What chicken supplies would you consider essential for a beginner?

[Sauerkraut]

While looking at corid, I found another product that claims to prevent coccidiosis. Do you know if it would work as well as corid would?

 

[sdm111]

Keep it simple for now. Housing, food and drink. Don't waste money on stuff you may not use, and have the money to use on things you need as time goes by

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can get a lot of different opinions so I'll try to stick to the basics.

They need food. Something like Starter, All-Flock, Flock-Raiser can work for all chickens. Since it will be for chicks you want it in Crumble form, not pellets, at least to start with. The main thing is to get a low calcium feed with the calcium content close to 1%. If the calcium is close to 4% it is too much for baby chicks. Offer oyster shell on the side for the adult hens. If your chickens have access to the ground they will probably find all of the grit they need if the soil has rocks in it. If you have something like a swamp muck or you are urban and only have fill your soil may not have rocks in it.

They need clean water. Many different ways to serve that but do not let them run out of water and keep it clean.

They need protection from the weather. Not sure where you are or what weather you expect. Your older chickens don't need much. In winter they need a way to get out of cold winds. They need to be able to get out of the rain if they want to. They do not always want to. Year around they need decent ventilation. Depending on how hot your summers are they probably need shade.

Your baby chicks need all this plus they probably need heat for the first several weeks of their life. What plans do you have on brooding them until they are ready to stay outside with no heat?

They need predator protection. That means a lot of different things to different people. To me that means giving them a safe place to sleep at night and some deterrence during the day. Some people keep them in a virtual Fort Knox for all of their lives while others let them free range with minimal protection.

They need something to eat out of. You can buy all kinds of different feeders, throw something together out of scrap lumber, or repurpose some bowl you have. I mentioned waterers above.

You need nests. With your 7 chickens, two nests should be enough. Most of us have them in the coop but they do not have to be. They need to stay dry and you don't want them to turn into an oven if the sun can hit them.

You need roosts. These need to be in a predator safe area. Many things that eat chickens come out at night.

I'd want a pop door. That is a small chicken sized door they can use to go in and out so you don't have to leave a human door open for them. A human door can let in a lot of rain, snow, and other weather that a small 12" x 12" opening will not.

That's about it for what I think you need. As you go along you will accumulate other stuff but I get that on a need basis. For example, I have never needed Corid or other treatment for Coccidiosis so I've never gotten any. Others will need it. I have no idea if you will ever need it or not.

You are planning on getting two older Silkies and then adding 5 baby chicks a few days later. Have you read up on integration?

 

[Sauerkraut]

You can get a lot of different opinions so I'll try to stick to the basics.

They need food. Something like Starter, All-Flock, Flock-Raiser can work for all chickens. Since it will be for chicks you want it in Crumble form, not pellets, at least to start with. The main thing is to get a low calcium feed with the calcium content close to 1%. If the calcium is close to 4% it is too much for baby chicks. Offer oyster shell on the side for the adult hens. If your chickens have access to the ground they will probably find all of the grit they need if the soil has rocks in it. If you have something like a swamp muck or you are urban and only have fill your soil may not have rocks in it.

They need clean water. Many different ways to serve that but do not let them run out of water and keep it clean.

They need protection from the weather. Not sure where you are or what weather you expect. Your older chickens don't need much. In winter they need a way to get out of cold winds. They need to be able to get out of the rain if they want to. They do not always want to. Year around they need decent ventilation. Depending on how hot your summers are they probably need shade.

Your baby chicks need all this plus they probably need heat for the first several weeks of their life. What plans do you have on brooding them until they are ready to stay outside with no heat?

They need predator protection. That means a lot of different things to different people. To me that means giving them a safe place to sleep at night and some deterrence during the day. Some people keep them in a virtual Fort Knox for all of their lives while others let them free range with minimal protection.

They need something to eat out of. You can buy all kinds of different feeders, throw something together out of scrap lumber, or repurpose some bowl you have. I mentioned waterers above.

You need nests. With your 7 chickens, two nests should be enough. Most of us have them in the coop but they do not have to be. They need to stay dry and you don't want them to turn into an oven if the sun can hit them.

You need roosts. These need to be in a predator safe area. Many things that eat chickens come out at night.

I'd want a pop door. That is a small chicken sized door they can use to go in and out so you don't have to leave a human door open for them. A human door can let in a lot of rain, snow, and other weather that a small 12" x 12" opening will not.

That's about it for what I think you need. As you go along you will accumulate other stuff but I get that on a need basis. For example, I have never needed Corid or other treatment for Coccidiosis so I've never gotten any. Others will need it. I have no idea if you will ever need it or not.

You are planning on getting two older Silkies and then adding 5 baby chicks a few days later. Have you read up on integration?

Yes, I have read about integration. I plan on gradually introducing the new chicks through supervised visits via a dog crate. When they’re old enough, I’ll try and let them visit without the crate(still supervised ofc).

 

[StinkyAcres]

While looking at corid, I found another product that claims to prevent coccidiosis. Do you know if it would work as well as corid would? View attachment 4138392

No, Corid cures coccidiosis, this only claims that it "Aids in Coccidiosis." It's just "Nutrients and Vitamins" from plants which chickens can get from their normal feed. I bet it doesn't even act as a dewormer, especially during infestations.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a question about the corid. When I looked on the tractor supply website, it only showed something that it labeled an ‘oral calf supplement’. Would this be safe for use on chickens? View attachment 4138388

Yes. It is the same thing that is used for chickens.

 

[Lrnadoon]

With summer approaching I would get some electrolytes for the your chickens. I agree with the Corid for sure! When you get going having a first aid at your home will help when you have an emergency situation. Epson salts for baths is good to have along with a large plastic container to give your birds a lukewarm bath when needed. Gloves for sure and scissors to cut back around the booty is you have a bird who tends to get messy. Good luck and have fun!