Things you wish you knew starting out?

[AllenK RGV]

I wouldn't .I don't like the heating cave idea at all. I think it's an incubator for bacteria. I see no way to satisfactorily sanitize the heat cave.
I think that the lights are much more sanitary. I would not use 250 Reds. I'll never use them again
I use 80 watt floods or soft white sixty watt.
On the other hand, I love the idea of the eco glow and the sweeter heater. especially the sweeter heater because it can be hung from the ceiling raised and lowered.... and I think is probably more easily washable than the eco glow, although that is I'm sure up for argument.
Even Gail Damrow ,the famous poultry author and breeder , has switched from lights to the sweeter heater. I think that says something.
www.brinsea.com. www.sweeterheater.com
Karen

I don't plan on rearing many chicks more to justify investing $100+ on a sweeter heater at all. The heat cave can be made cheaply, they are covered in vinyl, a 10% bleach solution and reusable cloth to sanitize well I always have those on hand. But I agree I don't want chicks on top of it at all so while rearing them I'll probably cut out a cardboard box and fit it to the top so no chicks soil the thing. If I was rearing chicks as either a high end hobby or for profit heck yeah I would invest the money. I imagine I only want 10 or so pullets and a roo for free ranging purposes.

edit-for my horrid grammar

 

[AllenK RGV]

Strange that I have never seen a single case of bumblefoot here as it seems common. I currently have around 97 chickens, and have been keeping them here for the past 20 years without incident. I keep heavier breeds too. I actually have quite a few different breeds as I like variety. My birds are completely free range and live in a 40x40 shed, so lots of room for everyone to spread out.

Could also be that you are doing everything right. Roosting height seemed to be one of the big ones from birds hitting the ground hard from too great of a height when leaving their roosts.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could also be that you are doing everything right. Roosting height seemed to be one of the big ones from birds hitting the ground hard from too great of a height when leaving their roosts.

Could be, though my roost heights vary and are mostly the wooden fences that divide my shed up. I have always been insistent on sanding down my boards, and providing easy access as far as up and down, so it's not generally one big leap off them.

 

[AllenK RGV]

One thing no one has mentioned is Fermenting Chicken Feed, it looks really easy pretty much like starting your own sourdough starter. Does anyone FF?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

One thing no one has mentioned is Fermenting Chicken Feed, it looks really easy pretty much like starting your own sourdough starter. Does anyone FF?

I avoid the stuff. There are two camps. One says it's the greatest thing, the other says it can be deadly if done incorrectly. I recommend you check out the FF thread if you are interested.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Could be, though my roost heights vary and are mostly the wooden fences that divide my shed up. I have always been insistent on sanding down my boards, and providing easy access as far as up and down, so it's not generally one big leap off them.

That has me rethinking some design elements of my first coop repurposing an old doghouse to coop since my birds always climb to the very top of the hardware cloth at the highest point in their current coop. They completely ignore the tree I cut down to give them that nice set of three roosts in the most weather protected end of the doghouse. I am just going to have to adjust to their design ideas I guess.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I avoid the stuff. There are two camps. One says it's the greatest thing, the other says it can be deadly if done incorrectly. I recommend you check out the FF thread if you are interested.

Yes I read that thread and my nose knows good ferment from bad brewed my own beer for years and make my own sourdough bread from my own culture. I'm thinking I'll fire off a small batch of primary as a project to annoy my wife. Then consider trying a real batch if it smells right.

 

[guineapeeps]

I just saw in someones tagline that they made chicken saddles it struck me as an oddity so I had to look it up, they seem potentially like a critical piece of gear that I should have on hand for a variety of reasons.

What other tools should I be placing in my toolkit other than triple antibiotic ointments and Coban(I think it is also called Vet Tape) for wrapping potential wounds?

I have pet carriers sized appropriately to segregate injured chicken(the Army moved us frequently). Having been an Army Nurse I have the medical side covered with goodies like dermabond, suture sets, and a lifetime supply of things like normal saline flushes, triple antibiotic sachets, alcohol and iodine prep wipes, tincture of benzoin and butterfly tape that left the hospital at the end of 12 hour shifts in my pockets unintentionally.

Any other suggestions or directions towards a good link I should read about on hand essentials that you wish you had purchased before ever looking at a chicken? Something as simple as an axe could be useful info.

I am willing to bet that a thread like this already exists if so and you know the search terms I missed please direct me there. TY in advance.

I had to laugh at the tape, tincture of benzoin, etc leaving unintentionally in your pocket. As an RN, I’ve been there, done that. I would truly take it home inadvertently...after a 12+hour shift, it happens. You can’t take it back so it ends up in your personal first aid kit.
I have not seen a thread about this and it’s good to have some ideas to have on hand! Great info!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Being in Arizona, I see a few people here have heat hardy breeds. I am leaning towards some Naked Necks from Desertchick she has been breeding them to lay colored eggs. Big enough to eat, and pretty eggs. Not for show or anything fancy like a Sumatra, since I have a parrot for that!

I don't think the Sumatra's are fancy at all I just like the tails and they are supposed to be a heat tolerant breed. Some of mine have absolutely no issues with the heat. For both my hens it is no issue, also the smaller slower growing roo's with the perfectly black faces also have no issues. The ones who have the hardest time are the fast growing red faced ones they always look like they need to be drinking icewater regardless those are culls anyway.

edit- adding P.S. Additionally, we decided we wanted a true flighted breed of chicken so they could avoid predators easier. The downside is they are so flighty if one gets spooked by a non threat they all fly to the coop as well. On the whole though they like to be close to me outdoors and I see how people could easily raise them to be comfortable sitting in their laps. I still would't want a lap chicken as we are lazy and like to have jeans we only wear out to the store and they are good for like 3 days for that, chicken in the lap probably then they are only good for 30 minutes.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I had to laugh at the tape, tincture of benzoin, etc leaving unintentionally in your pocket. As an RN, I’ve been there, done that. I would truly take it home inadvertently...after a 12+hour shift, it happens. You can’t take it back so it ends up in your personal first aid kit.
I have not seen a thread about this and it’s good to have some ideas to have on hand! Great info!

Actually my wife saved it all pulling it from my pockets before washing, she was also a nurse from 1995-2007 when it became obvious one income would sustain us she went into full on housewife mode and never looked back. The shear volume of the stuff you acquire that way is surprising.

edit-You are correct 12 hour shifts are never 12 hours more like 12.5 on an excellent day, and 13+ on a bad one with mandatory inservices and your on nights.