Backyard Chickens?

[Ravenbird]

Here's my flock of 21 at 4 weeks old back in 2016. Note I had not yet put hardware cloth on the chainlink, I locked them up in the coop at night. They free ranged all day. The numbers were manageable and fun but I'd never do it again - done on purpose because we thought we wanted to learn to butcher and have fresh chicken, but that's another story.

 

[Ravenbird]

@Ddski5 - How are the baby chicks doing? Have you named them yet?

 

[Ddski5]

@Ddski5 - How are the baby chicks doing? Have you named them yet?

The chicks have been doing fantastic!!

Getting a little worried about Freyja though..at first she was very calm and docile with them but her prey drive seems to be amping up ever day with them. That right there is something I will have to keep an eye on for sure.

I was running into a dilemma though….
1. Every time I cleaned the brooder the chicks were getting bolder and bolder.
2. Three chicks almost flew out today and it would be extremely hard to catch them if they got out.
3. They are pooping machines and poop is everywhere in that brooder.
4. I have 5 more baby chicks coming on Aug 2- that’s 7 days.
5. I am not building a separate brooder and heating cave.

So at 2 weeks old, I am transitioning them today to the big 8x8 coop. Everything on the internet says not to do it until 6weeks old but I just don’t have another option.

I completely finished the coop this morning. Predator proofed and a sand bottom.

 

[Ddski5]

So glad my youngest, Tristen, is still home from college to help me! I move her in her dorm this Monday. So we moved the brooder inside of the coop and I cut a hole in the side to let them venture out on their own.

They went nuts! They seemed so happy and excited to be free and play in the sand. They played so much that they exhausted themselves and fell asleep in the holes they dug. Then they woke up and did it again.


It is so funny to see how happy they are…weird to me to think that chickens can be happy?.?.?…

Gonna keep the brooder in the coop so they will have something familiar to them and they can go in there under the heating pad if they feel insafe.

 

[MyBuddy]

It is so funny to see how happy they are…weird to me to think that chickens can be happy?.?.?…

I think all animals can be happy! We don't see it if we don't have that particular animal. I'm always amazed that people who never saw horses up close and personal are surprised that they can be so friendly and interested in you. I always tell them, they can almost be like a dog! Main difference is they're always looking for food! LOL Where dogs just want to be with you. Nothing replaces a dog. In my opinion. But I think all animals have personalities and can be happy, sad and angry LOL

So don't piss off your chickens!

 

[Ravenbird]

So you have electrics at the coop for the heater? That's where my brooder was, in the coop. If you got another heating pad you could put another box with the same set up in there where the older chicks couldn't get to the new chicks. They hear & see each other, but can't peck the newbies. Newbies safe, older chicks have a warm safe place + freedom to roam. Integration should be easier. Trial and error, but it always works out.

LOL, a baby chick passed out in the sand will give you a heart flutter moment!

 

[Ddski5]

So you have electrics at the coop for the heater? That's where my brooder was, in the coop. If you got another heating pad you could put another box with the same set up in there where the older chicks couldn't get to the new chicks. They hear & see each other, but can't peck the newbies. Newbies safe, older chicks have a warm safe place + freedom to roam. Integration should be easier. Trial and error, but it always works out.

LOL, a baby chick passed out in the sand will give you a heart flutter moment!

No electronics in the coop except for a really long extension cord.

I think they have acclimated well. I haven’t used the heating pad all week but have it in there just in case temp drops quickly and also for the security of the cave likeness.

That’s a great idea though, to brood the new chicks in the coop. I think I will start them inside the house this time though, at least for the first couple of days. Initially, the heat got to three of them, wobbling around unsteady and I had to hand feed them electrolytes. Then I will transition them the brooder to the coop.

 

[Rits]

I am transitioning them today to the big 8x8 coop. Everything on the internet says not to do it until 6weeks old but I just don’t have another option.

How warm are your nights? They only need it to be 85 at 2 weeks old, then 5 deg less every week so probably only need that heat source for another week or two and then they'll be fine. I brood mine in our coop during he summer all the time but always have a heat source for them.

LOL, a baby chick passed out in the sand will give you a heart flutter moment!

Sometimes I still have to double take my sun bathing hens lol!

 

[Ddski5]

The chicken coop is finally completed and the door is open to the run.

 

[Ddski5]

Unleash the hounds!!!

 

[Ddski5]

 

[Rits]

Yeah! Marvelous job! Enjoy those eggs and chickens for many years to come!!

 

[Ravenbird]

You're in business now! Time to pull up a chair and watch the shenanigans! Great looking coop & run for sure!

 

[MyBuddy]

It looks awesome! Looks like this will be a fun past time for Dog and Human alike!! . Enjoy the chicken shenanigans and eggs!! And keep posting pictures ! I want to see them grow up!

Which reminds me...I need to see my friend for more eggs!

 

[JanS]

Wow it came out great!

 

[Ravenbird]

Are the new chicks coming this week @Ddski5 ?

 

[Ddski5]

Are the new chicks coming this week @Ddski5 ?

Received the new 5 chicks last night.
Welsummer
Buckeye
Blue lace red Wyandotte
Praireblue EE
Starlight green EE

Damn they are itty-bitty. They can’t be much than a couple days old.

Moved the brooder to one of the kids room- shut the a/c vent and turned the heating pad to level 5.
Temp in room is 85.
Under pad is 95-98.

The PB EE and the BLRW were not doing well, had to hand feed them. Just stumbling all around- they got better/stronger fast.

They absolutely love the heating pad cave.

 

[Kswoodssue]

The chicks have been doing fantastic!!

Getting a little worried about Freyja though..at first she was very calm and docile with them but her prey drive seems to be amping up ever day with them. That right there is something I will have to keep an eye on for sure.

I was running into a dilemma though….
1. Every time I cleaned the brooder the chicks were getting bolder and bolder.
2. Three chicks almost flew out today and it would be extremely hard to catch them if they got out.
3. They are pooping machines and poop is everywhere in that brooder.
4. I have 5 more baby chicks coming on Aug 2- that’s 7 days.
5. I am not building a separate brooder and heating cave.

So at 2 weeks old, I am transitioning them today to the big 8x8 coop. Everything on the internet says not to do it until 6weeks old but I just don’t have another option.

I completely finished the coop this morning. Predator proofed and a sand bottom.

If it is hot there, they will gather where it is warm. I just put csrdboard or plywood around them for a bit to keep the heat in.

 

[Ravenbird]

Damn they are itty-bitty. They can’t be much than a couple days old.

If they came in the mail, that's how it should be! They can survive on the yolk of the egg for up to 3 days without food/water, that's why they ship them as soon as they can after hatch. Once they run out of nutrition from the egg, they begin to dehydrate fast plus need to eat! Hope everyone is in good shape by now with your good care. So freaking cute!

 

[Ddski5]

Update:

The first 6 have been in the coop for 1 week now and are thriving. Really fun to watch those velociraptors running wild in there. They are decimating locust that are digging up out of the ground right now. I think the Golden Wyandotte is the Alpha dog. He kicks everyone’s butt- squares off and everything…

The newest 5 are in the brooder in the house. Just been too hot to move them outside. Yesterday, it was 101 feels like 112. I tried to move them out to the garage but after 5mins, two of the chicks fell to their tummies and spread their wings out- just too hot. I guess with me working outside all day long, it doesn’t feel that hot to me. Those little chicks immediately went into emergency mode. Nope…moved them back inside.