Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[fishcrazy06]

Anyone know where to go in the Green Bay / Appleton area to purchase some baby chicks? Looking for egg layers. The family is going to get some chickens for eggs. Thanks in advance for any info. I know TSC in Appleton has them if you get there in time was just wondering if there is anywhere else or anyone whom would could go too. I do travel from Green Bay to Rhinelander and back every other Sunday as well and can go through the Wausau area or Antigo area as well depending. The son and I are going to build the coop next weekend. http://build-chicken-coop.com/pdf/chickencoop1.pdf This is basically what we are going to do but will probably go close to 5ft tall for sure on it. Any other tips you guys can offer will be great. Also will be doing the DLM as well so I will incorporate a step from the door into and out of the coop to help keep the litter inside.

Thanks in advance

 

[birds4kids]

I agree with Jim on this one. Sounds like some horses need work with desensitizing. I wouldn't get on a horse that spooks at a little noise like a hen.

Agreed, the farms I worked on had poultry running loose and one of the horses made a habit of stepping on duck feet and the duck would freak out and the horses didn't care, it was like it was payback for trying to get to his grain, we would have to give him a push to get him to shift his weight off the duck's foot..

Anyone know where to go in the Green Bay / Appleton area to purchase some baby chicks? Looking for egg layers. The family is going to get some chickens for eggs. Thanks in advance for any info. I know TSC in Appleton has them if you get there in time was just wondering if there is anywhere else or anyone whom would could go too. I do travel from Green Bay to Rhinelander and back every other Sunday as well and can go through the Wausau area or Antigo area as well depending. The son and I are going to build the coop next weekend. http://build-chicken-coop.com/pdf/chickencoop1.pdf This is basically what we are going to do but will probably go close to 5ft tall for sure on it. Any other tips you guys can offer will be great. Also will be doing the DLM as well so I will incorporate a step from the door into and out of the coop to help keep the litter inside.

Thanks in advance

I got meaties the other day at TSC. Might check some feed mills, they have shipments come in for customers, not sure if they tend to get any extras. I live close enough and get out of work early enough though. There is always Craigslist that is how I started our flock.

Far as the coop, you understand that the 10-15 bird estimate on that is MAYBE bantams, regular laying breeds I would halve that number and dual purpose go even less.
I would make the coop longer and let it cover more of the run.

 

[fishcrazy06]

I forgot to mention in my post I am only getting 4 hens. So I should be ok. I live in the city and am limited to only 4 per ordinance

 

[corewassen87]

I forgot to mention in my post I am only getting 4 hens. So I should be ok. I live in the city and am limited to only 4 per ordinance

The country store in Antigo usually has layers and meat birds on hand pretty soon here. The number is 715-623-3516 if you wanna call and check availability

 

[Firstchic]

South Forty in Clintonville. Got some chicks there last Friday and they are spry and healthy.

 

[Firstchic]

Jim, I am in Clintonville, that is not too much North than Wausau, maybe not even. ....I always get over exicited when spring comes, now have Cauliflower, beans Kale and Collards germinated......Wow, gonna have to figure out something or my garden will be in my bedroom.

 

[wyoDreamer]

@fishcrazy06 I would like to suggest that you make sure to have a little roost in your brooder for your chicks. Mine never had a roost until they were big and moved out to the coop and only 4 of the 12 roost on it. The other ones fight for space on the ramp that leads to the pop door or the top of the nest boxes - both are really poop covered and yucky. My next batch will have a roost available, and hopefully will learn to use it.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Anyone know where to go in the Green Bay / Appleton area to purchase some baby chicks? Looking for egg layers. The family is going to get some chickens for eggs. Thanks in advance for any info. I know TSC in Appleton has them if you get there in time was just wondering if there is anywhere else or anyone whom would could go too. I do travel from Green Bay to Rhinelander and back every other Sunday as well and can go through the Wausau area or Antigo area as well depending. The son and I are going to build the coop next weekend. http://build-chicken-coop.com/pdf/chickencoop1.pdf This is basically what we are going to do but will probably go close to 5ft tall for sure on it. Any other tips you guys can offer will be great. Also will be doing the DLM as well so I will incorporate a step from the door into and out of the coop to help keep the litter inside.

Thanks in advance

I have one of those coops. I wouldn't put more than 3 hens in it. I would also put hardware cloth on the bottom and add some wheels on one end & handles on the other so you can move it around the yard. Making it taller is a good idea because it can be difficult to get in there & catch one of them, especially if they are in the area underneath the coop.

Personally, I would build a small insulated shed and attach a dog kennel or other fencing to it instead. They are so much easier to clean when you can just walk into them. I would also suggest you have a door wide enough to get a wheelbarrow through so you can clean out the deep litter in the spring. They usually do not come outside much in the winter so make the coop bigger than you think you need to give them some space to stretch their wings & not feel "cooped up". Windows, vents &/or skylights are good ideas for your coop so they get some sunlight in the winter, adequate ventilation to keep ammonia fumes down in winter & keep fresh air circulating in both winter & summer. A poop board under the roosts will help make cleaning easier & add a little extra "floor" space.

Are you looking to get chickens just for egg production? As hens get older, they slow down in the amount of eggs they lay, so if having lots of eggs is important, I would suggest one of the production breeds. They are egg laying machines, laying almost daily, but they stop laying and die between 2 & 3 years of age. The heritage breeds do not lay nearly as often as production breeds but they will lay for many years. They do slow down in the winter months but they pick right back up in the spring. And as they age, they do not lay as many eggs per year.

If you decide to go with production breeds, any TSC or feed store will carry them. They are usually listed at TSC as "assorted pullets" because they are sex linked birds. If you decide to go with heritage breeds, you might be able to find someone on here that might have the breed(s) you are looking for.

Good luck and welcome to the Cheesehead thread!

 

[birds4kids]

If a tractor no need to get a wheelbarrow inside, just move it and clean up behind.
Why insulate when ventilation will let all the heat out?

 

[jvls1942]

good sunday afternoon,

If you are going to use it like a tractor, if you don't want to put wheels on it, at least make skid runners to make it easier to move.
make the nest area high so that you don't have to squat to see if there are eggs in the nest.

In order to have a continuous supply of eggs, you will need to get new replacement chickens before the older ones retire . so you will need extra space for the added few. i know that means you will go above the 4 allowable chickens, but after awhile, you will sort of bend that rule.
it just seems to work out that way ..

that rule is not very strictly enforced,.. and if you explain that you are going to cut back to 4 as soon as you figure out which ones you want to keep, the gustapo will understand.

firstchic, Madison is at least 2 weeks ahead of us for starting their gardens.
.
.......jiminwisc.....