Help!! - newbie!

[Charlotteg1988]

Hi i'm looking into getting 2 Silkie chicks.

Once they are adult and in their little houses at night, can foxes etc get to them? And then in this case is the run ok to be open in the day?

Also, do chickens ruin grass?

And where can i buy chick crumb? And what do they eat and drink from? Just a bowl?

PLEASE HELP!!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

ok - how old are these chicks? chicks under about 9 weeks will still require heat lamps to be under. chiks require chick crumb from birth until around 4 weeks, when they go onto grower pellet until they get to about 16 weeks when they go onto either finisher (if destined for meat) or layers if they are intended to go into the laying cycle.

ideally you should not have a bird before its 16 weeks old for the very reasons above.

yes, chickens destroy grass, although birds with feathered feet (such as silkies and pekins) do inflict less damage. you should keep young birds in the house and run for several weeks to get used to where they live and where to get food and water.

i would never leave a bird out in the garden to free roam unless i was home with it. they never get out when you are home but you can bet once your back is turned they will find a way out and onto a road where they may cause a car crash. in these present days you could end up being sued by an injury lawyer for your chickens misbehaviour!

chicks should never be given an open bowl of water as they could fall in and drown. therefore get a special chick drinker available from pets at home or a feed store as they are made with special access holes to stop drowning. food can be put in a low sided bowl so they can access the food.

anything else, please ask. either on the forum, private message above or email us at contact@bramble-poultry.co.uk and we will get you on the right track!

welcome to chicken keeping, it can become addictive if you have a pleasant start with the birds.

[Charlotteg1988]

As far as i am aware they are over 9 weeks, but i am being provided with a heat box(?) from the seller in which to keep them until they are ready to go into their home.

We are actually getting silkies, and they will be able to roam most of the day as i am a stay at home mum.

I'm just nervous about taking them on and not providing for them properly!

[Bramble-Poultry]

if these are your first ever chickens, i would be a bit reluctant to take them still on heat. you will need to keep them indoors until they are fully feathered and off the heat source.

Does the breeder not have any POL (point of lay) birds? These would be older and ready to go outside.

Also, silkie chicks are very hard to sex when under around 20 weeks old. you could buy these two chicks and be lumbered with two young cockerels who will just crow all day rather than lay you eggs.

If you are set on having silkies, then i would personally wait until you can get some POL hens, otherwise you could end up with 2 pet cockerels that upset your neighbours with their crowing.

[Nicos]

It's wonderfu that you are trying to find out as much as poss before getting your chicks!

I had a major panic before getting ours and Goggled loads and loads. If you click on Rule the Roost section- all the threads in the past will come up. Get yourself a cuppa and sit down for a good read!...you'll enjoy it!

My initial thoughts were- why 2 ? They do seem better in 3's or more as they seem very good at suddenly dying for no obvious reason and you'd then be left with one very lonley bird which is really a flock 'animal' so to speak.( always good to have a back up plan!)

Don't know about Silkies- but can you tell what sex they will be from hatching???....what will you do if they both- or worse - one turns out to be male....it's very very difficult to rehome cockerels and most peeps end up having to cull them once the neighbours complain they've started crowing!

Think of the worst as far as fox attacks go- and do the utmost n prevention- a fox will jump over a 6' fence and nick a chook at the first opportunity- nip insde for the loo/phone etc.

Please don't let me put you off- you sound like you want the best for your chooks now you've made a decision to get some....good for you!!!


Most of us on here became chookaholics after reading about them on the Vine...peeps here are so supportive!


Oh- and welcome to the Vine!

[RedThorn]

Welcome to the vine. There's good advice above. Would second the point of lay girls. They're a pleasure to keep and look after(chickens that is) I too experienced a panic when I got my first girls. Depending on the number of girls to the size of the lawn, they can completely strip it back to bare earth surprisingly quickly! Don't let that put you off though as you get so attached to them so quickly!

[Charlotteg1988]

Thank you for all your advice, unfortunatly my landlord has now backtracked and decided that i now can't keep any!!

Searching for a new house?? YES!!

I want chickens!

[Bramble-Poultry]

charlotte - how much do you like your house? reason i ask is that if a landlord is denying you the right to keep chickens he is breaking the law. the 1908 Allotments Act (still current law) provides for "any person using land as their own) i.e rented, has the right in statute law to keep a reasonable amount of chickens for the production of food as long as they dont pose a nuisance to health.

The Allotment Act over turns all covenants etc signed as part of your lease. so you can actually tell the landlord that you wish to exercise your legal right to keep chickens. however, careful how you insist upon this otherwise you could wind him up and he could find an alternate way to get back at you. but if you are gentle, persuasive and remind him of his legal standing they usually let you have a few chooks.

[Charlotteg1988]

Really? Ooh i didn't know that. Good law!!

However, they are also family 'friends', and i fear it'd disturb the peace too much. And in all honesty, given the chance, i would move.

I'd love to find somewhere rural with character...but with reasonable prices, but it seems to be a no hope :-/

I think i may just have to wait until i can buy, unfortuantly.

But at least then i already have some of the knowledge i need!

It's a shame, but i'll settle with it....for now, as i HOPE it won't be forever!!

[Jeanied]

Charlotte where are you located - add it into your details on your profile (top left, User CP)

[Charlotteg1988]

I think i have added it on.

I'm in Doncaster - South Yorkshire though,

Why?

[Jeanied]

You succeeded - well done.
Why? Well, you never know your luck on the vine, Charlotte - someone nearby may have a solution for you. And also if you ask gardening questions, or is there anyone near me who... style of questions, it helps to know where you are!!

[Charlotteg1988]

Ahhhh good point!

:-D

Thank you!