By request...Here we go...
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Chicken Raising 101 - The How To Thread
Question 1: What are the 10 most important things to do/buy BEFORE my chicks arrive?
Question # 2: What to feed them, at what age(or stage) to change, how often to feed. What table scraps are good and what are NO NEVER feed them that.
Re question 1: Make sure what ever you are putting the chicks in, they can't get out of! When my first ones came, I had a small dog crate ready for them... the slats in the wires are so narrow, I didn't think about it. I was happy as a clam, getting the chicks out of the box, dipping their little beaks in water and setting them in the crate.... I had about 10 in the crate, turned around to get another one, turned back, and they were all out in the kitchen floor wandering around, with our Cat sitting on the back of a chair just watching... scared me to death. I put them all back in, and as I'd put them back in, they'd run right back through the crate wires... I wish I'd had a video camera on myself... it was definitely a "funniest video" moment. :)
I've only had chickens for 2 years, and my previous experience was when I was growing up, so I really am not an expert, and don't assume to be.... I'm sure there are lots more here that can give much better advice to the rest of the questions, but I don't want anyone to make the same mistake I did! :)
Luvs....NEVER feed meat scraps...that's for sure...Don't compost it either... Dump them in your bucket to raise maggots in if that is your choice...
MissssssyLissa!!! Welcome to 101!!! Love ya babe!!
I'm for sure no expert either, but have learned a couple (ok, I fess up....probably more than a couple) of what not to do's. For instance......if you set your shipping box with chicks in it on say an upside down bucket so you can get to them better, realize that the box will be shifting as you remove chicks and the chicks move and the box can tip right over and fall on the ground.....tossing a few chicks. Big, uh duh moment for me! Luckily, no one was hurt.....though my count may have been off by a couple. Amazing that the little buggers can go flying through the air, land, shake it off and go on!
That said, when ordering mail order chicks make sure you find out what the company policy is on credit for DOA is. I found out after receiving one shipment where the company sent a how to care for chicks info sheet, that the company policy was that they will only give credit on DOA chicks if the post office person is witness to it so you have to open your box there and check. I don't think all hatcheries are like this, but its better to be safe than sorry.
Also, when you get your chicks make sure to get some warm water and dissolve a little sugar in it and dip each chicks beak in the water.........this will help them look for a water once they are down and about. I usually dip their beak once, wait for them to swallow it down, then do it again just to be sure they get the idea. I also put a little sugar in their water for a day or two afterwards. I have no idea exactly how much sugar......I don't put much, just a little. Also, especially if it is cold or chilly outside, try to give them warm water for awhile so their body temp doesn't drop too fast. Just what I do.....I'm sure others have more to add to this.
Christy
Awesome ( I do like that word) great so far. Maybe more will post their T&T tricks and tips later. Must all be busy.
Can you over feed your chicks? I know I have plenty of feed out with the chicks but yesterday I didnt give them any thing extra like eggs or oatmeal or table scraps but when I went out this morning they were totally out of feed. Today I put in some table scraps and oatmeal and rice. They are going crazy with it.
Dusty, why wouldn't you feed them meat scraps? Wouldn't that be a good source of protein? I am talking ground meat here.
i feed mine left over chicken strips . it was funny how it started i was taking down scraps from the night befores diner i thought it was just rice but then i relized there was chicken in there i was horified but they ate it all and liked it so i give them it once a month
josh
Thanks, Lucky, I have, on occasion, given mine meat scraps with no ill effects especially in the winter when they can't get out and eat bugs.
GG
My budgie loves meat! Especially chicken. Little cannibal.
i know
the first set of chickens i had when they layed there first egg i got it out and one came back in and i said good work and put it on the ground and i turned to clean there water dish and i heard a noise i turned back around and it had pecked it open and ate it now i know they do it all the time so i dont give them the chance
question #3....
How big of a house do they need? and how big of an enclosure? (for full grown)
Isn't the rule three square feet per bird?
What kind of protection do they need in the winter?
I'm talking a Canadian winter, -30F or so for a few weeks.
Threegardeners, they need at least 2 square feet of space per chick, and in the winter you will need some source of heat like a heat lamp. I use a 250w bulb and a water heater base to keep their water from freezing. The heat bulb can be either red or white. I use white 14hrs daily in the dead of winter so they keep laying for me. I use a red one when there is more than 14hrs of daylight. We also have sub-zero temps here. In fact, I think we might be a little colder than you according to the zone map. You are 5a, and we are 4b. We do have consistent -20+ temps for a few weeks in Jan and Feb.
