1. Always have at least one extra clamp lamp and a box of extra light bulbs on hand. Neither item lasts as long as you would expect. I’ve gone through one lamp and five light bulbs already.
2. Never put more than two days worth of food (about two cups) into the feeder. This minimizes the volume of food that gets spoiled when the chicks knock over the feeder and take dust baths in the grain. Which they will.
3. At about the tenth day, the chicks will suddenly start making eye contact when you peer over the edge of their box. This will be both unnerving and adorable.
4. When it comes to temperature, chicks haven’t necessarily read the same books that you have. Mine have consistently preferred temperatures five degrees cooler than what the books all specify.
5. If your home has an open-room architecture like mine, you may think you are prepared to sleep through the chicken noise. But are you prepared to sleep through the light from the 100 watt bulb burning all night?
6. Chickens as a rule are not fond of novelty. I started doing something to their box every day – adding a new stick, moving the feeder, etc. I’ve noticed they have grown more used to these changes being made. I think it’s good for them.
7. Chicks also haven’t read the books that say “chicks start roosting at about four weeks.” Even at only a few days old, they liked to perch on sticks (about thumb diameter).
8. For the first two weeks, chicks go through about 3/4ths a pound of feed per chick per week. Buy lots.
9. Did you know that baby chicks can count? (Link sent in by Traci)
10. You may think of your chickens as pets, but you’re pretty much the only one. When reading books on chicken care, be prepared to encounter the term “culling.” A lot.
CULLLING huh, farmers aint always so swift. I had a friend as a youth who had farm animals, her theory was you dont name anything you will eat.
Good Gravy, how they’ve grown! They’re… they’re… they’re…. BOIDS!
I think it’s funny how the chicken in the top photo is all big and stuff, but her head still looks like a baby-chick head.
Maybe you should write an article called “things to expect when you’re expecting to raise chickens” and put these bits of wisdom (and others) in it.
In Chicago, there was this whole to-do about people who keep chickens as pets and the neighbors that want it made illegal! Soon after, I passed by a house not too far from me with a chicken just sitting around on the porch, checking the world out. Mmm about a year ago or more.
oh and heys, you turned me on to Louis CK’s blog with your last post!!
your chicks are soooo cute!
Sigh! They are so big now!
How do the cats feel about the pet situation? lol
Very true about the attitudes to animals that you find in books. I have pet rabbits too, and between the rabbits and the chickens, I have had so many comments about eating my family members, I am becoming rather sensitive about it!
BTW, my chooks (Aussie for chicken) are nearly 7 years old now