Starting a New Flock!

[blazzin]

Hi everyone!!

It’s been a while (3 years) since our major coop overhaul project and we are starting a whole new flock this spring! Don’t worry we didn’t eat the old hens, they are now retired on our farm in Northern California to live out their golden years, lol.

Since all the feed stores have chicks we went on an Easter egg hunt (baby chick hunt) last weekend. We drove all over Southern California bouncing from feed store to feed store in search of the chicks on our list. Buying chicks this way is very interesting, you never know what you will end up with.

Well you all know how it goes, we wanted 12 chicks and ended up with 19!!
We just moved them from an extra large storage bin to a much bigger stock tank. In six weeks we will transition them to the coop!!

 

[Huntmaster]

Looking good only thing I see that might help is to set your waterer up on something. Adding just a bit of height to get it up out of bedding will keep water clean much longer. Looks like a nice mix of chicks edit just seen you do have water up in new brooder.

 

[blazzin]

Looking good only thing I see that might help is to set your waterer up on something. Adding just a bit of height to get it up out of bedding will keep water clean much longer. Looks like a nice mix of chicks edit just seen you do have water up in new brooder.

Thanks for checking out my set up!

 

[blazzin]

19 chicks total!!
1 Aurstlorp
1 Cherry Egger
1 Leg Horn
1 Production Blue
1 Welbar
1 Black Maran Sexlink
1 Buff Orpington
1 Lavender Orpington
1 Rhode Island Red
2 Black Copper Marans
2 Easter Eggers
2 Olive Eggers
2 Americana
2 Barnerveld

 

[Huntmaster]

19 chicks total!!
1 Aurstlorp
1 Cherry Egger
1 Leg Horn
1 Production Blue
1 Welbar
1 Black Maran Sexlink
1 Buff Orpington
1 Lavender Orpington
1 Rhode Island Red
2 Black Copper Marans
2 Easter Eggers
2 Olive Eggers
2 Americana
2 Barnerveld

Boy you did go on an Easter chick hunt.

 

[Huntmaster]

Looks like they are doing well also noticed all those full crops. Have you offered them chick grit yet?

 

[blazzin]

Looks like they are doing well also noticed all those full crops. Have you offered them chick grit yet?

Hey Huntmaster, we have not yet. They are about 3 weeks old now. Think it might be time?

 

[TaylorGlade]

Hey Huntmaster, we have not yet. They are about 3 weeks old now. Think it might be time?

I do from day one because they may eat fluff. You have a beautiful new flock family! We have australorps and absolutely love them. I had never heard of a cherry egger and had to look that one up. Very cool breed May they all be hens - if that's what you wanted.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hey Huntmaster, we have not yet. They are about 3 weeks old now. Think it might be time?

Grit can be offered at any point and will help them break down any bedding or bugs they might pick up and eat.

 

[Huntmaster]

Hey Huntmaster, we have not yet. They are about 3 weeks old now. Think it might be time?

Yes, and as others have stated it can be offered from day one. Not needed if only eating processed feed but is always a very good precaution. As they try and can eat bedding, grass, treats, bugs and anything not processed/pre ground. And the grit is their only way to grind/process their food.