Latest / Valley Hatchery Podcast / Chicken Supports Insights - Episode 44: First Egg, First Mistakes: A New Owner's First Months (Special)

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Chicken Supports Insights - Episode 44: First Egg, First Mistakes: A New Owner's First Months (Special) · Valley Hatchery Podcast

• 0:09
  Cortney: Hi everyone, welcome back to the Chickens Insights podcast.
• 0:12
  Cortney: I'm Courtney and I'm here with Connie.
• 0:15
  Cortney: Today is a little different because it's our special episode for this month.
• 0:20
  Connie: That's right.
• 0:20
  Connie: We're making this one a little longer and taking a closer look at something a lot of new chicken owners experience, but don't always hear talked about.
• 0:30
  Cortney: Today we're going to talk about first egg, first mistakes, a new owner's first month.
• 0:36
  Connie: We're going to walk through the journey from day one when those chickens first arrive all the way to that first egg.
• 0:43
  Connie: And we're going to focus on the signals that are easy to miss, the things that don't always go exactly as planned, and some of the mistakes that teach you the most.
• 0:53
  Connie: Because honestly, nobody starts out knowing everything.
• 0:57
  Connie: Exactly.
• 0:58
  Connie: So let's walk through what those first few months can actually look like.
• 1:03
  Cortney: All right.
• 1:03
  Cortney: Uh let's jump in.
• 1:05
  Cortney: Let's start at the very beginning.
• 1:07
  Cortney: What are some of the things a new owner needs to pay attention to on day one?
• 1:13
  Connie: So I think the biggest thing for the first-time owner is learning to observe the chicks.
• 1:20
  Connie: Watch, listen, and be prepared.
• 1:23
  Connie: You got to have that brooder prepared before the chicks arrive.
• 1:27
  Connie: And the big thing is the luke, warm water, and your starter feed.
• 1:31
  Connie: And a lot of people don't go and get a thermometer.
• 1:34
  Connie: It is very crucial so you know what your heat is correct.
• 1:39
  Connie: Yeah.
• 1:39
  Connie: Then taking that chick, each chick out of the box and dipping its beak into the water.
• 1:45
  Connie: Then they usually find the feed on their own.
• 1:48
  Connie: Observe instead of assuming everything is fine just because you've got it all set up.
• 1:54
  Connie: The one big thing that I've noticed is the temperature.
• 1:57
  Connie: Gotta pay attention to that temperature and the general behavior of the chick.
• 2:02
  Connie: And then just sit and observe, and they will tell you what they need.
• 2:07
  Cortney: Yeah.
• 2:07
  Cortney: And I think that's something people don't always realize.
• 2:10
  Cortney: Having that equipment ready is one thing, but knowing what you're looking at is another.
• 2:15
  Connie: Okay, so Courtney, what are some of the little signals a new owner might miss during those first few weeks?
• 2:22
  Cortney: I think the hardest part for a new owner is knowing what is normal.
• 2:27
  Cortney: You might see something that looks strange and immediately think something is wrong.
• 2:31
  Cortney: Oh, and sometimes it's just part of the adjustment period.
• 2:35
  Cortney: One of the best things you can do is watch your chicks.
• 2:38
  Cortney: Pay attention to how they behave around the heat source.
• 2:41
  Cortney: If they're constantly huddled together, they may be too cold.
• 2:45
  Cortney: If they're staying far away from the heat source, they may be too warm.
• 2:49
  Cortney: You also want to keep an eye out for things like pasty butt, general activity, eating and drinking, and how alert the chicks are.
• 2:56
  Cortney: Over time, you'll start to recognize what's normal for your flock.
• 3:00
  Cortney: Don't be afraid to look closely and check on them regularly.
• 3:04
  Cortney: The more you observe your birds, the easier it becomes to notice when something really is different.
• 3:09
  Cortney: Exactly.
• 3:10
  Cortney: And that's why having a reference guide can be so helpful.
• 3:14
  Cortney: Let's talk about the mistakes because that's really part of the first few months.
• 3:19
  Cortney: What are some things a new owner might get wrong?
• 3:22
  Connie: So I think one of the biggest mistakes is trying to follow a checklist instead of learning to observe your flock.
• 3:31
  Connie: The checklist gives you a starting point, but your birds are going to show you what they need.
• 3:36
  Connie: One of the biggest mistakes is guessing if they are at the right temperature.
• 3:41
  Connie: If you're observing them and they're all huddled together, they're too cold.
• 3:45
  Connie: Just like Courtney said, if they're spread out and go to the opposite end away from the heat lamp, they're too warm.
• 3:51
  Connie: And again, I like the stress to use a thermometer at the bottom of the brooder so you're not questioning your temperature.
• 3:59
  Connie: Make your heat lamp adjustable and move it appropriately.
• 4:04
  Cortney: Yeah, that's a good point.
• 4:05
  Cortney: A lot of people don't have those thermometers handy, but you know, constant exact temperature is really important in those first days.
• 4:12
  Cortney: You're not just checking boxes, you're learning these birds.
