Information Overload + Analysis Paralysis

[thecatumbrella]

The best I have is video walk-thrus I made for a friend of mine, and I forgot they can't be attached to the post. I'm going to try to take some screen shots from the video. I'll edit again to add them in just moment.

Okay...edited again to add photos. The overall view is looking North and the other is showing the aeration tubing. It was installed via a trench before I had the raised garden beds there, and goes to a splitter because we needed two aerator stones for the size of our pond.

That is gorgeous!!

 

[redinator]

I swear I have packed 5 years worth of education into these last 4-5 weeks. I am thinking myself into a tailspin here. I naturally have an analytical mind, and I struggle with perfectionism. Like I had mentioned in my intro, I also have a ton of respect for all living things. My logic mind is telling me that all the posts of injured hens and dying chicks only seem to be extensive because, generally speaking, people tend not to post when things are going wonderful and all is well. But I'm fighting off the panicky thoughts that I am going to get my 6 babies on July 8 and I'm going to inadvertently kill them all.

All of that on top of stressing about how the layout will be where I'm going to place the coop and chicken run. And I want it to be mostly aesthetically pleasing, and also still be functional. I attached a preliminary plan in case anyone wants to review/critique

Ugh! I'm laughing at myself about the coop/run part, because I am seeing how I am acting as if I have royalty coming to live on my property.

But with all that said, and jokes aside, I have read 'Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple: A Fun, Friendly Guide to Backyard Chicken Keeping' by Nikki Husted from Purely Chickens. There was a lot of great info in there, but I would like to see more than one person's perspective so I can feel more prepared. I have read through at least 2-3 dozen threads in this forum also, but feel like I have a few empty nooks in my mind that need filling with more info.

Do any of you have any recommendations for other books or online articles I could read that may help alleviate my overthinking mind? Maybe videos on YouTube that would be helpful?

Any tips on what the most important things to consider when deciding on brand of chick starter, and also feed for when they're older?

Any words of wisdom for a 1st time chicken mom?

Words of encouragement even?

I would even accept if someone commented saying I'm overthinking by way too much. I tend to do that with things that are important; especially if my decision affects another living being. I'll take whatever you got to give.

Welcome to BYC! I love this site rather than books because, as you stated, you get many perspectives from many people. The opinions and advice come from all sorts of people from small hobby farms to large scale chicken operations from all over the world. What works in colder climates maybe overkill in warmer climates. This also applies to concerns about predators do you need something bear proof, or just the random stray dog.

You'll also get to swap war stories and a shoulders to cry on when (not if) something goes wrong and someone to cheer you on while hatching/brooding chicks. You'll also get advice from others who are just starting out, like me and seasoned Veterans who have sage advice offered freely solely to help you achieve your goals and keep your chickens safe, happy and healthy.

This has been the most supportive community on social media I've come across in my 40+ plus years. Hope you love it too.

 

[dearmeghann]

I completely understand how you're feeling, I was there last year! I got so stuck and worried that we ended up starting with 8-week-old pullets. It was a great decision for us, but we missed out on the experience of raising chicks. This year, we're going to try and get some chicks - if possible, hah! I've been researching all over again just to make sure I didn't miss something meaningful with the setup.

As for outdoor predators, we've been really lucky. The only ones we've seen were opossums, raccoons, and skunks. We have tame outside cats, so I'm not sure if that's why we've never had anything try to break in. We feed the outside cats, so the opossums and raccoons will gladly eat the cat food instead of wasting their time and energy breaking into the coop. During Hurricane Helene, we had all of the cats, plus a skunk and opossum, hiding out in our shed.

We're building a bigger coop/run on a different part of our property. We didn't anticipate the wind being such an issue for us. We're still taking all safety measures, just in case, because it would only take some bad luck. My friend lost a few birds because of a wild pack of dogs.

Be mindful of your locks and latches. Carabiners are our friends, haha!

 

[BeckyRK1974]

That is gorgeous!!

Thanks. It's even better in mid-summer when it's all filled in. I had cucumbers on the arches last year. This year will be a small variety of squash (hopefully).

 

[BeckyRK1974]

Welcome to BYC! I love this site rather than books because, as you stated, you get many perspectives from many people. The opinions and advice come from all sorts of people from small hobby farms to large scale chicken operations from all over the world. What works in colder climates maybe overkill in warmer climates. This also applies to concerns about predators do you need something bear proof, or just the random stray dog.

You'll also get to swap war stories and a shoulders to cry on when (not if) something goes wrong and someone to cheer you on while hatching/brooding chicks. You'll also get advice from others who are just starting out, like me and seasoned Veterans who have sage advice offered freely solely to help you achieve your goals and keep your chickens safe, happy and healthy.

This has been the most supportive community on social media I've come across in my 40+ plus years. Hope you love it too.

I'm extremely grateful to have found this forum so gar! I've only posted my intro, and this thread so far. But it has been very helpful in filling in the gaps of info i had a feeling I was missing.

 

[BeckyRK1974]

we ended up starting with 8-week-old pullets. It was a great decision for us, but we missed out on the experience of raising chicks. This year, we're going to try and get some chicks - if possible, hah!

I thought about getting the older pullets, and part of me wishes I would have kept on with that option. But it will be fine with babies. I didn't want them till July or even August so I could be sure I was prepared. But I was feeling like I needed to go to the place I'm buying from and ask questions. Plus I wanted to know how much lead time, if any, was needed. They told me the sooner the better, so I placed the order on the spot. I'm glad I did too, because just 2 weeks later the hatchery that supplies them closed ordering because they couldn't keep up. They don't know if they'll open orders back up this year or not at this point.

