only reason I was wondering.

All it takes from what I've found is good food a clean place to sleep, a little love and they do pretty good! Mine have a 16'x16' run they play in and a 12'x16' coop, and they don't get the run until I get home! But mine think grass clippings are the best thing in the world. I am going to expand they're run this weekend, but there's 50+ 12 week old pullets in there! Luckily chickens don't need to much!

 

[Cockle-Dood]

i have had really good luck with my chicks as well! i havent had any shipped to me directly, but i do get chicks that have been shipped by ideal, and most of mine have been right at the 24hours old mark when i bring them home. of the total 22 chicks that i have had, ive only lost 2 as chicks and both were well after a week at home!

 

[GFamily]

i have had really good luck with my chicks as well! i havent had any shipped to me directly, but i do get chicks that have been shipped by ideal, and most of mine have been right at the 24hours old mark when i bring them home. of the total 22 chicks that i have had, ive only lost 2 as chicks and both were well after a week at home!

Mine were shipped from McMurray. And I only chose them because of their customer reviews. When I opened the box the chicks were all in one corner cowering and scared and lethargic...very lethargic. Gave them some of that green gro gel and within 6 hours they were running around like normal chicks. So your guys are doing good too. That's great!

All it takes from what I've found is good food a clean place to sleep, a little love and they do pretty good! Mine have a 16'x16' run they play in and a 12'x16' coop, and they don't get the run until I get home! But mine think grass clippings are the best thing in the world. I am going to expand they're run this weekend, but there's 50+ 12 week old pullets in there! Luckily chickens don't need to much!

Once the run is finished it will be 8'x24' and the coop is 8'x8', but they get free range time for about 4 hours each day with access to their coop and run if they decide to go back in there. I will have to tell DH to give them the grass clippings after he mows!

 

[Fentressfarmer]

I like to give them the grass clippings in their run cause it gives them something to do!! Lol!! But I think my wife would like it better if I would quit mowing the grass in sections!! You know those little chickies need a little fresh grass every other day or so!! the yard looks kinda funny growing at different heights

 

[Fentressfarmer]

Mine were shipped from McMurray.  And I only chose them because of their customer reviews.  When I opened the box the chicks were all in one corner cowering and scared and lethargic...very lethargic.  Gave them some of that green gro gel and within 6 hours they were running around like normal chicks.  So your guys are doing good too.  That's great! 



Once the run is finished it will be 8'x24' and the coop is 8'x8', but they get free range time for about 4 hours each day with access to their coop and run if they decide to go back in there.  I will have to tell DH to give them the grass clippings after he mows!

here's a pic of my coop, it's not much but it looks like my grandparents coop from the old farm! It matches my old time farmer decorating motif! Lol! Which translates to that's the cheapest way I know how to do it!!

 

[Cockle-Dood]

i like that coup! will it be open air like that or will it be fully enclosed?