Thinking of getting a couple chickens

[bendystar]

Hi, I live in San Diego, Ca and would love to get a couple chickens for the backyard. I have a 3 year old son and another baby on the way. I'm wondering if I should wait until my kids are older or if ya'll think it's be fine to start now. My son LOVES chickens and I know he'd be a big help with them. But I wonder if it'll be too much work with a new baby due November. Also, I would love some recommendations on favorite breeds. I checked the Breed page and it looks like there is a lot that would work, but I guess I mostly want them to be friendly and quiet. Oh, and give us lots of eggs of course!

Is there a small window in which you can get chicks or can we get our act together before buying chicks and build a coop, etc. Is it better to buy from a hatchery or a feed store? Any advice for a newbie would be appreciated. Thanks!

-Wendy in SD

 

[19Dawn76]

My 2 year old does fine with the chickens we have so I don't think that would be a problem. I remember the last month of my pregnancy and the firtst few months of being a mother and I am not so sure that taking on an unfamiliar task, like taking care of a flock, is wise. I guess it depends on how far along you are. I would give myself a couple of months to get accustomed.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. If you order from a hatchery you can at least get what sex you want. Most feed stores are straight runs, so you could possibly end up with roos.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Welcome and Congrats.!! My favorites are the Partridge cochins, very gentle and good eggers, also the salmon faverolles, small eggs but great layers and gentle.

 

[Silkiefan]

... of course my vote for the best "pet" chickens is Silkies... but may I also add that you have more than two in case something happens to one of them... that way you're not left with one freaking and squawking...all lonely and sad... and no, they're not that much work...and yes, kids & chickens do mix!

 

[KristaBeth]

I'm pretty new here myself, but everyone here has been fantastic so far. If you get your chicks now, they would be grown and maybe already laying by the time the baby gets here. If your husband is willing to take over chicken chores for a while, I would say go for it! If not now, then maybe you could wait for next spring, when chicks are plentiful and the baby is already a few months old (and hopefully sleeping through the night).

I bought mine from a breeder, but there are a lot of people who buy from hatcheries. My Pet Chicken will ship as few as 3 full sized chicks (or 5 bantams, I think). They are not shipping until June though.

Good luck!

 

[CATRAY44]

If you get chicks now, you can easily keep them in a large Rubbermade tote for a few weeks. You will need a heat lamp, water-er and feed dish. Some kind of top, like a screen, to keep them in, once they start jumping around, and air circulating. You can line the floor with paper towel and later, pine shavings. The would give you at least a month to get a coop and run together.

Keeping three hens is not very time consuming. If you use Stall Dry with pine shavings in the coop, you should not have odor or much trouble with flies. If you like, you can place a wide piece of wood or some kind of tray under the roost, which will capture the poop for easy dumping and keeping coop clean. Stall dry does a great job of drying it up, too. So, other than making sure they have food and water, stirring up the bedding each day and gathering eggs, there is not much work. I inverted a small plastic table and placed it under my hanging feeder. This catches any spills and keeps the feed off the ground. Wet feed = smell and possible mold problems.

I think you should be able to have your routine with the hens down pat by November. Also, large dog houses can easily be converted into a coop for three birds. I found a great one on Craigslist. We added more vents and a popdoor. Works great. A dog run off Craigslist can be turned into a run for chickens...