Chook Me!

question? please help??!! 10 points to best answer!?

you don't have to answer all of my questions, but I have some chicken questions. I am going to be a beginner chicken owner, and I have a couple of questions. First of all is the polyethylene, galvanized or plastic waterer better? Also what size would be the best for about 4-7 chickens? The sizes are 6, 14, 2, 4, 8, 5, or 7 gallon waterers. Also does mcmurray hatchery carry welsummer chickens? Is it ok to just leave the chickens in a large pen with the coop in it and they can just roam wherever. I would lock them up at night in the small run with enclosed top with coop. For the large pen and small run with enclosed top should I use non-climb horse fencing, welded wire, or poultry netting? like I said before it is ok if you cant answer all of the questions, just answering one is fine! all advice is greatly appreciated! thank you so much!!!

Public Comments

1. I have chickens and the best water feeder is plastic. Easy to clean. No worries about rust etc. Poultry netting combined with chickenwire would be the best enclosure. I don't know the answers to the other sorry.
2. http://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php
3. Oh.... I see your question is all about chickens....I do my best :) Not plastic waterer. It's not good but you can use it. It's just not really.....what's the word.....just you don't have to use it.....ya... Hm.....size......6. Chickens don't really drink to much water.....and you don't wanna waste water if thecchickens won't drink any! :) I don't know about mcmurray hatchery and that kind of thing. Sorry!! :( Yes it's ok if you just leave them...roaming around. But you still have to keep your eye on them. I'd say poultry netting. 'Cause chicken is a poultry. I hope you have a good time caring for chickens. :) I wish I can!:)
4. i had chickens growing up we had them in a chicken coup..but my boss has chickens that they have in a "fenced in area with a chicken coup attached with a tiny door for the hens to enter to lay, or if bad weather strikes. at night they slide the little hen door down so the rodents and coyotes do not get them..if you get chicken wire and clip one side of their flight wings they won't be able to fly for a bit (you must repeat this monthly atleast..doing both sides will equal them out and they will still fly) for the10 chickens she has she has a gavanized 5 gallon waterer. you want to be sure you feed them the correct food.. depending on if they are meat hens or laying hens..i would def only get hens when and if possible, roosters tend to get possesive and a bit mean. unless you are planning on butchering or starting your own hatchery. well i hope this helped :) do not know about the welsummer chickens at all... we always got redrocks and bannies... my boss has redrocks, chipmunkers,leghorn,a bantam, newhampshire red and a plymouth rock some of the chicks that my friends have got came from here : http://www.healthychicksandmore.com/ http://www.mypetchicken.com/Day_Old_Baby_Chicks-c36.aspx