Tips for newbies. Everyone join in! :)

[Irishgirl]

If you live in a area with hawks, but want to let your baby chicks forage, a wire guinea pig cage with a top makes a great mini chicken tractor. Just take the bottom off and let them scratch to their little hearts content.

 

[Irishgirl]

I just read on one of the threads I follow that if you don't turn your incubating eggs for the first week, it strengthens the embryo and gives you a better hatch rate. I think you'd probably have to put them in a egg carton to help the air cells develop right.

 

[GreatWhiteAfro]

If you live in a area with hawks, but want to let your baby chicks forage, a wire guinea pig cage with a top makes a great mini chicken tractor. Just take the bottom off and let them scratch to their little hearts content.

I used a wire dog kennel and took the bottom plastic tray out.

 

[Irishgirl]

I used a wire dog kennel and took the bottom plastic tray out.

Good idea! I didn't think of that, but it would work pretty well.

 

[Irishgirl]

If you drop a egg and it doesn't have stuff coming out of it, try painting the crack with clear nail polish, or take a plain, non-scented candle, melt some of the wax, and dab it on the crack with a q-tip.

 

[Irishgirl]

As a preventive measure against spraddle leg, I cover the bottom of my 'bator and brooder with paper towels until the chicks are at least 3 days old.
Lots of successful hatches and still no spraddle leg!

 

[Irishgirl]

You should never use cedar chips in your brooder, they can be toxic to the birds.

 

[blzzrdqueen]

This is a great thread, thanks!!!!

 

[jimlisurbs]

Thanks for starting this. My husband and I have not yet gotten chickens. He is meeting with the town this week to voice our opinion in getting an ordinance passed to allow us to have chickens. It is looking pretty good. Does anyone have any suggestions for start up chickens that would produce good eggs and be friendly?

 

[Irishgirl]

My first chicken ever was a Rhode Island Red, and she was one of the sweetest chickens I've ever had. RIRs are a good starting flock, they lay fairly well, tend toward the docile side, and are pretty inexpensive. If you want friendly chickens, Welsummers and Silkies are breeds I personally have had good experience with. White Leghorns lay a lot, but the tend to be flighty and standoffish. Good luck with your chicken laws, and

!