How it started / How it’s going
Our take
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since my wife and I dove headfirst into the whimsical world of chicken keeping! After countless hours of research and preparation, we thought we were ready for anything. Spoiler alert: we weren’t! From the unexpected joys of feathered friends to the head-scratching confusion of chick sexing, our journey has been a wild ride filled with valuable lessons—and plenty of laughs! For those just starting out or contemplating taking the plunge, I hope our experiences can offer some egg-citing insights. Be sure to check out our post on “Thin Eggs” for tips on shell health, because trust me, no one wants to deal with a cracked surprise!
In the whimsical world of chicken-keeping, every new flock owner embarks on a journey filled with clucks, quirks, and the occasional fowl play. A recent post titled, “How it started / How it’s going,” by a fellow chicken enthusiast, offers a treasure trove of lessons learned during their first year as chicken parents. While they may feel a bit like seasoned pros, their insights are invaluable for the n00bs among us, shedding light on both the wonders and the pitfalls of raising our feathered friends. This is a delightful reminder that even thorough research can’t fully prepare us for the real-life adventures of poultry ownership. It resonates with many who might also be navigating the unpredictable landscape of backyard chickens, as explored in articles like Thin eggs and Roost in Peace.
One of the standout lessons from the article is the reality of chick sexing. The author's experience serves as a humorous yet cautionary tale: don’t trust just anyone’s word when it comes to whether a chick is a hen or a rooster. This resonates deeply in a community where rooster surprises can disrupt the peace (and the noise levels) of backyard living! It’s crucial to find reputable sources when acquiring chicks, as the joy of welcoming new feathered friends can quickly turn into a clucky conundrum if you end up with more crowers than layers. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most practical advice is the simplest, and this community thrives on shared experiences and lessons learned—much like the ongoing conversations about hen care in They are so soft.
Another critical takeaway addresses the often-overlooked responsibility of predator-proofing. The author emphasizes the need to be vigilant about securing coops and runs, a lesson that can’t be stressed enough in a world where free-ranging can lead to unfortunate losses. Their advice about using stainless steel zip ties instead of plastic ones is a perfect example of the practical wisdom that emerges from experience. It’s not just about loving our chickens; it’s about being proactive caretakers who consider their safety as paramount. This aspect of chicken-keeping highlights a broader responsibility we share as part of a community that cherishes our pets. It’s a call to action for all of us to be diligent and informed, ensuring that we are doing everything possible to protect our feathery companions.
As the author wraps up their reflections with a heartfelt thank you to the community for the collective wisdom shared, it’s a poignant reminder of the support system we have in this quirky journey. The recognition that many families treat chicks as disposable pets points to a larger societal issue about respect for animals and the bonds we form with them. Education is key, not just for us as individuals but for the families we encounter, fostering a culture of compassion and understanding for all living beings.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that the chicken-keeping community will continue to evolve, shaped by both seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. As we share our stories, experiences, and the occasional horror story, we grow together in our knowledge and love for these delightful creatures. What new lessons and adventures await us in the coming year? Only time—and perhaps a few more cluck-tastic posts—will tell!
 | It’s now been over a year since my wife & I started keeping chickens & even though we spent tons of time researching & prepping beforehand, there’s still many lessons learned (& certainly still many more to come). I thought I’d make a post about some of the highlights with the hopes that maybe there’s a few people out there who’re able to glean at least a little helpful info from our experience so far. For most of this, I feel like experienced stewards would read & reply “well no shit that’s self explanatory” but to n00bs, many times it isn’t! - Don’t trust that a chick is sexed if it’s from a local farmer unless they’re reputable! When we were still only a couple months in, one of the farmers we got chicks from told us “yes these chicks will be hens” & we trusted them because we didn’t know any better. Of course, none of them were hens & of course, that farmer doesn’t take back roosters. We do not associate with that farmer anymore & we do not recommend that farmer to locals. - Have a chick-turned-rooster contingency plan! If you don’t want a rooster but you’re buying chicks from a local farmer while they’re still too young to tell the sex, in my opinion it’s best to buy those chicks from farmers who openly say they will take back roosters & exchange them for hens. - When shopping for coops, don’t trust the “houses X number of chickens” number they use for marketing. They often use bantams (small chickens) for that number which is disingenuous. Instead, look at the dimensions & try to aim for 1 linear foot of space per bird on the roost bar(s) plus 4 square feet of floor space per bird as a rough guide. - If you intend to free range your birds, accept that you will lose some to predators. It’s not a matter of if but when. People who free range tend to more readily embrace chicken math, especially if they have more land & more chances to lose birds. - If you don’t want to lose any to predators, then accept that you will have to put in the work to properly predator proof your coop & run. Fortunately (or unfortunately…) this sub has no shortage of people posting about their chickens getting got, so it’s really easy to see the most common pitfalls where people tend to go wrong (examples: thinking chicken wire is enough, not using 1/2” hardware cloth, trusting their “very sweet dog”, etc). We haven’t lost a bird to predation yet & when we give them free range time, they’re supervised (& we don’t ever have the dog out at the same time the chickens are out because we don’t want to risk it, period, no matter how cute the interactions would be… not worth it to us.) - Don’t assume that a hawk will avoid the chickens just because you’re out & about with them. We’ve had hawks try to swipe at our birds while we’re less than 10 feet away! Juvenile raptors seem to be more ballsy & if food is scarce during a certain time of year, they’ll be more desperate. - If your birds aren’t vaccinated for Mareks, be on the lookout for eye tumors as an early indicator. [We made a post about a case last year & it almost swelled to the size of a ping pong ball before going away](https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/s/kaaoFsVNiW). We didn’t know at the time it was an early sign of Mareks & we thought the eye drops helped it go away. Then this past February she developed a limp, we thought maybe from bumble foot or a sprained ankle but her feet were fine & within 1-2 weeks, she became mostly paralyzed. We had to put her down & we dearly miss that bird, rest in peace Agnes. She was so sweet & we really coddled her when she couldn’t function without us. Mareks is a very cruel disease, buy vaccinated chicks when possible! - If you have a chick who seems sleepy while standing up & won’t eat, keep a close eye on them & consider checking for coccidiosis. [I was able to save a chick last year from it](https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/s/Ikit4KEisp), but it wouldn’t have been as bad if we treated sooner. I’m still a little upset about putting her through that, I feel negligent for not knowing better at the time but she’s a happy healthy hen now! - For more permanent predator proofing attachments, use stainless steel zip ties instead of plastic zip ties (even “heavy duty” ones), eventually plastic zip ties under tension will snap from expand/contract hot/cold cycles & if they’re exposed to direct sun. - My last point here isn’t personal but instead something that we frequently witness with the public at our local library. The library hatches chicks for educational purposes & it’s a cute, fun learning experience for all involved. However, many families with young children have the idea that these animals are disposable pets with the sole purpose of making their children happy. The number of parents we see grief library staff for not letting children handle chicks for very long, or not at all, is baffling. These are domesticated livestock, not kittens or puppies! I really wish more parents would teach their children more respect for living creatures, & I also wish parents would have more respect for public service workers! - Finally a big thank you to the sub as a whole, I’ve learned a great deal from y’all & I’m appreciative! (but please try to minimize the horror stories with easily-preventable circumstances… 😅) [link] [comments] |
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