There is no comparison to fresh eggs produced by hens running around eating a diverse diet. Chickens are also hilarious to watch and while observing them you will begin to understand some common sayings like " hen pecked", "hen party", and "cocky".
What you need to get started with grown chickens
A coop safe from predators or a fence. I love priemier electric chicken fencing. Premier1supplies.com PoultryNet 12/48/3.
A water tank- tractor supply has a nice variety.
A feed pan. Anything flat will do.
Apple cider vinegar " from the mother"
Oyster shell
Layer pellets- I prefer Tucker Feed non-gmo layer pellets
Diatomaceous earth
What you need if starting with baby chicks
A safe box or crate with tall sides
Brooder heater- tractor supply has them
Thermometer
Small waterer
Flat piece of wood
Non-medicated chic starter feed
Pine shavings
I order baby chicks from Cackle Hatchery cacklehatchery.com and pay the extra to have them vaccinated. They will come in the mail at 2 days old and need to be immediatly picked up and placed under a heat lamp or brooder heater that maintains a temperature of 95 degrees. The temperature needs to be reduced by about 5 degrees every week until about 6 weeks of age. At seven weeks baby chicks should be fully feathered and able to handle weather down to 50 degrees.
The baby chicks will need warm water immediately upon arrival. Pick the baby chicks up and gently dip their beaks in the water. They should drink the water readily after being shown where it is.
Place a flat piece of wood in the brooder and sprinkle some starter feed on the wood. Tap on the wood with a fingernail until the baby chicks come towards the sound and begin to eat.
Keep fresh food and water out for the baby chicks at all times. The first week is important to provide luke warm and not cold water. Monitor brooder temperatures regularly. If the temperatures are too hot baby chicks will become listless and droop their heads and wings. If baby chicks get too cold they will huddle together and often suffocate eachother accidentally.
Put your baby chicks in a safe place. There are many, many predators which love to eat baby chicks. We have a wood shipping container with a removable lid made with small hardware cloth. Nothing large enough to hurt the chicks can get through it, so they stay safely in the shop at the barn. However, if you don't have a chicken Fort Knox, a large cardboard box in the laundry room will work for several weeks.
NEVER use Cedar shavings with baby chicks. It is toxic to them. I love pine shavings but some people use shredded paper. I've personally never tried anything but pine shavings.
Once your chicks reach 7 weeks old you can put them in an outdoor coop without heat if outdoor temperatures don't get below the 50's. I put mine outside with a brooder heater ( not a heat lamp) at about 4 weeks old in a safe coop.
The next several months are fun to watch, interact with, and enjoy your chickens. They will begin to recognize your voice and come running when they hear you. Slowly convert them from starter feed to grower pellets around 6 weeks of age and then to layer pellets when they start laying around 6 months. Their first eggs will be rather small but don't worry, they will get larger as the hens grow.
Once your hens are outdoors and growing add 1 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar "from the mother" per gallon of water to their drinking water once a week. I also add a handful of diatomaceous earth to their dust bath every week, which prevents and treats mites, and a handful of oyster shell to their feed once they start laying. Keep fresh water available at all times and feed enough feed that there is a bit left over after everyone eats their fill. Chickens also love garden scraps, especially pumpkins. Pumpkins are a natural dewormer for chickens too!
Enjoy your chickens and all the farm fresh eggs!
Comments