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

[Cknldy]

I would have already had several coops built before purchasing chicks! After seeing pictures and picking breeds you learn that bantams and standards don't mix well, some breeds (rhode island reds) don't get along with any other breeds once laying, fancy (think polish) will get picked on by non-fancy breeds, etc. So in my experience I couldn't even integrate RIR sons/daughters with mothers- they killed the most submissive, the other 2 could only eat/drink when I was in coop to protect them for a month. A coop for different breeds/ varieties before starting and don't forget that bachelor coops are a must to give those girls a break

 

[PolishLady54]

I



I don't know if I could slaughter any " pet " and then eat it....no,not me.....someone had asked my Dad years ago about a turkey he had,". Uncle Matty are you gonna kill him for Thanksgiving? My Dads response was """ do you eat your pets? """. And there was just a chuckle from everyone around.....
Even now, I myself am having trouble with eating chicken or eggs, go figure.......

 

[wrenfri]

I have heard you have to be careful when using DE because of possible breathing issues, is it safe to put DE in the dust bath? If so, how much would you add to the dust box?

 

[AletaG]

It took me almost a month to figure out how to take samples and get a necropsy done at the state Avian Health Lab. Find yours. Get their phone number. Talk to the techs. Get THEIR recommendation of at least one avian vet specialist, just in case. I got lucky, did NOT have to kill all my birds. I WILL have to have all my layers tested before I sell hatching eggs to verify they are ok again.

Learn the difference between hatchery 'breeds' (mutts) and breeds that have had painstaking care taken to keep them SOP. I always thought SOP for chickens meant "purty". I now know a properly bred SOP large fowl should also fulfill the *purpose* for which it was bred originally. Eggs. Meat. or "DP"- dual purpose. Usually personality is a factor as well. For example, my production RIR's are annoying. I can't wait to get my HRIR, 'cause everyone who has them insists that even the roosters haven't a mean bone in their body.

Read the Heritage Large Fowl thread again. Get more people in the Heritage Bantam thread... You know, work miracles...

 

[Tacampbell1973]

There is such a wealth of experience and information here. If you could go back and do it over again, what would you have done differently with your flock that might help others? Trying to save other newcomers like myself a lot of foolish mistakes and heartache. I foolishly tried to rescue sick adult birds before I knew that could infect your flock for the life of the birds and now face the possibility of having to cull my entire flock of 16 birds because of my mistake. If you would share tips, mistakes or suggestions, it would be much appreciated. I will only ever buy day old chicks from trusted sources or hatch my own eggs after the state NPIP inspector tells me what is wrong with my flock after I pay to send samples to the USDA lab. I am heartbroken.

Wednesday, I am very, very sorry for your potential loss. I may have made a similar mistake myself as I just bought three adult hens at auction two weeks ago and due to lack of space, inexperience, and yes, impatience, didn't properly quarentine the newcomers. I am holding my breath and praying like crazy. I have four babies now aged 5 months that I raised from three weeks old plus two adult hens that I have had for a while that I may have put in danger. I would definitely done this differently....It is not worth losing your "feathered children"over....

 

[bramble16]

I wish I had known the importance of elevation for the roosts and not to let the pullets even see the nesting boxes until they were laying...trying to change their habit of sleeping in the boxes is proving very difficult now.
As everyone has said...build a bigger coop.Our coop was meant to house upto 5 hens and we have 2...I really wouldn't want anymore in it - even though it is only a bedroom as they free range all day.
And I wish someone had warned me how obsessed you get...I can spend hours reading and talking about Kerala and Korma - my friends are more convinced than ever that I am a lunatic.

 

[LBejaran]

I think, if I had to do anything differently, I would have tried to discourage my mom from buying injured chicks/goslings/ducklings/etc. I understand the desire to own every injured/handicapped animal. You feel like a mother trying to save a baby from certain death. It's admirable...until you pass the buck onto your daughter. My mom has purchased about five different handicapped birds since we started out raising chickens. Two chicks, one duckling, one gosling and one full-grown male duck. All of the babies died because we couldn't give them the care they needed and the adult only survived because he was already about a year old. And though we could have been recompensated for the babies, Mom refused to give up on them even though she wasn't really working with them. Trust me, it sucks having to take care of handicapped chicks that you know aren't going to make it. It's got a way of making you feel horrible for not being able to cull your chicks.

Another thing: I'd probably invest more time with my chicks. When we originally started out, I wasn't around the chicks much because they weren't technically mine. Now, our older birds are a bit flighty. All their babies, however, are pretty great around me because I go outside everyday for a couple hours for feeding and maintenance. Some of our older hens have gotten better, though. I've had some that love to jump up next to me for treats. I would love for the entire flock to be like that.

 

[autumn123]

I have been lucky so far. I started with 3 pullets about 4 wks old and have a very reputable source. He just will not sell if he finds any illness within his flock. When one turned out to be a rooster, I just took him back and for a few dollars more, I got a hen the same age. I would have taken the roo down the highway to the church that serves lots of poor people for them to slaughter and eat if the seller had not taken him back. I do not want roosters, and since I am not home full-time, I can't have chicks.

Our chickens have to be in an enclosed pen during the day unless I am there to put them in a small movable temporary pen, which I use to give them a break several times per week and while I clean the coop and yard. The one thing I would do different would be to get a larger coop and enclosed yard. Economically, I had to use what I had on hand plus what I could buy for reasonable cheap (we are not handy with carpentry) so I only have room for 3-4 hens. The roof to the yard can be raised while I am in there AND the hens are out.

The most important things are 1) get healthy ones to start with and 2) keep the coop and yard clean. None of my hens have had any health problems yet. I liberally use DE in the coop and yard to prevent mites and keep it dry. I put some in a knee-high hosiery sock and just tap it all over the inside of the coop, paying special attention to all joints and corners, plus I mix it up with sand for their dust bath area. Wear a dust mask because people shouldn't breathe DE and ONLY use garden DE - DO NOT USE swimming pool DE!

 

[bramble16]

What exactly is DE? Thanks....

 

[Eleisha]

Diatomaceous Earth (food grade). It's great because it kills bugs but won't harm the chickens if they consume it. You should wear a dust mask while distributing it because it can be a lung irritant.