We didn't anticipate the wind being such an issue for us.

Wind is definitely on my mind. I only have a few trees right now, so they'll have to be relatively out in the open. And at times there is quite a bit of wind that blows through. The coop will be positioned with the man door facing West in hopes that helps keep it from blowing straight through over the warm months. I imagined a whirlwind of bedding inside there some days if I put the side with windows facing that direction.

 

[Saddlemaker]

I swear I have packed 5 years worth of education into these last 4-5 weeks. I am thinking myself into a tailspin here. I naturally have an analytical mind, and I struggle with perfectionism. Like I had mentioned in my intro, I also have a ton of respect for all living things. My logic mind is telling me that all the posts of injured hens and dying chicks only seem to be extensive because, generally speaking, people tend not to post when things are going wonderful and all is well. But I'm fighting off the panicky thoughts that I am going to get my 6 babies on July 8 and I'm going to inadvertently kill them all.

All of that on top of stressing about how the layout will be where I'm going to place the coop and chicken run. And I want it to be mostly aesthetically pleasing, and also still be functional. I attached a preliminary plan in case anyone wants to review/critique

Ugh! I'm laughing at myself about the coop/run part, because I am seeing how I am acting as if I have royalty coming to live on my property.

But with all that said, and jokes aside, I have read 'Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple: A Fun, Friendly Guide to Backyard Chicken Keeping' by Nikki Husted from Purely Chickens. There was a lot of great info in there, but I would like to see more than one person's perspective so I can feel more prepared. I have read through at least 2-3 dozen threads in this forum also, but feel like I have a few empty nooks in my mind that need filling with more info.

Do any of you have any recommendations for other books or online articles I could read that may help alleviate my overthinking mind? Maybe videos on YouTube that would be helpful?

Any tips on what the most important things to consider when deciding on brand of chick starter, and also feed for when they're older?

Any words of wisdom for a 1st time chicken mom?

Words of encouragement even?

I would even accept if someone commented saying I'm overthinking by way too much. I tend to do that with things that are important; especially if my decision affects another living being. I'll take whatever you got to give.

If you have one, a county extension may have good info for your location. It may be run out of college or university Ag department. Our local feed store had a seminar divided between general for all newbies and second session for 4-H kids.
I've found lots of chicken videos on Facebook. I save them, put in earbuds and take notes while reading closed caption on Netflix.
I'm also an analytical type.

 

[BeckyRK1974]

a county extension may have good info

This is a great idea. I already look for their free gardening workshops, but it hadn't crossed my mind to look if they have any chicken keeping opportunities for the communities.

Thank you for this suggestion!

 

[WunnySharbit]

Welcome!
Like many have said, relax and enjoy!
(Watching my chickens helps immensely with my anxiety and helps me focus. Imitate them! Everything is new, interesting and worthy of rapt, focused attention. )

For your first chix, keep it simple.
1) keep babies warm and dry. There is a great article (article, not post) about temps/chick age. Heat at one end of brooder. Chix are messy and will spill food and water and make a mess.
2)keep chicks safe. Unless your chicken area is Fort Knox, supervise excursions. Remember, chix, like toddlers, test everything with their mouth, so be vigilant to toxins/pesticides.
3)keep chicks healthy and happy. Feed only good chick feed. Advanced feeding, treats can wait until "mom" is more comfortable. Keep living areas comfortable, but don't stress out. Chix are pretty resilient, and they will let you know if they are not happy.
4) enjoy! Spend more time observing and laughing and less time worrying. Each bird will eventually expose their own personality and quirks. You will easily tell if someone is "off," an unusual occurrence.
(Chickens are built like mini dinosaurs. The image of a T-Rex run-waddling across the yard, arms outstretched, awk-awk-awking always sets off the giggles!)

Predators will be your greatest problem. We have had a running problem with raccoons and dogs, both of whom scoff at a 5' fence. And CATS!! All my neighbors' "house"cats think my yard is their buffet and litterbox!

On the plus side, sometimes nature helps you out. "Our" raccoons won't nest/live in "our" skunk's territory (he lived 2 doors down, under the neighbor's shed). Crows don't like predators in their vicinity, will caw l o u d warnings, and will harass them: dogs, cats, hawks. I like the idea of contacting local wildlife experts. They can give you ideas specific to your region.

It looks like you have this well-in-hand. Your set-up looks amazing! I'll bet these will be some of the most spoiled chix ever! If you ever feel overwhelmed, inadequate, look in the mirror and tell yourself "I've got this! Everything will be fine." Because you do have this and everything will be great!

(T-Rex...)

 

[BeckyRK1974]

(Chickens are built like mini dinosaurs. The image of a T-Rex run-waddling across the yard, arms outstretched, awk-awk-awking always sets off the giggles!)

Oh my gosh...that makes me chuckle and think of a mini Jurassic Park right in my backyard.

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I very much appreciate it.

I have studied so hard in the last several weeks, and all the advice in this thread coupled with tidbits that I hadn't yet considered all have helped me feel more at ease.

At the moment I am seeing a parallel to when I was approaching my due date with my 1st baby. I was a Nervous Nellie but once the day came and I settled into it, everything was fine. Just like you said. I can't imagine this will be different.

I'm still fine tuning a few things with the layout. It's hard to know if I'm hitting the mark on functionality when I haven't done any of this before. And my coop is essentially a modified 6' x 8' shed, so once it's in place it isn't going anywhere. But I do believe the chickens will be comfortable regardless of the rest.