• 4:15
  Cortney: So very important to have that thermometer handy.
• 4:18
  Connie: Okay, Courtney, at some point, those chicks aren't really little chicks anymore.
• 4:24
  Connie: How does a new owner know when it's time to start thinking about the coop?
• 4:29
  Cortney: I think this is another point where it's easy to get a little impatient.
• 4:33
  Cortney: The ticks are growing fast, the brooder isn't getting any bigger, so it's getting crowded, and you're thinking, okay, they're ready to move.
• 4:41
  Cortney: But you really want to look at your birds and the environment together.
• 4:45
  Cortney: Look at their development and their feathering, but also make sure the coop is ready.
• 4:50
  Cortney: You want dry bedding, good ventilation without any draft, and a space that will keep them safe and comfortable as they transition.
• 4:58
  Cortney: This is also where you want to think about the temperatures.
• 5:01
  Cortney: You've been dropping them each week so they're comfortable when they get out to the coop in the brooder and compare it to the temperature they'll be outside.
• 5:10
  Cortney: You want that transition to make sense for where they are developmentally and the conditions they're moving into.
• 5:16
  Cortney: It's not just about whether the birds are getting too big for the brooder, it's about whether they're ready to move and whether their new environment is ready for them.
• 5:26
  Connie: Right?
• 5:26
  Connie: Absolutely, Courtney.
• 5:28
  Connie: It's really two questions.
• 5:29
  Connie: Are the birds ready?
• 5:31
  Connie: And is the environment ready?
• 5:33
  Cortney: Right.
• 5:33
  Cortney: That is what I was thinking too, Connie.
• 5:35
  Cortney: So before we keep going, there is a quick message from Valley Hatchery.
• 5:42
  Cortney: Hey, this is Courtney, Customer Support Manager here at Valley Hatchery.
• 5:46
  Cortney: Before we get back to the episode, I have a quick update for anyone already planning their 2027 flock.
• 5:52
  Cortney: If you've been waiting to plan your 2027 flock, now's the time.
• 5:56
  Cortney: 2027 early reservations are officially open, and we'd love to have you get in early.
• 6:02
  Cortney: Lock in this year's pricing, get first pick of available breeds, and choose your preferred dates before the December reservation window.
• 6:10
  Cortney: Everything you need to get started is at Valleyhatchery.com/slash early dash reservations.
• 6:16
  Cortney: And you'll find the link right in the description.
• 6:18
  Cortney: Don't wait until December to start planning.
• 6:21
  Cortney: Get your 2027 reservation in early with Valley Hatchery.
• 6:28
  Cortney: All right, Connie.
• 6:29
  Cortney: Let's talk about the part that can really test a new owner's patience.
• 6:34
  Cortney: What happens during those months when you're taking care of the flock every day, but there's no eggs?
• 6:40
  Connie: I think that is probably where a lot of times first owners start asking, okay, when are these chickens going to lay?
• 6:48
  Connie: You're doing the daily work, but there's no obvious payoff.
• 6:51
  Connie: And that's actually a normal part of the process.
• 6:55
  Connie: I call it the quiet stretch before the first egg.
• 6:59
  Connie: Remember, most breeds start laying at five to six months.
• 7:03
  Connie: Just continue with your proper care, food, and the daily water.
• 7:08
  Connie: At this time, they are still developing.
• 7:12
  Connie: Be patient, and you will see your first egg in five to six months, but every hen develops on her own time.
• 7:19
  Cortney: Yep, that's right.
• 7:20
  Cortney: And you're sitting here thinking, I'm putting in all this work.
• 7:24
  Cortney: Am I doing something wrong here?
• 7:27
  Connie: Absolutely.
• 7:28
  Connie: Okay, so when that first egg finally shows up, what should a new owner expect, Courtney?
• 7:36
  Cortney: Well, Connie, I think the first egg is such a funny milestone because it's small.
• 7:40
  Cortney: And those small eggs are sometimes called fairy eggs.
• 7:44
  Cortney: They can be a little irregular too, so they can look funny.
• 7:48
  Cortney: And that's completely normal as your hands are getting started.
• 7:52
  Cortney: But even though that egg may be tiny, it represents months of work.
• 7:57
  Cortney: By that point, hopefully you've learned how to read your flock a little bit better than you could on day one.
• 8:02
  Cortney: You've gotten from tiny chicks arriving, learning their care, figuring out the brooder, watching them grow, and eventually moving them into their coop.
• 8:11
  Cortney: You've probably learned a lot about your birds along the way, too.
• 8:14
  Cortney: You'll start recognizing their personalities, their behavior, and what's normal for your flock.
• 8:20
  Cortney: And I think that first egg is really the start of another stage, not the end of the learning process.
• 8:26
  Cortney: Your flock is still going to change and teach you things every day as they mature.
• 8:30
  Cortney: That first egg is just one of the moments where you get to look back and realize just how far you and your flock has come.
• 8:38
  Connie: Exactly, Courtney.
• 8:39
  Connie: You've gone from wondering what every little signal means to actually recognizing your bird's normal behavior.
