I’m getting a couple of chickens, and I want to know how to care for them. I’m getting 5 day ancient chicks. I’m keeping them in a huge storage bin, it doesn’t have a lid on it, it’s very deep. I want to know how I care for them? When do I let them out of the box? And I’m getting a coop, how can I make them know that the coop is there home, but still let them run around free during the day?
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Okay first off:
Are you sure you’re aloud to have chickens in your area?
if yes then you’re excellent
If you’re aloud to have roosters as well go for it
A huge storage bin is fine as long as you take them out once in a while as well (You know for them to get used to the outside? ;D) but you have to supervise them at all times since there will be hawks flying around
one of my chickies was taken away from me by a hawk because we were inside for 5 min! D:
Once you get them keep them inside and feed them take care of them etc.
For that you should look up how to take care of really young chickens. they should have them everywhere around the internet.
Incubation is vital!!
I’m not an expert at this
but the food you may want to use is Chick Scratch.
It’ll be everywhere
You can let them outside of the box when like what.. when their butt feathers are out? Let’s say for you since you’re getting 5-6 day ancient chickens you should keep them in for 5 weeks. For me I kept them in for around 4 weeks. The nights can be a wee bit cold
You’re really fine with letting them know the coop and roaming outside
What I did for the first few weeks was by the end of the day when they’re done eating (around 6 pm?)
I pick them each up and place them into the coop!
after a while they get used to the thought that it’s their home and they can come in and come out in their free will during the day time
In the morning you’ll want to take them out at around 9 am to 10 am since they like to sleep a lot during chickie time.
——-COOP——————-
Chickies:
[as repeated up above]
If you’re getting baby chickens first you’d better take them inside for a while until they grow like.. butt feathers or something. Maybe a few weeks (I took mine in for 4 weeks greedy small things..)
because at night it’s pretty cold e_e. While this time it’s best to start making the pen/coop
(best if it is before you get em!)
Mama chickens:
. But If I where you I would make the coop a wee be larger if you’re gonna have 7 or more chickens, they fight e_e (specially if you have 2 males or more).
after they grow into their excellent feathers as in they look less scruffy/or you bought them as huge grown up chickens you can go them into the coop. I made it around 5 ft. tall and 3 feet wide and stuck 2 long perches in there. at the bottom I would suggest wood shavings like the ones you use in hamster beddings. that way when they poo you can easily clean it out
Okay you’re set for the coop!
For the backyard, you’re completely fine!
But once you let them into your backyard… you’re plants (meaning grass, weeds, some flowers, and lot’s of mulch) will be gone by next year. Not pretty… but it will grow back out eventually
And chickens LIKE dirt baths when it comes to summer
Make sure to have a largish dirt path/ area where they can just roll around it.
Don’t worry they don’t need water baths!
———CARE—————–
Chicken Nesting:
When you get chicken when they are babies it won’t be soon when they start laying eggs.
It’s a slow process. It took around 4-7 months for all of my chickens to mature and start laying eggs!
at first the eggs will be kind of small you know.. grocery sized? (not that huge!)
but once they get larger and eat a lot more it will grow like huge
This is what my nesting area looks like:
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae211...
Water:
Water is water. The usual rule to water
USE CLEAN WATER.
Tap is fine, the hose water is fine, bath water is fine, toilet water(?) eh, but no toxic, chemicals, etc.
If you already have a pet you get the thought.
This is what I used for their water bowl:
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae211...
Food:
I suggest lots of watermelon cause ANY type of chicken would like it 
I used the usual chicken/hen/chick scratch and they like it.
I also mix in seeds/ dried corn in too. The backyard itself would be enough for half the day as well
They like vegetables and fruits so make sure you place out a large batch often. Excellent calcium and nutrition
A mixture of skinned carrots, lettuce, peas, watermelon(?) is what I use and they’re excellent with it
Also the usual rule: don’t feed them chocolate, toxic, chemicals, plastic, glass, etc.
They eat bugs too e_e
I held a giant bee and spider up to on and they ate it so quick I thought it just exploded ninja like o_o
This is what I used for their food bowl:
http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae211...
Taming (?):
If you want one to get used to you petting it or holding it, there are many ways to tame them ish.
They can sometimes peck at you when they feel insecure but that rarely happens
you can care for them by keeping them in a huge cage and by providing them vegetables to make them healthy.
You need to really care for them and play with them while they are young so they know you are their master. You need to feed the chicken feed (could also be called pigeon food or bird food), you also need to buy them grit which is like a bag of tiny stones they need to eat to help them digest, and of course give them water (but you might want to have a heated bowl bought or else during the winter the water will freeze and most likely the chicken will be standing in it when it freezes; don’t question me why they just do).