I was allll excited for my chickens!!!! But now I am soooooo nervous!! They come June 16th and I am nervous!!!!! I just don't want them to all die or get sick!!!!! Is 16 chickens a lot? I didn't think it was really a lot but I don't know. Hmmmm I just hope it goes okay! There brahmas and orpingtons.
Breathe... relax.... lol it will be ok... did you buy day old chicks or ready to lay? I started with 12 as a newbie city girl from downtown Toronto... moved to the country and wanted chickens... so if I can do this anyone can! that was 2 1/2 years ago and i have had up to 60 at a time..
You have chosen a large breed. They will be fine if you just follow the instuctions on here. I was nervous too. But now one year later I have even had broodies and hatched some. They can be work but they are fun work. I have added to my coop now5 times. So for sure build your coop and run much bigger than you ever think you will need. Gloria Jean
Breath in... Breath out... Breath in.... Breath out.... Ok now your going to do just fine, and I wont lie to you some of them might not make it thats just Gods way. You however will make it and be a great mom!
I felt exatley the same way 5 weeks ago!!! You will be fine!!! I love, love love my Buff orp chick, she is just the sweetest, funniest thing ever. You will love being a chick momma! Just have everything ready to go by the time they arrive & I strongly suggest---get an extra heat lamp bulb!!! My brand new bulb lasted a whole 2 days & blew on a weekend night. SO glad I bought extra!
I got 11 chicks last year and was about that nervous just before they arrived. I knew NOTHING. I read the BackYardChickens forums to death, re-reading everything on the learning pages several times. Chicks thrived, grew up, laid eggs. (Although since I free range them on 75 acres I did have some losses to hawks - some loss is inevitable if they are totally free range). I continued to read the forum and got help every time I needed it, from the bloody, pecked at, frostbitten comb to the new hatch that momma chicken kicked out of the nest. Keep reading! Chickens come when they are called, provide breakfast and endless amusement. I ordered more this spring and am happily watching them grow up. You will be a great chicken mom. Enjoy.
I feel your anxiety, my plan this fall was to build a coop for next spring but my fiance decided to build it now. We now have 6 hens and 14 meat chicks. I was worried I would feel overwhelmed and I am still nervous about the chicks. They are only 6 days old and I am constantly checking the temp and noticing missing feathers, tired eyes and I think im being a bit over protective. my dog lays beside the chicks and when they peep she checks to see if they are okay. I think she has taken the mom role on. I have been learning as I go, without this site I would be a lot more nervous. Thanks BYC members.
