Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[mum-2-olly]

so i am getting my chooks hopefully a week today! (mini yeyyy!)

 

but i really cant decide whether to get day old hybrid chicks or some at say 14 weeks. obviously i will get my eggs quicker but they are predominantly a family pet anyways so that doesnt bother me.

 

1 reason i fancied getting them older is the breeder can give me a "quiet pair!!" for the sakes of my neighbours!

 

also had concerns that day olds will not be vaccinated??!

[Olly]

You also need to bear in mind that day-old chicks will need special care - they may need heat, and will be much more work than 14-week old chickens. I'm not sure there's any guarantee of 'quiet' chickens but there's more chance of knowing the gender - depending on the breed, it can be difficult to sex day-old chicks so there's the risk of getting males. Unless you have experience of raising chicks, I'd go for the older ones.

[Lewis]

I'd also get the older ones

 

You should know they are girls by then, won't have to buy a brooder, heat lamp and chick crumb and they're still young enough to get used to you and make them tame

[Egluntyne]

You will need a brooder and to keep any day olds indoors for a few weeks, and, depending on whether you get chicks whose sex is identifiable on hatching or not, you have several cockerels to contend with.

 

If you are a complete beginner, I'd go for the 14 week old hybrids.

[Redwing]

I'd also recommend not going for day olds - there is cost and risk involved there

 

Any breed over about 10 or 12 weeks would be fine - just be sure its guaranteed female (some breeds you cant tell till later so have to wait)

 

Bear in mind that most pure breeds wont be vaccinated - this is not a bad thing as long as they come from a nice healthy stock

 

Always check out where they are coming from - hybrid or pure breed it doesnt really matter as long as the breeder or supplier keeps them in good conditions - the more common problems chooks can get arent ones they can be vaccinated against anyway..

 

In most cases hybrids arent available till about 18 weeks as they go from hatchery to grower who then sells them on to a supplier at 'point of lay' (18 weeks ish)

[fluffy chick]

As above I'd go for pol . You must be excited

[mum-2-olly]

i am dead excited, i might just get some pols then and maybe next time (typing this with my hubby not watching!!) once i am more experienced i will get chicks. i have a little boy so really wanted him to be used to them from a small age and visa versa! oh what to do!