Texas

[jajeanpierre]

Tomorrow? It's Wednesday tomorrow? No this will be next week. 2-3 days old.

You need more than one chick. You really do.

You will not be able to sex chicks, but other than Silkies, you can usually tell by five or six weeks. Silkies are notoriously hard to sex, especially the big poofy exhibition-bred birds. I tried to sex my 12 Ameraucanas when they came. I put different colored vet-wrap bands on their legs based on their foot/toe size. Now their tail feathers are growing in, they seem to be the exact opposite to my foot sexing. It will be interesting to see what I actually get. They are almost 4 weeks old--I should go over their combs closely with two pair of reading glasses and see what I've got.

Where are you getting this Ameraucana chick from? Most Ameraucanas people buy are in fact Easter Eggers.

My experience with Ameraucanas (all from one breeder, so it might be related to the line) is that they are not docile birds. Fabulous free rangers, excellent at being aware of predation risk, but they seem to be a tough bird. I have yet to raise a nice cockerel, and the current one I have is going to freezer camp as soon as I get some chicks from him (he's gorgeous) and a couple of my current chicks grow up enough to take on the role of guardian for the flock that free ranges in my front. He trained my two ditzy Polish that when there is a threat, they move to the fence line, fast. Before they were out with him, they just stood around in the yard, worried and being hawk bait. He's a great flock bird but just too aggressive with people.

Be careful about bringing in different aged chicks. There are more issues than just aggression. There is also immune system maturity. Chicks need to develop their immune systems to handle your birds and your property.

You really will be better off getting all your chicks at one time, but it looks like that is not going to happen. Be prepared for separate pens for each group you get.

 

[Brookshire11]

I'm coop hunting!
I was asked if I had a preference on wood.
I'll be painting it with exterior paint.
Should I have a preference?

 

[ClovisMan]

I'm coop hunting!
I was asked if I had a preference on wood.
I'll be painting it with exterior paint.
Should I have a preference?

I would use pressure-treated pine on anything that touches the ground. Kiln dried on anything that is exposed like run uprights etc.I would also use Hardy Sheating if you can afford it as it never rots.


BTW....Petco has some pretty good looking pre-fabs and this week they have 25% off and free shipping on all internet orders over $49 bucks.

http://www.petco.com/shop/searchresults.aspx?Ntt=chicken+coop&x=0&y=0

 

[A1momof3]

Next week my hubby will go back to work and be on his 2 week hitch away and I can then sit down and read y'all's post better. But I can already tell there is a lot of info here. I just wish I could round some of y'all up and bring you over and get your advise on my coop. But hopeful I can post pics and get advice. Lol. As for right now my baby's are back in the house and they are HAPPY and my lab is on guard. Not sure if she is beig protective or thinking appetizers! Lol

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[Ms Jellybean]

420am just in from checking and readjusting the temp again. Lol as soon as the sun us up my baby's are back in this house.

Question! What do other east texans use for bedding in your chicken coop. I have been working on my coop and I still don't know what I want to use for my bedding. I could really use some good detailed advice.

Lisa Steel has a lot of good information on chicken care. I plan on using straw for the coop. Not sure on the nesting boxes. I've seen those bristly mats and may try them.

You need more than one chick. You really do.

You will not be able to sex chicks, but other than Silkies, you can usually tell by five or six weeks. Silkies are notoriously hard to sex, especially the big poofy exhibition-bred birds. I tried to sex my 12 Ameraucanas when they came. I put different colored vet-wrap bands on their legs based on their foot/toe size. Now their tail feathers are growing in, they seem to be the exact opposite to my foot sexing. It will be interesting to see what I actually get. They are almost 4 weeks old--I should go over their combs closely with two pair of reading glasses and see what I've got.

Where are you getting this Ameraucana chick from? Most Ameraucanas people buy are in fact Easter Eggers.

My experience with Ameraucanas (all from one breeder, so it might be related to the line) is that they are not docile birds. Fabulous free rangers, excellent at being aware of predation risk, but they seem to be a tough bird. I have yet to raise a nice cockerel, and the current one I have is going to freezer camp as soon as I get some chicks from him (he's gorgeous) and a couple of my current chicks grow up enough to take on the role of guardian for the flock that free ranges in my front. He trained my two ditzy Polish that when there is a threat, they move to the fence line, fast. Before they were out with him, they just stood around in the yard, worried and being hawk bait. He's a great flock bird but just too aggressive with people.

Be careful about bringing in different aged chicks. There are more issues than just aggression. There is also immune system maturity. Chicks need to develop their immune systems to handle your birds and your property.

You really will be better off getting all your chicks at one time, but it looks like that is not going to happen. Be prepared for separate pens for each group you get.

I am getting it from GameandMore on here. They are being ordered from a breeder. It's a black Ameraucana. There is a chance that they are shipped next week and if not it will be in two weeks. I'm hoping for 2 weeks and preparing for next week. If it is in 2 weeks I will wait a week to get the others. I don't have a choice on the last 2. They just won't be here before 6 May. I don't have a choice when the BCM's come. They hatch in three weeks and he will ship them at 1 week of age. Or is it they are coming in 3 weeks? I'll have to check the PM.

My chicks may be a little spread out in age, but most of them are coming at the same time from the local breeder. I can do a separate brooder if I need to.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Wow those winds are strong today!! Hope everyone stays warm and doesn't blow away. A couple of the gusts have really rattled my house.

I have bread in the oven. I'm making the artisan bread as cardamom bread. The house smells so good! I made Cardamom Chicken last night for supper. I love cardamom! They ought to make sashes out of the fragrance.

 

[A1momof3]

Lisa Steel has a lot of good information on chicken care.  I plan on using straw for the coop.  Not sure on the nesting boxes.  I've seen those bristly mats and may try them.

TS has milk crates for a little over 5$, so I'm going to use those as nets! I like the idea of being able to take them out and clean them. We just had wooden boxes built in when I was growing up and I hated cleaning them. Lol
My first thought was to use straw or hay but them u read that it doesn't absorb moisture well so then I thought about the deep litter but not sure how well that works here in Texas or how to go about doing it. Lol.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

TS has milk crates for a little over 5$, so I'm going to use those as nets! I like the idea of being able to take them out and clean them. We just had wooden boxes built in when I was growing up and I hated cleaning them. Lol
My first thought was to use straw or hay but them u read that it doesn't absorb moisture well so then I thought about the deep litter but not sure how well that works here in Texas or how to go about doing it. Lol.

I'll be doing DL, just had a read back through the article I read on it. Pine shavings. Straw was for the nesting boxes. I have read so much on chicken care the last few months it is getting scrambled in my brain!

DL works great here. I'm going to treat my big run like a compost pile and add all my leaves and some grass clippings (mulching mower) too. I've read when you do it that way there really isn't any odor and everything breaks down naturally. The chickens love to dig through the stuff too.

 

[ClovisMan]

Quote: Save yourself some dinero and just go to your local Sac n Pac, 7eleven or the like and see if they have a stack of milk crates sitting by the dumpster. Ask the cashier if you can have a couple. I've never paid for a milk crate...

 

[Ms Jellybean]

You know you have chickens on the brain when you look at something like this and think "Oh that would be great for my chickens".