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

[Gulfvet30]

Because none of my 10 girls would brood (i waited 10 months) i bought 14 chicks and their mother, 4 days later 3 of my ladies decided it was time to have babies!!! A few weeks later i had another 10 baby mouths to feed lol

i use the deep litter method, and did a spring clean. I read that one way of getting rid of parasites was to use a burner to get into all the cracks in the walls etc. Its a good thing i have a fire extinguisher in my Garage cause i set fire to the ceiling of my coop!!!

After loosing one of my Roosters to a Buzzard, i stretched fishing line above my head height criss-crossed all over the outside run. I then tied strips of yellow bin bags on to the line. It moves nicely in the wind and I have not lost a bird since (aprox. 14 months)

 

[armorfirelady]

1. That chickens don't need insulation or heat.
2. Don't bring in chickens from outside sources unless you use bio security measures & quarantine them from your flock for at least a month
3. KISS-they are only a lot of work if you make it that way

 

[canesisters]

1. plan, plan, plan and plan some more
2. research what breeds are a good fit for your desire/situation
3. find a breeder to get those breeds from - and remember that quality costs
4. keep all your 'chicken stuff' in or near the coop - nothing as anoying as finding that you need something and it's across the yard in the barn/shed/garage/house
5. spend time just sitting and watching them - it's great therapy and you will learn so much about them just watching them interact with each other

 

[autumn123]

Diatomaceous earth - a powder ground from the exoskeletons of tiny creatures called diatoms. There's food grade (safe) and pool grade(unsafe). The pool grade is used in swimming pool filters and is the more finely ground of the two (although you can't really tell just by looking at it). The pool grade is dangerous because the particles are so small they can lodge and collect in your lungs very easily and cause lung disease. It should be handled carefully and never dumped on the ground or used on animals.. The food grade is safe to use in the garden, on and around the chickens, even on other pets. It works because the tiny pieces are very sharp and cut up the small insects, mites, ticks, fleas etc.

 

[Mayim]

Is there a thread like this for ducks?

prospective duck owner in the planning stage

 

[Wednesday]

Is there a thread like this for ducks?

prospective duck owner in the planning stage

I made this one up after doing a search and not finding one exactly like it. I'd search then make up one like this on ducks if there is not one and post it in that section for other fowl.

 

[Tripp16]

What I think is hardest for me, is you have to be 100% diligent about quarantining new birds and not allowing new people inside your coop with shoes that they wear in their own chicken house.
(For some reason I didnt think quarantining applied to me when I first started)
Also, NEVER ever buy from an auction or large chicken sale if you dont like quarantining. All the birds Ive gotten have ended up sick and infecting other birds. Never again.

People may say Im over the top but I cannot stand sickness and its a pain to get rid of once you get it.

 

[Tripp16]

Oh and if you are planning on breeding research the standard and dont get a whole bunch of different breeds. I learned from experience it gets overwhelming.

Focus on improving the breed and before you even get a new breed. Plan and research.

 

[dwgov]

As said earlier (be prepared for the care and work) that comes with any animals. Don't just get them on a whim. Research as much as possible before your new endeavor. Good planning and knowledge goes a tremendously long way. Be sure you have allotted time to care for them properly and are fairly aware to deal with any problems that may arise. They are under Your care & protection. Be prepared for predators and don't wait till something happens to take action. Think ahead & use common sense. I am new to this and just started getting my 1st eggs. It is so exciting. It for me is well worth the work. I love my flock so much, my wife & kids get jealous, haha.

Good luck in going forward and learn from this site. I did.

 

[AllforaneggeK]

I'm certainly no authority. I just used DE for the first time this past weekend after being overwhelmed and eaten alive by mites. I read everything I could find on the DE and suggest you do the same. BYC seems to be the best source, as always but I also googled. I dusted the coop and the run. I also had to dust outside the run. I bought masks as the consensus seems to be that the DE is not safe to inhale. The DE is a very fine powder and is a form of silica so you don't want it in your lungs. Other then that the DE is safe. Following the advice of one "expert", I filled a box with the DE and my chickens are taking turns sitting in the box. I just dusted 3 days ago and it seems to have helped. My only regret is not having used the DE before the mite invasion. I hope this helps.