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Your first flock starts with one decision that shapes everything after it: where you get your birds. The hatchery you choose determines…
Years ago, we were newcomers to backyard chickens with a problem. Chick catalogs came in the winter. They were fun to read…
On their first night in the coop, most young chickens huddle together in one corner or on the floor instead of using…
A coop that works gives each standard chicken about 3 to 4 square feet of floor space, roughly 1 square foot of…
Move chicks from the brooder to the coop once they are fully feathered, usually between 6 and 8 weeks old, and nighttime…
Predator-proof the coop and run a week or two before young birds move out of the brooder. Replace chicken wire with 1/2-inch…
In most standard breeds, you can make a confident guess between weeks 6 and 9. Cockerels usually show larger, redder combs and…
Hardening off chicks means giving them short, supervised outdoor visits so they adjust to real weather before moving to the coop. Start…
Handle chicks for a few calm minutes every day, starting once they are eating and drinking well in the brooder. Approach at…
Most laying-breed chicks move from starter to grower feed between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Starter usually runs 18 to 20…
From Hoover's Hatchery
When it is time to go from learning to Keeping, Hoover's has a complete selection of backyard poultry, hatched with care and shipped to your door or to a partner store near you.
