What do you wish you had known before you got your chickens

[CluckCluck18]

Oh boy, there are lots of things.....chickens are curious creatures, so strong in some ways and so fragile in others. :/
I would have built a bigger coop....started with 6 hens and immediately wanted more!
Build and complete your coop before the chicks arrive. Was delayed by Florida heat and rain and had pullets in the garage for 2 months....what a disaster.
Be more careful about where your chickens come from....there's a lot of dishonest folks out there. I tried to take some shortcuts and wound up getting my whole flock infested with lice! Thankfully we avoided disease.
Be prepared with a first aid kit and a knowledge of all the things that can go wrong. I think a lot of us, as newbies thought it would be easy and now we know that there is always something going on with a flock. I have had one trouble or another starting with coccidiosis on day one of chicken ownership and have run the gamut of parasites, injuries, EYP and even botulism with my ducks!
I had the assumption that my birds were so well take care of....beautiful coop, big space for free ranging, organic feed, plenty of time and attention, etc that they would be in good shape! With that said I have never regretted having them...the have been a blessing in more ways then one. I feel like they have changed me for the better and I keep on trucking. Lost both of my dark egg layers to heat stroke and have chicks on the way next week.
When you say you are broken hearted I totally understand....they are captivating creatures...they pull you in and make you love them. I'm so sorry to hear about your flock but I hope you won't give up....start over again....you won't regret it.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

That white chickens are easily spotted by predators.

 

[birdsrfun]

Make sure you are going to stay where you are for a few years! We have made a decision this fall that we can no longer take living where we are now and have set out to find a new home. My coop is metal and weighs a TON... I think if we move I may look into a "movable coop" like a converted horse trailer or something similar

Yes, thanks for bringing this up. We rent, and you never know how long you will be in a place you rent. We are still in our infancy of chicken ownership (ours are just 6 weeks old), and we are thinking of building a larger run. I want to make sure we can tear it down easily if we end up moving.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

I wish I knew about Campylobacter.....

 

[fishnet1971]

I wish I had known how much I would love them...... and they would love me.

 

[MandyFitch]

I wish I had known how much I would love them...... and they would love me.

 

[tenhens]

I wish I had known how much I would love them!

 

[Weasleymum]

Something else I have learned-DONT take all advice from people just because they have been on this website a long time! They don't ALL know what they are doing! Some advice is sound but I have seen many contradictions on here. Plus what might be good for some is not always good for all. Take all advice with caution and read up on it. Or start a thread asking for opinions-which I have done. That way you get several perspectives to think about-as long as people are willing to comment

Very true, and "length of time on Backyard Chickens" or "number of posts" does NOT equal "amount of experience with chickens". I didn't realize for a long time how much of BYC is just fun stuff-- games, funny threads, and etc. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but a member with 2000 posts might not be such a poultry expert as you might think if you're a newbie. Also, lots of people are willing to pass on advice that they've heard of or read about, but haven't actually done themselves; not so helpful.

 

[tenhens]

I agree! Thats some of the best advice posted on this site! "Always filter advice!"

 

[ElleLovesDucks]

I wish we would've met more locals who had chickens, it would've saved me a lot of time! I've found the locals don't all agree, but I've gotten better advice from a woman in buying the same kind of chicken food as I was than anywhere else. I wish I would've bought big to begin with. When they were pullets it was really easy to justify that tiny waterer, but since we eventually bought the huge ones it seems like it would've been a better idea to get them right off the bat. And I think I would've rather started out with older chickens. I love my girls and we're very bonded because I raised them but waiting so long for eggs was exhausting!