New to the flock - Please dont peck!

[Eggsplorer]

Hey everyone!

New to the forum and new to the world of backyard chickens, but super excited to get started! Were in the process of getting everything ready for our first flock of eight chickens (because apparently, chicken math starts before they even arrive - we started with 4). Here's what were starting with:

The Flock: 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Australorps, 1 Silkie, and 1 Olive Egger (breed TBD - surprise eggs are fun, right?).

Food Choice: After some research, we decided to go with Scratch and Peck feed. Would love to hear if anyone has tips or experiences with it!

The Coop: Were building it ourselves and planning to use river sand as the flooring. Hoping it'll help with drainage, odor, and easy cleanup - any advice from those who use sand?

Since were still in the planning phase, I'd love to hear from seasoned chicken keepers! A few questions we have:

1. Dust Baths: We know they need them, but what's the best setup? Do you build a designated area, or will they just pick a spot? Any must-have ingredients besides dirt? Or, what is your favorite dust bath brand?

2. Integrating Different Breeds: With a mix of larger breeds and a Silkie, should we be concerned about pecking order issues? Any tips for making sure the little one holds her own?

3. Coop & Run Tips: Anything you wish you had done differently when setting up your first coop?

5. Free Ranging : Our back yard is being fully fenced and we plan to let the chickens free range during the day while keeping them secure at night. For those who free range with a fenced yard - any tips on keeping them safe and making sure they dont destroy everything in sight?

6. General Newbie Wisdom: What's one thing you wish you knew before getting your first flock?

Excited to be part of the community - thanks in advance for the advice! Looking forward to sharing our chicken adventures (and inevitable chicken-related chaos) with you all!

Signed,
Eggsplorer

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hello!! I am mostly duck person so I won’t answer all your chicken questions but I’m so glad you joined us. Welcome to BYC!!

 

[Eggsplorer]

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! I look forward to all sorts of poultry posting and funny chicken chaos LOL! God bless!!

 

[LoveClockwise]

1. Dust Baths: We know they need them, but what's the best setup? Do you build a designated area, or will they just pick a spot? Any must-have ingredients besides dirt? Or, what is your favorite dust bath brand

Welcome to BYC! My hens just pick a random spot of dirt for a dust bath.

 

[Eggsplorer]

Welcome to BYC! My hens just pick a random spot of dirt for a dust bath.

Good to know! I want to make sure that they have everything they need prior to them being ready to move to the coop, and have figured out that there is much to learn. I am so glad I found this forum!! And thank you for the welcome Glad to be here

 

[User690263]

Welcome to BYC! Feel free to make yourself right at home

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Love your screen name!

A word of caution on using natural sand...I used arroyo sand originally in my coop and run and found the birds were contracting a lot of Coccidiosis, I could only assume it came from the sand being contaminated by things in nature. I have never used River Sand so it's possible that is different. I eventually switched to pine mulch and have never looked back. Just be careful.

1. If you free range, they will find their own spots, I've tried to make dust bathing areas only to find them taking a bath in my flower bed instead.

2. Aside from breeds with big top knots hanging off their heads, most breeds big and small get along together. Always quarantine new birds for several weeks, and when mixing birds always keep new birds caged or behind a fence for 2 or 3 weeks, everybody sees, nobody touches. Mixing day should be less aggressive.

3. 4 sq feet per bird in the coop, 10 sq ft per bird in the run, more if you can offer it. You should be able to stand up in your coop, lots of ventilation in the eaves and don't let them roost too high.(prevents sprains and strains in the legs when they land coming off roost bars. Use a 2x4 for a roost bar, 4 side up.)

5. Depending on the size of your yard, it may end up barren as the Sahara.

6. Get a variety of breeds, I started with an all black flock and it was boring. (Black Australorps, but they did however end up to be my favorite breed. )

7. Enjoy this new adventure! Chickens really can enrich your life, they are so endearing. Handle the chicks a LOT, let them climb in your lap as babies daily, it turns them into big lap warmers as adults.

Welcome to our community!

 

[tlcmurphy]

Welcome to BYC!

That lovely area in your back yard that is just perfect to plant something beautiful in the Spring? THAT is where the chickens will take their dust bath. Don’t worry about making one!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Which S&P feed? Mash (whole/crushed grains) or pellets? Mash is best served wet or fermented to force them to eat everything in the mix, especially the fines that make it a complete feed.

The Silkie may or may not be an issue. Sometimes extremely docile birds or birds of a different feather (literally) get bullied by others. Having a lot of available space, feeders and hiding places helps, but also have a plan of what you're willing to do if it turns out she can't be with the others. If you have the space and budget, she may need a separate enclosure with a few others of her kind.

 

[Eggsplorer]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Love your screen name!

A word of caution on using natural sand...I used arroyo sand originally in my coop and run and found the birds were contracting a lot of Coccidiosis, I could only assume it came from the sand being contaminated by things in nature. I have never used River Sand so it's possible that is different. I eventually switched to pine mulch and have never looked back. Just be careful.

1. If you free range, they will find their own spots, I've tried to make dust bathing areas only to find them taking a bath in my flower bed instead.

2. Aside from breeds with big top knots hanging off their heads, most breeds big and small get along together. Always quarantine new birds for several weeks, and when mixing birds always keep new birds caged or behind a fence for 2 or 3 weeks, everybody sees, nobody touches. Mixing day should be less aggressive.

3. 4 sq feet per bird in the coop, 10 sq ft per bird in the run, more if you can offer it. You should be able to stand up in your coop, lots of ventilation in the eaves and don't let them roost too high.(prevents sprains and strains in the legs when they land coming off roost bars. Use a 2x4 for a roost bar, 4 side up.)

5. Depending on the size of your yard, it may end up barren as the Sahara.

6. Get a variety of breeds, I started with an all black flock and it was boring. (Black Australorps, but they did however end up to be my favorite breed. )

7. Enjoy this new adventure! Chickens really can enrich your life, they are so endearing. Handle the chicks a LOT, let them climb in your lap as babies daily, it turns them into big lap warmers as adults.

Welcome to our community!

Lots of great advice to unpack here, thank you so much! I had not heard of Coccidiosis before, or where it comes from, so I will be looking into that very carefully before choosing the right material for the coop. Thank you for that tidbit of knowledge.

My kids intend to show their chickens in 4H this year, and so I am hoping that the Silkie is able to get along, because that is my daughters intended show chicken. We will watch carefully and ensure that she stays safe.

We have a large enough back yard to comfortably let the 8 chickens roam freely, but I believe that you might be right and it will turn into a desert LOL. We live in Idaho if that makes a difference. So lots of green, but very diverse weather and inconsistent rainfall in the summer