i have A LOT of questions, please help:
1. i plot to buy just one baby chick, and i was wondering how to take care of it.
2. i dont live on a farm, but i do have a backyard huge enough for a coop.
3. i want to keep the baby in my house until it gets ancient enough to go outside.
4. i need to know how to prepare and what i need to do.
5. i dont want the chick for its eggs just as a pet. [i know that sounds weird]
6. how do i build a chicken coop, and what materials would i need?
THANK YOU.
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We had about 25 baby ducks when I was a kid… All but one died because they were dehydrated when they were given to us. we kept "Peeper" in a box in the living room with papers in the bottom of it, until she was starting to glide. When she was huge enough to get out, we place her in a cage outside. A friend of mine raised a chick the same way. She had the grown hen in a huge ferret cage outside on her porch. It had a slide out bottom she could hose off to keep flies and stink away! Hold it and play with it every day, and it will get used to you and follow you around and never leave your yard on brief outings. NEVER EVER leave your chick(small or huge) alone in the yard… Dogs have a way of wiggling into your yard if they see them! your local farm supply(probably where you are getting the chick) will have corn meal to feed your chick in the various stages of growth… If you really want to build a coop, get an ancient used dog house and some chicken wire and pvc piping and joints. Build your frame with the pipe and joints and zip tie the chicken wire to the frame and then connect it to the dog house so your hen can get inside to roost. Tent stakes need to be connected to keep the cage in the ground… Also, make sure you cut a door in the cage that lifts up so you can reach your hen… make sure it is closed down excellent and tight so no predators (kitties or dogs) can get in…
we got 5 baby chicks just for pets too 2 months ago. we kept them inside for 3 weeks and then in the garage for another 2 weeks (we took them outside during the day though)
at the pet store you can buy ’starting seed’ (just question the people there)
we kept them in a cardboard box at first…and then dad built them this cage thing….but a cardboard box is excellent for when they are small. just remember that they knock the food and water over constantly so either stabilize it somehow so it cant fall over or you would have to keep cleaning the box.
keep them nice and warm….place a sheet or something over their box or cage if you want them to sleep.
HAVE FUN…they are cute for the first few weeks…haha
Yup a LOT of questions- try this
1) get some chicken books @ your library
2) BackyardChickens.com
3)FeatherSite.com
4)MurrayMcMurray Hatchery.com (excellent tutorial here)
Chicken pets aren’t weird at all- I’ve got 15!! They’ll come when called & each has a name & personality! Like to watch them.
you should get a dog there better
1. You CAN’T get just one. Chickens are flock animals, and need company. You’ll need medicated feed, for but many you get (3 is a excellent number!) You’ll need a light to keep them warm, and some sort of container you can clean out, all the time!
Preferably some type of wood shavings for the litter (NEVER newspaper! They can slip and mess up their legs.) Plenty of fresh water and food. You’ll have to dip their beak in the food and the water so they know where it is.
2. You’ll also need to place up a pretty tall fence, or one that covers the top as well, cos you don’t want them wandering all over (and they can GLIDE!!!!)
3. You can keep them indoors for a small time, but before long they will start testing their wings, and will start flying out of the area you have them in, it’s best to start outdoors, and make room for you to go spend time with them outside.
4. BEST thing you can do, go to a farm store, and find Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. I’ve been raising chickens over 90% of my life, and still use it regularly!
6. Storey’s Guide has plans in it.
If you have ANY questions, send me an email, and I’ll answer any!