HELP!! what should i expect from my new chickens

babe · « **on:** February 14, 2007, 23:24 »

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hello, ]
ive had my new chickens just over a week. was expecting 3 POL yet seemed to get a mother with 4 chicks.

chicks seem to be growing well but i do have a few questions.

a. how much and how often should i place grit with them
b. same question for shell -
c. how many weeks / months will it be before i can expect that first egg
d. when will i know if chicks are boys or girls

any help will be greatly appreciated. love me x

muntjac · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2007, 23:30 »

you best go read the basics happy hon ,, keeping chickens no sentiment allowed in the poultry pages . as for the shell .... you dont feed em any shell ..grit should be available at all times the hens needs her food and the chicks need chick crumb to 8 weeks then put them on seed or growers pelletsif you wish, you wont get any eggs now for about 2/ 3 months depending on breed of chicken ( hen ) and wheter ya keep em together then the youngsters wil take anything from now to the same 16 weeks or more , hope that helps in the short term . but take a few minutes to reead all the poultry page posts as there is a good deal of info there for budding chicken keepers regs karl

babe · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2007, 23:34 »

thank you so very much for taking time to reply.
i have read every single post here this evening and leaqrnt so much. and yes i meant oyster shell not egg shells. im now reading your sticky post again, but thought i would try and clarify what i was most unsure of.

so thanks again to everyone who has posted on this site. great advice all round

muntjac · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2007, 23:37 »

oyster shell can be availabe to the mom n the chicks wil take small pieces and do no harm .they wont really take it in til they start to lay eggs ,, and welcome to the gang

babe · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2007, 23:46 »

cheers. this site was such a nice surprise to find. and im sure that it will become invaluable over the coming weeks and months.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2007, 09:37 »

Welcome happyvalley

Chicken help is never far away here

Do you grow veg too :?:

MontyTom · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2007, 21:23 »

Try a couple of Katie Thear's books for the basics + hatching and rearing. There are links from this site to buy them - that is as an additional to Karl's excellent advice!

babe · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2007, 18:11 »

hi aunt sally and monty tom.

with two ponies, a pygmy goat, 4 cats, a dog, rabbits and now the chickens there really is no time left for veggies.

and tom, i actually had Katie Thears Starting with chickens arrive in the post yesterday.

does anyone happen to know anyone in the ipswich area where we could get a couple of POL chickens.

not fussy about breed at all.

thanks

MontyTom · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2007, 22:11 »

are you in the exclusion zone?

I would imagine Karl knows someone around there to sort you out. also might be worthwhile looking in Practical Poultry - in the back for breeders etc, regional.

muntjac · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2007, 22:15 »

no ipswich isnt in the zones . i have no contacts that far down , but the poultry pages may help in practical poultry .

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