GG
will I need a heat lamp here in CA too? our winters are always above 20* @ night.
2 sq ft is the pen size or the house size?
wow good thing our winters dont get to cold here
it really depends on the size and nature of the bird, how much space they need. soem don't do confinelment well at all. the 2 sq feet she mentioned i belive is for where they roost at night. during the day they need twice that at the minimum. frankly, as everyone here knows, i like my chickens to move around. excercise and fresh air makes for better eggs. so although mine free range, they also are not crowded if they were to be locked in... my most crowded pen in 4 chickens to 36 square feet. and they are only in there temporarily...
i let mine out for about 6 hours every day but other then that they stay in ther coup which has about 20 square metres off space as well as a enclosed coup as a shelter
so that is about 60 sq feet, or 180 sq feet??? plus the coop... for how many birds? i might add, your silkies are small, and do well in confinement...
oneanjl, you won't need any heat in the winter for full grown birds. We get colder than you do out here in the Central Valley and they don't even remotely need heat--just a dry place to roost with no drafts. Mine have been roosting outside even in 30 degree weather.
Well, my sis (peafowlanjl) has got me talked into Bantams.... andd my city will only let me have 2 of them without a special permit.... we want to keep them as pets and egg producers.... but not sure if the bantam eggs will be enough for my big family! lol! so i am doing some investigating :o)
that is right, the crucial time for heat is the first six weeks or so while they feather out...
oneanjl, soem bantams are really good layers, about 3 eggs a week. so 2 would give you a half dozen... are you near catscan? maybe she would consider starting some bantams...
you might want to look into that permit, may be worth it. you could have a few more, and sell the extras to your neighbors. i don't see how even two of the absolute BEST egg layers from Australia could feed a family!!!
thats my main run. my silkies have about 4 square metres in there pen but they get let out into my front paddock away from the others so they dont get bred by them and in my main pen i have about 20 somthing and in my silkie pen i have 3
so, to translate, that is 36 square feet of outdoor space for three silkies, soon to be six silkies. and 180 square feet of outdoor area for 20 other birds, med to large sized...
i am thinking 2 feet per bird is more for when you are raising to buthcer...
is it big enough
TamaraFaye, howbig of an outdoor pen doyou think I would need? and how big of a coop?
I would love to get the bantams right away...but it looks like we may have to wait, plus I have lots of research to do! lol! I know how to feed a parakeet....thats it!
I just want to incorporate a yard area and coop in the hardscaping plans for our yard.
instead of a permanent coop, consider a chicken tractor.... add that to your research!
Someone come talk to my chicks, they are eating meatloaf and scalloped taters right now.
I say the bigger the better! Just take a look at the area you plan on fencing in. Does it look comfortable for all the chickens involved? Don't forget some shade for them.
and the area u put your chickens in will turn to dirt and crap pretty quickly so u gotta be prepared for that
the area I am planning to use is 4 inches thick in base rock. we were going to cement that entire area. should I leave the base rocks (sharp) and put some kind of covering over them...or should I pour the cement?
Hey oneanjl--I "accidentally" found myself on egg.bid and saw someone offering bantam Buff Orpington eggs. They said they are great layers. Orpingtons are dolls--and although you would end up with some roos you could rehome them pretty quickly--or just keep 4 that you think are pullets and offer the rest on CraigsList as straight run. I'd be glad to help you hatch them:0)
Hey there threegardeners! Your question about protection for your chicks in -30f The only protection I can think of is called re-location, you know location, location,location. Sorry that was meant to be funny, but Brrrrrrrrrrr. That sounds mighty cold. Good luck seriously though. A small propane heater might do the trick? but I don't think heat lamps would be enough. Haystack
There is some guy on You-tube who demonstrates his home made warmer in a very cold climate. It was a light bulb mounted on a board and then covered with a terracotta flower pot. The chickens sat around it and it kept their combs from freezing. I think he was in Minnesota?
Melissa_Ohio. I read your comment about your new chick experience. It was great, I could just see all those little chicks escaping while the Kitty was salavating. Those are treasured memories when nobody gets hurt or loses a pet. Thanks for the laugh. Haystack
Hi there catscan: I just finished reading your comment. Your right, infact I subscribe to Back yard Poultry, and that article is in there with how to do it plans. If anyone would like a copy of how to build that let me know. I'll get it to you.