• 8:47
  Cortney: Right, Connie.
• 8:48
  Cortney: So if you could go back and talk to yourself during those first few months, what would you tell yourself?
• 8:54
  Connie: So the first thing I tell myself was not to panic every time something looked different.
• 9:00
  Connie: I would still observe and pay attention to detail.
• 9:04
  Connie: One thing I would recommend, if weak or lethargic, to give them that apple cider vinegar with the mother to be ready for adjustments of the heat lamp.
• 9:15
  Connie: Observe and move accordingly.
• 9:18
  Connie: That they grow awful fast and they want to fly out of that brooder before they are fully feathered.
• 9:24
  Connie: Please be patient.
• 9:26
  Connie: We actually built a frame with a screen on it to fit over my brooder so they couldn't escape.
• 9:33
  Connie: Don't rush putting them to the coop before they are fully feathered.
• 9:37
  Connie: As a baby chick cannot regulate its own body temperature until they are fully feathered.
• 9:43
  Cortney: Yep.
• 9:43
  Cortney: And I think that's something a lot of first-time owners can relate to and figure out that patience will help you along the way.
• 9:52
  Connie: Absolutely, Courtney.
• 9:53
  Cortney: And before we wrap up this month's special, let's do a quick rapid fire round.
• 9:58
  Cortney: You ready, Connie?
• 9:59
  Connie: I'm ready, Courtney.
• 10:01
  Connie: Okay.
• 10:01
  Connie: Quick answers and no overthinking.
• 10:04
  Cortney: All right.
• 10:04
  Cortney: Most important thing to have ready before your kicks arrive.
• 10:07
  Connie: A prepared brooder.
• 10:09
  Connie: You want the environment ready before the birds get here.
• 10:12
  Cortney: Absolutely.
• 10:12
  Cortney: Don't wait until the chicks arrive to start setting everything up.
• 10:16
  Connie: Okay, Courtney.
• 10:17
  Connie: One thing you should watch every day during those first few weeks.
• 10:21
  Cortney: Behavior.
• 10:22
  Cortney: Just watch what the birds are doing.
• 10:24
  Cortney: It can tell you a lot.
• 10:25
  Connie: Yeah, sometimes the birds are giving you the answer before you even realize you're looking for it.
• 10:30
  Connie: Biggest mistakes new owners make rushing, whether it's transition or expecting the next stage to happen immediately.
• 10:38
  Cortney: Patience really does come up a lot when you're raising chicks.
• 10:42
  Cortney: How do you feel?
• 10:43
  Connie: First egg, exciting or stressful?
• 10:45
  Connie: Bo.
• 10:46
  Connie: It's exciting, but you might also wonder if everything about the first egg is normal.
• 10:51
  Connie: Exactly.
• 10:52
  Connie: And that's another reason learning what to expect ahead of time helps.
• 10:56
  Connie: One word for the first few months.
• 10:58
  Connie: Learning.
• 10:59
  Connie: I'll go with observation.
• 11:01
  Connie: One thing you'd tell someone starting their first flock.
• 11:05
  Connie: Prepare ahead, pay attention, and give yourself time to learn.
• 11:09
  Connie: That's a pretty good way to end the rapid fire round.
• 11:12
  Connie: And now let's wrap up our monthly special.
• 11:15
  Connie: So if you're listening and you're somewhere in those first few months right now, hopefully this reminds you that you're not supposed to have everything figured out immediately.
• 11:26
  Cortney: Right.
• 11:26
  Cortney: Pay attention to the signals your birth are giving you.
• 11:29
  Cortney: Keep learning and give yourself some room to make mistakes and adjust.
• 11:34
  Cortney: And don't forget, you have friends at Valley Hatchery that can help.
• 11:38
  Connie: Absolutely.
• 11:38
  Connie: From day one through the brooder stage, the move to the coop, the quiet month, and finally the first egg.
• 11:46
  Connie: Every stage teaches you something.
• 11:50
  Cortney: And that's really what we wanted this month's special episode to be about.
• 11:53
  Cortney: Not having a perfect first flock, but becoming a more confident flock owner throughout your experience.
• 11:59
  Connie: And if you enjoyed this month's special episode, be sure to follow the Chicken Insights podcast so you don't miss our next conversation.
• 12:09
  Cortney: And if you have any questions, a lesson you've learned, or something you wish someone had told you when you first started your flock, send it to us through Fan Mail Future.
• 12:20
  Connie: Your questions and experiences can help shape future episodes.
• 12:24
  Connie: So we would love to hear what you have learned along the way.
• 12:28
  Cortney: And for more educational resources and practical flock care information, visit valleyhatchery.com.
• 12:34
  Connie: And we'll include the related resources from today's episode in the description if you want to keep learning about this first month from brooder care to the first egg.
• 12:45
  Cortney: Thanks for spending a little extra time with us today for this month's special episode.
• 12:50
  Cortney: And we'll see you in the next episode.
• 12:52
  Cortney: Take care for now, everyone.
• 12:53
  Cortney: Goodbye.
• 12:54
  Cortney: Bye.