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

[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!

 

[oesdog]

I wish I had of known the law of chicken math!

Oes

 

[Weasleymum]

I wish I had of known the law of chicken math!

Oes

Oh, so true! For some reason, I never even heard this term until a year or two ago, even though I'd been on BYC for five years now. I have heritage breeds that like to go broody, so I get them some eggs to set (feeling bad for them, trying so hard to hatch sterile eggs-- boy do I know THAT feeling!), then there are chicks, and suddenly my flock is 3x bigger than it had been!

 

[mamahen10]

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!

 

[mamahen10]

Sometimes waiting for eggs seems to take forever but when you buy them as chicks they definitely become more bonded to you. I bought 4 chickens as pullets and 1 1/2 yrs later they are still spookier than the rest always staying just out of reach. If I want to check them over I have to wait till dark to get them, where my other girls I can just sit down and when they come up to me just grab them. Not all of them like to be held but they don't freak out either. In the long run I think starting out with day old chicks is better, and there is much less risk of bringing disease into your existing flock. (Something else I've learned the hard way)

 

[jdoane]

Glad I read this. Had been thinking I was open to adding an older bird to our flock. Will stick with day old chicks from reputable hatcheries or breeders!

 

[CAjerseychick]

Not only the big sizes for feeders and waterers (unless you are in the suburbs or city and are limited by Law to a few-- note I said by Law, you will end up with more chickens then you think, they are addictive-- we had intended to to keep it to 6 and now when I look out and see 14 running around I think, that doesnt look like very many chickens!)....
but by the metal ones-- I know they are more expensive but they are just going to last longer and handle more temperature extremes than your plastic ones!

 

[ElleLovesDucks]

Sometimes waiting for eggs seems to take forever but when you buy them as chicks they definitely become more bonded to you. I bought 4 chickens as pullets and 1 1/2 yrs later they are still spookier than the rest always staying just out of reach. If I want to check them over I have to wait till dark to get them, where my other girls I can just sit down and when they come up to me just grab them. Not all of them like to be held but they don't freak out either. In the long run I think starting out with day old chicks is better, and there is much less risk of bringing disease into your existing flock. (Something else I've learned the hard way)

That makes me feel a lot better. Checked this morning. Still no eggs. Maybe they'll make me breakfast tomorrow They really are friendly and I wouldn't want them any other way. They don't mind being held and I take my leghorn and walk around holding her finding bugs and knocking them on the ground then pointing her at them. She's my little bug control birdy.

 

[ElleLovesDucks]

Not only the big sizes for feeders and waterers (unless you are in the suburbs or city and are limited by Law to a few-- note I said by Law, you will end up with more chickens then you think, they are addictive-- we had intended to to keep it to 6 and now when I look out and see 14 running around I think, that doesnt look like very many chickens!)....
but by the metal ones-- I know they are more expensive but they are just going to last longer and handle more temperature extremes than your plastic ones!

Still trying to get the husband to buy the metal ones! We just have GIGANTIC plastic ones haha

 

[sn0wwhite]

That there is a serious risk of both being locked INTO your coop and OUT of your house.

First thing I did after putting my new latch on the door was to go inside the coop and almost get locked in. (Remember to put the carbiner in the latch before going inside.)

And, since I spend so much time outside with the chickens my family is accidentally locking the house doors while I'm still outside. And leaving.