What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[Shadrach]

Why feeding layer pellets to a mixed sex flock? This thread is awesome!

Because layer feed is probably responsible for the early death of three of the roosters here. It's designed for chickens that lay eggs. It isn't designed for chicks, roosters, or hens past their prime who are not laying regularly.
I've provided a link to a thread started by Kris5902 that has more information rather than type out the problems I'm aware of.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...reeding-roosters.1282637/page-5#post-20708730

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/layer-feed-and-breeding-roosters.1282637/

 

[skwarksy]

just taking a break from reading all these threads ,went out to see girls one of them was walking round garden the others trying to figure out how to do it too !I managed to catch her only by grabbing her tail ,don,t know how she got out but I have double checked every where all secure now

 

[aart]

Spending a few bucks on a bedding fork was the solution. Never thought of using one on wood chips but it's amazingly effective.

Like this one?
Best chip mover EVER!!

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I use PDZ all year with no problems. I fill a tray under my roosts and just scoop it like cat litter (it's never exposed to possible water spillage). Actually eliminates ammonia fumes and helps to dry out the poo and it can go right the compos

Agree PDZ is a huge win for my coop too!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Over thinking it all. Thinking every lil sneeze is a respiratory infection. Had I stopped and just watched I would have realized that some chickens do indeed sneeze for other reasons besides illness. I have one who sneezes every time she eats crumble or dust bathes. My biggest lesson I learned is not to panic.

 

[BeckyB.]

My worst mistake - Getting lazy and not locking the chickens up on occasion. Too cold, too rainy, blah blah- the weather doesn't stop predators from seeing if the chickens are locked in safe and sound. A night predator killed all 4 of our girls one summer.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

A night predator killed all 4 of our girls one summer.

@BeckyB. I am so sorry for your loss! one of my greatest lesson was to stop worrying, checking on them every night - and get an automated door! once the girls are used to heading up on their own, there is no need for me to get out there at dusk and ensure they are locked in, automated doors are a godsend!

 

[SueT]

Offering youngsters lots of treats led to picky eaters. Had to go cold turkey to get back on track.

 

[feathermaid]

We have motion lights but they shine AWAY from the coop and right into our bedroom window. If something walks by the coop at night, the light shines on them and us but not on the flock. We also recently got a remote thermometer and put it in the coop. We can read the temperature display from the house. We also got chicks before the coop was ready. It was there from previous homeowner. We didn't realize it needed so much work so the chicks lived in the bath tub for 2 days. It was an older chicken wired area. Who would think chicken wire wasn't really for chickens? It is now hardware cloth. We are still learning.

That's similar to how my motion lights were. The chickens would set off the light at dusk, and continue to just hang out under the light until it got dark... then they were stuck on the ground because the coop was dark. So I think that's when they just flew to fence to get up off the ground, but sometimes I would hear them making a ruckus first, so I would guide them into the coop with a flashlight. It just made things run smoother after I moved the lights out of the chicken yard.

Oh, do you have a regular thermometer, or is it a hygrometer? It's more helpful to know the humidity level than the temperature. Chicken Wire... I know right?! It's good for holding IN chickens, but not necessarily keeping OUT predators. It'll probably forever be a source of confusion.

Is that why they need ventilation in the winter? Was just talking about this very thing. I assumed it was for the ammonia in air right coops.

Yes, ventilation is just as important (if not more) in the winter as any other time. Trapping heat inside actually creates moisture. Just body heat and breathing makes a very moist environment which can bring on respiratory problems and even frostbite. No coop should ever be air tight. Using Sweet PDZ can alleviate ammonia and smelly issues. Lots of vents placed above the roosts will keep chickens out of drafts and let all that moisture escape. A dry coop makes for happy healthy chickens!

 

[feathermaid]

Because layer feed is probably responsible for the early death of three of the roosters here. It's designed for chickens that lay eggs. It isn't designed for chicks, roosters, or hens past their prime who are not laying regularly.
I've provided a link to a thread started by Kris5902 that has more information rather than type out the problems I'm aware of.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...reeding-roosters.1282637/page-5#post-20708730

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/layer-feed-and-breeding-roosters.1282637/

Thank you for posting those links. I always believed that layer wasn't good for roosters, although (some) people kept swearing it was fine.