Thinking 'bout chickens

[plantsnobin]

Patrick, I notice that it looks like cedar shavings in the bottom, you might want to go with something else, as cedar can be toxic to animals. I never give grit to our chickens, as they free range and pick up what the need naturally. I wouldn't bother with a perch for them yet either. Does look like they will need more room soon. They really grow fast. A round container is good so that they don't pile up in a corner and suffocate-they need enough space that they can find their comfort zone away from or closer to the light.

[hoosierheightsfarm]

I'll try something bigger soon. Maybe tomorrow I'll put them in the new shed in a chickenwire circle.
The cedar is what they put in at the store. I knew it wasn't good for some things, I didn't know it was bad for chickens.

[flowerpower]

Patrick, I'm just gonna use newspaper in the bottom. I was so tempted to grab 6 more barred rock pullets yesterday. But I really don't need any more than the 15 wyandottes I am getting.

[bluelacedredhead]

If you use newspaper, Shred it first!! It's too slick for their little legs. You'll ending causing more problems. I have also used shredded paper from the office for chicks, but white only.

And a base of clean sand (like you would buy at the building centre for a child's sandbox) will help provide bottom heat as well as absorbing some of the mess. Highly recommended for turkey poults, if anyone is thinking of getting a few of those as well.

Karen's correct, Cedar shavings are too strong for chicks. Under 6 weeks of age, use pine shavings instead. Readily available at any feedstore; about $5 a bag here.
You can use cedar shavings mixed with pine after 6 weeks of age, but no more than 25% cedar in the mix. They do help repel parasites (mites, poultry lice, flies) and help keep the smell of the droppings down somewhat.

[hoosierheightsfarm]

I put the chicks in an old kids swimming pool today. After church I went to the neighbors sawmill and got some sawdust. I put it on top of the newspapers in the pool.
They are happily peeping away now...

[flowerpower]

Yes, I am gonna shred them. Sand on the bottom sounds like an eggsellent idea. I think that by the time I get the turkeys, they will be outside already.

And whatever that hawk is, he tried to snatch a pigeon outside the back barn door yesterday. Think he would have learned his lesson. The hens were calmly scratching for worms under the deck.

[hoosierheightsfarm]

Crazy chickens.
The chickens are getting big. Most of them have a lot of feathers.
They are really acting violent though, or something. I've just changed the light bulb, to cool it down. It is currently still about 75'.
Is this just cocks being the way they are? How do I know when it is time to put them outside?
they are really starting to scratch on the ground. They are throwing the wood shavings out of the pool now. Starting to get messy.
I'm thinking of putting them out in the shed with a heater to keep the temp up a little. it is only in the 50's here during the day.

I've read several things on the net and got a book from the library, but it doesn't really say how to tell when to put them out....

thanks guys.
4 weeks till school is out.

[plantsnobin]

Patrick, chickens will kill each other for sure. They are cute and fluffy for about 3 days, then they are not so cute, and they really do make a mess. If they are starting to fight, they may be too crowded. Sometimes they will gang up on one chicken til they kill it. Once there is one speck of blood, they will keep pecking at that. If they seem to be picking on just one, remove it to its own space. Still too cold to put them out here, but if you havea shed you could keep them in with the light on them they should be ok. Just make sure you give them plenty of space.

[hoosierheightsfarm]

I might try partioning off part of the shed, and putting them in there. I have a little more to do to get the shed more air-tight. I will try to do that this weekend.
It doesn't seem to be that they are picking on one, but one is doing the picking on all of the others.

[rena]

It is a busy time trying to get the garden out but we had chicken independence day on Wednesday.... They moved to the big girl coop. I filled it with straw and I let them out to their yard during the day and put them up at night. They have most of their feathers minus some on their heads.
Good advice from chicken people here. I read to decrease the temp by 5 degrees each week. They peck when stressed, over crowded too warm....
I had the hardest time finding grit.... but I did find some.
I doubt I can help but my email is [e-mail]

[hoosierheightsfarm]

Thanks. I still have to build my chicken tractor.
I might go out later tnight and put up some partitions.
I've turned down the heat, but it doesn't seem to have helped.
they seem very discontent.

[flowerpower]

Well, my chicks are on backorder and I am not getting them for another month. I was pissed when they told me. But the hatchery has way more orders than normal this yr.

Patrick, how are the chicks doing?

[plantsnobin]

I got my 25 Rhode Island Reds from Sandhill, they sent 27, I lost one and the rest are doing great. Harley the dog got out and killed a couple of hens, after I had sold 6 or 7 hens. So, now we are down to 4 laying hens. I have 42 eggs in the incubator, and they started hatching out yesterday, with 4 so far. It was a little early for them to hatch. I have no idea where I will put all these chickens. I really should think things through a little better.

[flowerpower]

ok I think my chicken has worms. I think tapeworm. I gave them a pindot of strongid paste, hope that works. Are last weeks eggs safe to eat?

Wen, anything else I should do? Thanks

[bluelacedredhead]

The eggs prior to the dose of Strongid are fine, but not the one's following the dosage for at least a week to ten days.

I'm assuming you gave them Each a pindot worth of paste??

You can also give them ground up green (raw) pumpkin (c.maxima) seeds for 3 days in their feed. Just don't use the ones from the 900 lber, lol