So, we've never done this chicken-raising thing before and it's awkward to be on the other side of the fence now... I can't even EAT chicken anymore.  The day after I met the neighbor's chickens, I went out to lunch with Mom to a Japanese buffet and became nauseous after my first bite of Sesame Chicken.  That was about a month ago.

I've raised a miniature macaw so it isn't like I am clueless on aviary needs, but these are chickens (something I used to eat and now love as a pet) and there will be more than one, so I am a little nervous about the initial set-up and making sure we have everything we need.  We took care of most of that today as my mom came to pick me up this morning and took me to the local Feed & Seed supply.

When we arrived they had a box full of little baby chicks and I was able to hold one of the breeds that we will be getting very soon.  She (a Barred Rock) was such a sweetie, only three days old, but I held her and rubbed her sweet face until her little eyes became heavy and she wanted to drift off to sleep.

Such precious creatures:













In the research I have been doing, I've been surprised to learn of the growing number of people who have started keeping chickens in their backyards.  It isn't an overly expensive endeavor for the most part, but of course, as with anything you want to start up, it does cost something.  Due to the fact that my mother insists that one of these chicks (one of the Easter Eggers) be hers, she offered to pay for the supplies we needed today.  Isn't she sweet??

 The first things you need to prepare for chick arrival are:

- a cardboard box or container large enough to house your chickens for at least several weeks ($10) - I recommend the plastic container (thanks, Amy Baker) because it will be easier to wash out and clean, as well as keep dry on the bottom
- pine shavings or sand to line the bottom of your box or container ($6) - DO NOT USE CEDAR as it will harm their eyes and lungs
- a feeder ($5)
- a water container ($2)
- chicken feed ($12)
- a heat lamp ($13)
- a 250 watt bulb for your heat lamp  (preferably one that gives off red light) ($8) -the red light keeps the chicks from seeing injuries on one another to keep pecking to a minimum.  Pecking order is incredibly important in the chicken world and it's wise to keep the peace as much as possible.   I'm not saying it's going to be  WWF CHICKEN SMACKDOWN  but I want to keep my babies as injury-free as possible.  It's Survival of the Fittest in Chicken Land, and any visibly injured chicks are prime for bullying.
- a thermometer ($1) to maintain a consistent and safe temperature in your brooder
- chicks (duh!) (6/$25)


So, less than $100, but this does not include the cost of the materials you will need for a coop.  There are kits you can purchase to build your coop, or you can purchase coop plans, or find them for free online.  With chicken-keeping, I've seen coops that look like mansions and coops that look as though they wouldn't stand up to much.  I suppose you have to do what is best for you if you decide to begin keeping chickens in your backyard, but going above and beyond the call of duty is typically how my family rolls.  We probably overdo it so it's not unlikely that these chickens will have a game room and indoor spa.

But let me go back to what your initial set-up should look like for your chicks so that you can get a basic idea of what we will be going for.  Since I don't have my chicks yet I can't show you my full set-up, but these are the materials my mom purchased for us today:
















These are the basic necessities for chicken-keeping since you will not be removing the chicks from this set-up (entirely) for another 2-3 months.  It's still pretty cold outside during the day and night now, so the best place for my chicks will be indoors under a heat lamp where I can keep a watchful eye on them.  For those of you without other pets who's ultimate goal would be to devour my precious chicks, you may not need to lock up your brooder like Fort Knox.  But I have Oliver, and well, Oliver is bad.  He's really bad.

No.  I mean really, really bad.







So knowing Oliver as I do, and knowing how he stands at the window each day and watches the birds with ridiculous interest, I have to do my best to accommodate a secure lid and the heat lamp without frying my chicks (don't EVEN go there...)


This is NOT my setup.  It's one I found online once I realized that just drilling holes to the side and top of my Rubbermaid container for breathing room wasn't going to keep Oliver out AND keep my chicks warm.  So, it looks like I will be cutting out the lid of my container and adding something like this:






I think this will hold up well once it has been completed.


Well, I think that is all for this post.  Tomorrow I will be at my parents' house drawing up coop plans with my father and taking care of that lid issue.  I will be sure to post on our progress and I might even be ready to reveal the names we have chosen!