I thought it might be helpful to share my experience as a "newbie" chicken wrangler with other chick parents to be. These aren't recommendations since I don't feel I've done this long enough to be a self proclaimed authority on the subject, but merely how I set things up and where I'm at today. I started with coop/run research and moved on to the chick raising. My decisions were based on suggestions from folks on this forum and other online forums as well as advice from local feed store associates and a couple of friends already experienced with poultry. So here's a summary of my process and includes some of the criteria I felt important:
1. Coop - Built it myself (see photo). Strong, predator proof, walk in, visually appealing, easy to clean (removeable "lips" and flooring in nesting boxes, sheet vinyl flooring on coop floor). Black, PVC coated 1/2" hardware cloth for screen (This is a pricey option, but well worth it! The black makes it much easier to see into the pen and less visually distracting). Coarse sand (contractor's sand) in pen floor.. (this functions like kitty litter.. very easy to lightly rake to clean...chickens love to scratch in it too!). 2 ft. diameter dusting box (sand mixed with sifted ashes from fire pit).
2. Chicks - I prepared the coop with pine shavings and a heat lamp. Covered nesting boxes with screen to prevent entry. Partitioned the coop in half at first to contain chicks in smaller area with heat lamp. I started with 8 chicks, 4 different breeds. Heat lamp was about 14" above chicks. NOTE: There were many recommendations re: temperature of lamp, decreasing 5 degrees per week, etc. This seemed a bit much, so I just left the heat lamp on 24/7 for a few days, then put it on a timer from 8 pm til 7 am. until they were about 5.5 weeks old. Night temp was in upper 50s and low 60s. I tend to base some of my methods on how the chicks look, behavior, etc. I was unsure when to open the coop door to let them into the pen/run area. Suggestions varied, so I just gave it a shot and opened the coop door when chicks were 2 weeks old.. No problems! (Some of my approach might have been different with different climate).
3. Food and Water - So far they've only been on the unmedicated start food (crumbles) + lots of treats of course....lettuce, grape pieces. For now I have a small water bottle in the coop with electrolytes, probiotics in it. (coop water will be removed soon). Larger water container in pen/run area with tbsp.. of ACV.
4. Health - So far no issues at 7 weeks.
5. Odor / Flies - Despite the very warm days over the past 2 weeks, I'm astounded how odor free the coop / pen is. (This may change as the chickens and their poop grow in size). I spray the coop floor pine shavings and sand ground in run with 1:1 vinegar:water every other day. This seems to help with the odor. There are some flies buzzing around, but nothing objectionable. I also sprinkle DE on the ground, in the dusting bin and in the pine shavings.
My chicks appear very healthy so far.. Stay tuned as they approach adulthood when I'm sure things will change!
1. Coop - Built it myself (see photo). Strong, predator proof, walk in, visually appealing, easy to clean (removeable "lips" and flooring in nesting boxes, sheet vinyl flooring on coop floor). Black, PVC coated 1/2" hardware cloth for screen (This is a pricey option, but well worth it! The black makes it much easier to see into the pen and less visually distracting). Coarse sand (contractor's sand) in pen floor.. (this functions like kitty litter.. very easy to lightly rake to clean...chickens love to scratch in it too!). 2 ft. diameter dusting box (sand mixed with sifted ashes from fire pit).
2. Chicks - I prepared the coop with pine shavings and a heat lamp. Covered nesting boxes with screen to prevent entry. Partitioned the coop in half at first to contain chicks in smaller area with heat lamp. I started with 8 chicks, 4 different breeds. Heat lamp was about 14" above chicks. NOTE: There were many recommendations re: temperature of lamp, decreasing 5 degrees per week, etc. This seemed a bit much, so I just left the heat lamp on 24/7 for a few days, then put it on a timer from 8 pm til 7 am. until they were about 5.5 weeks old. Night temp was in upper 50s and low 60s. I tend to base some of my methods on how the chicks look, behavior, etc. I was unsure when to open the coop door to let them into the pen/run area. Suggestions varied, so I just gave it a shot and opened the coop door when chicks were 2 weeks old.. No problems! (Some of my approach might have been different with different climate).
3. Food and Water - So far they've only been on the unmedicated start food (crumbles) + lots of treats of course....lettuce, grape pieces. For now I have a small water bottle in the coop with electrolytes, probiotics in it. (coop water will be removed soon). Larger water container in pen/run area with tbsp.. of ACV.
4. Health - So far no issues at 7 weeks.
5. Odor / Flies - Despite the very warm days over the past 2 weeks, I'm astounded how odor free the coop / pen is. (This may change as the chickens and their poop grow in size). I spray the coop floor pine shavings and sand ground in run with 1:1 vinegar:water every other day. This seems to help with the odor. There are some flies buzzing around, but nothing objectionable. I also sprinkle DE on the ground, in the dusting bin and in the pine shavings.
My chicks appear very healthy so far.. Stay tuned as they approach adulthood when I'm sure things will change!
