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

[wendychicklawyr]

Me too. They know better than to pick on my Primrose.

I realky hate the bullying esp when the older ones do it to the ones a week younger

 

[Blooie]

I wish I would have known that there is no such thing as a finished chicken coop. When the last hammer is put down and the paint brushes are cleaned, that's when you take a deep breath, stand back, and say, "Oh, rats! I shouldda ________!", and then proceed to fill in the blank, which leads to another change..and then another!

I wish I would have known that 14 chicks have 120 butts! Had an epidemic of pasty butt and it truly felt like I had more hineys than beaks in the brooder!

I wish I hadn't overbought chicks. Ordered 20 and due to a delay in the mail (in late February, no less), lost 6 of them. So I replaced 4 of the Buff Orpingons I lost bringing me up to 18. Well, then there were these adorable little Speckled Sussex and Black Copper Marans, so I was suddenly up to 22. They grew way faster than I anticipated, were overcrowded in the brooder, and I had absolutely no place to put another brooder. So we got through it, and I know I got lucky - no feather picking or bullying or illnesses - but you can bet I'll never make the same mistake again. The dust - oh, my word - the ever present, talcum powdery dust! Any future brooding will be done out in the coop in a separate area using the heating pad method. My girls (and Charlie) are now out in the coop (which we didn't have built before we got chicks like we should have) doing beautifully, and I'm actually enjoying them more now that I did when they were here in the house! Our brooder was very big - 22 chicks were bigger!

I learned that my dad was right, "You need to be smart enough to know how smart you ain't....that is the first step to education."

 

[crowcreek]

I wish the lady at the store explained to me what straight run meant.
I should have done way more research but got lucky with my three buff brahmas. I just picked because the place was packed. Rehired the sebrights but love my big brahma girls.

Reading this has taught me about worming. I didn't know I needed to. Feel like a dope. Will ask the chicken lady at the new feed store.

 

[henroo]

Wish i knew how to build a more proper coop for my chickens

 

[Mama Kay W]

I wish I would of built a bigger coop. chickens are addictive and I want more, only have room for 4 more,I have 4 right now, hoping hubby will let me get 3 more but in 3 years I'll probably want more. Maybe then I can get him to build a bigger coop

 

[Craftymama]

I am really loving this thread!

I have to agree with building a bigger coop than you would ever imagine you'll need.

We bought a coop that was touted at being big enough for 10 to 15 birds....NO WAY. i'm thinking 8, and that is only because I am home during the days most days and the birds will be allowed to free range, otherwise the run that came with the coop wouldn't be nearly large enough.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Love this thread!!!!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I am really loving this thread! 



I have to agree with building a bigger coop than you would ever imagine you'll need.

We bought a coop that was touted at being big enough for 10 to 15 birds....NO WAY. i'm thinking 8, and that is only because I am home during the days most days and the birds will be allowed to free range, otherwise the run that came with the coop wouldn't be nearly large enough.

My coops say for 3-4 chickens. Which is true if they only sleep in it. The run was too small. I put hardwRe cloth on the bottom and put it on legs and put in two bunnies. It is nice for two rabbits. My chickens only sleep in their two coops so it works for my 5 chickens.

My converted chicken run into a bunny hutch.

My small sleeping coops.

 

[ochochicas]

I am a newbie who has had a lot of luck so far with the health and productivity and fun of my 3 breeder-supplied pullets, but I wish I had known:
- Even heavy-breed pullets can fly over a 4-foot fence, and will even though they have PLENTY of space - so my paddocked chickens are now free-range and it's super hard to clean poop off the patio cement
- Even though you ask the breeder for quiet chickens, the Boss Chick will tend to be very VOCAL and loud enough that I'm sure the neighbors in this suburban area can hear her regular haranguing for treats. So far the technique of only providing treats at a certain time of day, and only when she is quiet, is not affecting her behavior.Thankfully I'm allowed up to 4 chickens by right in this town, but I'm still cringing about the neighbors...

The first day we had our two hens they were in a horse stall so they could "learn where they live" before going free-range. The second day I pulled in the driveway and wondered where the orange cat in the yard came from. It was the Red Star hen...they had flown over a 5+ foot high wall to run around the farm. They didn't get lost or run away like we thought could happen, but they were not able to find their nest boxes and ended up laying eggs in the blackberry bushes. After a few days they made their was back to the barn and are now using their laying box.

Hens will also "sing" when they are laying an egg. Our Red Star is so vocal that she sings when everyone else is laying an egg. Thankfully we have a lot of property or our neighbors would be getting upset with the noise.

 

[CareyH]

I purchased a used coop .. I am new with chickens and have not received them. but now I am worried about my coop, how do I know if my coop has mites or ticks? How do I treat it as if it does just to be safe for my girls that are coming soon ??