Utah!

[srolle1lsu]

i still can't believe how fast these birds grow. it seems like overnight that they had a growth spurt and shot out some new feathers. the 7 of them are quickly out growing their brooder and due to move out to the coop pretty soon. i haven't put in my vents or the pop door in the coop yet. should i wait on the pop door and only put a few 6x12 vents in for now, since they are still small?

btw, how old are you all putting your chicks out to the coop in a N utah climate?

 

[PacsMan]

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Nope, I'd get them out in the coop first. Then, get vents put in pretty quickly. This year I put my day-olds in the coop (built in the corner of my detached garage) in the middle of Feb. They were in tubs for 2 weeks, with 100 watt light bulbs and heaters, then out in the full coop. As long as the heater was blowing, they were fine. At 5 1/2 weeks today, they're not sleeping under the lights anymore, and it's time to turn down the heater again. Kinda watch what they do. If they congregate under the lamps in bunches, they're too cold. If they move away and sleep individually, they're not cold at all.

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At 5 weeks they're pretty hearty. Just make sure they're warm enough. They'll tell you!

I've still got roosts, vents, fences, two more nest boxes, and a pop door left to do. Then on to June and more wonderful eggs!

 

[srolle1lsu]

thanks marty!

right now they are about 3 weeks old. i painted the inside of the coop a week ago so i'm hoping to let it dry/air out for another week before we move them over. lets see if the brooder makes it that long first. at the rate they're growing it may not.

 

[livinadream]

I'm in Orem and just adopted a flock of 5 one year old laying hens. I had been searching KSL for coops when I found this sweet deal that included coop, chickens, feed, bedding...the works. The husband was unwilling to battle the chickens over garden space again this year, I guess.
Anyway, I'd been researching for several weeks and had been planning to buy some 6 week old chicks from a local chicken rancher come June, hoping for eggs by fall-now I've got eggs in the fridge as we speak-talk about instant gratification! The coop is pretty solid-needs a few adjustments, but for the price we bought it at, we can definitely handle some minor adjustments.

So far, we're loving having our girls out back-they're full of personality and so fun to interact with. I think they'll be a great addition to our lives.

 

[PacsMan]

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Welcome welcome!

Be careful with the little ones and getting close to their heads with the kids' faces. Chickens LOVE the shinny glint of the eyes. They WILL peck your eyes. Ask me how I know...

 

[livinadream]

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[hen-thusiast]

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Congrats on the new flock! They are beautiful!

 

[livinadream]

thanks! they're a fun bunch.

 

[jaydweight]

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That's Awesome! I'm in Pleasant Grove and have two Buff Orpingtons and two Rhode Island Reds. They are about four weeks old now so they are going a little crazy in their brooder.

I'm going to convert an old dog house to a coop. I've got to get on with it soon because my girls are getting huge!

Here's a pic of mine (not too recent) they are guzzling down some water from my new gravity-fed waterer! It's sweet!

 

[jaydweight]

Anyone know what the laws are for having chickens in Saratoga Springs? Just wondering...