r/chickens

rate out of 10

…Have some new additions

For some odd reason whenever I'm sitting in the rocking chair my hen copy's me and just chills on the other seat 😂

*made by my mom 😄

Hello chicken veterans!

(Photo taken right before bedding change, also their first time trying cucumber scraps! They loved them🫶)

I raised chicks as a kid with my family, but stopped after the flock was brutalized by a family of raccoons (R.I.P. Red, you were my favorite). Now, I'm raising my own chicks! I got 6 to start: 4 Plymouth Rock and 2 Orpington. I bought them at my local Tractor Supply, and currently have these lovely ladies in a 4x4 indoor enclosure with a heat lamp mounted 3' up in their own room!

When I bought them 4 weeks ago, I noticed some had wing feathers and tail feathers sooner than others. Now that they're nearly completely feathered, it's hard to tell how old they are especially since I couldn't possibly tell you when they were hatched. That being said, I'm not sure how to judge the temperature they'd be most comfortable at until their new coop is built. We had a cold front and with them being in a rather drafty room, I set up a small oscillating heater... but now I'm rethinking based on some of the temperatures you guys are putting the chickens out at.

I'm hoping a more experienced chicken person can tell me how old you think these girls are and some guidance on indoor brooding > outdoor coop and run transition–especially for predators and safety. Do you allow them to free roam, and if so, how much area do they roam? Thanks in advance!!

Is this an abscess or an egg?! It’s about 2” below the vent. She had a pretty poopy butt but didn’t look like anything other than poop. She’s had a history of having a soft shell egg before. Only one other time.

Greenhouse is lovely today. Chicks are enjoying our time outdoors.

Baby chicks arrived on Tuesday (4 days ago) from Meyer hatchery. This is the first I have noticed her toe curled. She doesn’t appear to be limping (yet?)

We have been handling every day twice a day to clean butts. I don’t remember this much poopy butt last year!

Mediated chick feed, 24/7 fresh water, chick probiotics in water available every other day.

I was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice. My chicken since letting her out today has been acting quite tired. She is eating a little bit but is not acting her usual self. Also her tail is down. I’ve tried to catch her so I can check if she’s egg bound but she’s too fast for me. I will be able to check tonight when she’s bedded down.

I don’t have any Epsom salts, would any other bath salt/relaxers work if she is egg bound?

Thank you.

My chicks are now 7 weeks old and I had been mixing their chick grit in with their food. They’ve been getting greens and bugs for weeks. But I ran out of their chick grit so I was going to swap them to the grower grit (8-20weeks), but it is significantly larger. Is it too soon to switch them to it and will they be smart enough to find it in a separate bowl?

So my guy randomly cockledoodledoos in the morning, but I noticed the more I'm outside with him, the more he's making this noise.

We just got our chicks yesterday. I've been keeping a close eye on this one because a lot of the other plymouth rocks in the brooder at the store had pasty butt. So far no pasty butt, but I unnoticed today her vent was more noticeable than yesterday. None of the other chicks look like this. At the moment it's not red, but i just want to make sure she's okay!! I'm learning I'm a very anxious chicken keeper - very new to this.

Anything I should watch for or do to prevent any issues?

This chick that I have seems to be having difficulties pooping and its vent doesn't look like the rest. she is drinking and eating just fine. what can I do to help her?