What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[Folly's place]

I've never used one of these, because I have bantams, and they are too light to open most of them. Also be careful about young birds, who won't weigh enough to open a feeder. That particular feeder seen above looks dangerous; a bird could get caught in the big open top, seems to me.
Having a concrete coop floor is a big help keeping rats out! Weasels can get through a rat tunnel too, and after the rats are dead, will go for the chickens.
Only carefully placed bait stations will eliminate a rat colony!
Domestic pet rats are the best 'pocket pets'!
Mary

 

[aart]

That particular feeder seen above looks dangerous; a bird could get caught in the big open top, seems to me.

or head stuck in the side
There are other designs that block access from the sides, when not standing on treadle.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I've never used one of these, because I have bantams, and they are too light to open most of them. Also be careful about young birds, who won't weigh enough to open a feeder. That particular feeder seen above looks dangerous; a bird could get caught in the big open top, seems to me.
Having a concrete coop floor is a big help keeping rats out! Weasels can get through a rat tunnel too, and after the rats are dead, will go for the chickens.
Only carefully placed bait stations will eliminate a rat colony!
Domestic pet rats are the best 'pocket pets'!
Mary

Yes that is my fear with the tunnels, pine martens are frequent visitors here and the rats are making an entrance for them!!
Thank you for your response, I will certainly take that into consideration!
I do plan on concrete floors throughout, but that's not going to happen for at least a year unfortunately, so for now I gotta do whatever else I can. Thanks again, much appreciated!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

or head stuck in the side
There are other designs that block access from the sides, when not standing on treadle.

Thank you Aart! That's a great suggestion. These feeders will be handmade, so that can become part of the final design! Will definitely incorporate sides now, thank you!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I've never used one of these, because I have bantams, and they are too light to open most of them. Also be careful about young birds, who won't weigh enough to open a feeder. That particular feeder seen above looks dangerous; a bird could get caught in the big open top, seems to me.
Having a concrete coop floor is a big help keeping rats out! Weasels can get through a rat tunnel too, and after the rats are dead, will go for the chickens.
Only carefully placed bait stations will eliminate a rat colony!
Domestic pet rats are the best 'pocket pets'!
Mary

I don't know about bantams but I have seen chickens using this device, the spring action on the one my friend has doesn't snap shut fast and wouldn't harm them if they were to take their foot off and it closes on them it's hard to explain but it is such that they can pull their head out if it were to close on them as it doesn't trap them as the lid isn't heavy enough. As far as I am aware he doesn't use them with the chicks. The chickens I saw using it didnt even stand on it like the one in the picture is doing, they just put one foot on it, was fascinating to watch.

 

[PouleChick]

Wow what a cool thread - I've had a very lazy day and have managed to read all 53 pages on and off! I'm so sorry for those of you that have had horrible losses along your learning journeys

My biggest boo boo was originally starting to build a little chicken tractor (Anna Whites one as the basic idea) for 3 silkies then having a total change of plan and turning it into a raised coop to fit more birds. I should have just stopped and done my big coop. dh is not letting us start it yet as we have so much work on the human house to do (like an indoor bathroom!!!). I can't wait to have a walk in coop

Second was not recognising or even looking for scaley leg mites on some silkies I bought to be mummies. Now everyone has it and having a nightmare trying to catch them all to treat them (above mentioned stupid coop doesn't allow me to get to all the corners to catch them at night!). I'm sure there are others too but need to go serve dinner!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Wow! All 53 pages? Now that is impressive Yes, it is a great thread. I'm sure it'll never end either as there will always be things we wish we'd known before !

 

[thecreekhouse]

My biggest mistake was buying straight

Hi peoples!

May I ask about when you began keeping chickens? What were the worst mistakes (or any mistakes worth noting, for that matter) you made? What you either wouldn't do again, wouldn't do in THAT way, or so on? Or even "I don't consider it a MISTAKE, per se - but I'd do this in a different way now that I'm more experienced."
Thanks much!

Hi peoples!

May I ask about when you began keeping chickens? What were the worst mistakes (or any mistakes worth noting, for that matter) you made? What you either wouldn't do again, wouldn't do in THAT way, or so on? Or even "I don't consider it a MISTAKE, per se - but I'd do this in a different way now that I'm more experienced."
Thanks much!

My biggest mistake was buying straight run chicks rather than chicks sexed as females. I’ve learned my lesson now but previously, with every new purchase of chicks I ended up with at least half of my chicks being males, meaning I had to find homes for them (you’ll find it tough to even GIVE roosters away) plus I then only had half the egg-layers I tried to buy in the first place. Now I only buy sexed chicks.

 

[JerryR708]

Yep, biggest mistake was buying straight run chicks without even knowing anything about breeds. I just walked into a feed store and bought whatever. To me a chicken was a chicken. What the heck is a RIR or an EE or a black sexy link. Just give me a variety of 6 and I will be on my way. I gave 2 roosters to the feed shop after they matured. Now I just have my three BSL, EE and RIR hens and one RIR rooster. I love them all and would do it all over again because they turned out to be beautiful birds with wonderful personalities. They love each other with no pecking order between them. They all look out for each other and share food between themselves.

 

[JerryR708]

Buying chicks before the brooding pen or even a coop. Then scrambling to set up a heat lamp, find plastic bins and cardboard boxes to contain them. Then, finding a coop/run online and getting it delivered early enough to construct before the chicks outgrow their brooder. You end up cutting corners because everyday, they just keep getting bigger and now jumping out of their pen and all over the place.