Chicks
Chick ordering is open! We are partnering with Flock City PDX again this year for all chick sales. They are true chicken experts, offering lots of breeds and help with making selections to suit your needs. Reservations are made in advance through Flock City, then you’ll pick up your chicks and supplies at Livingscape. Here’s how it works:
- Visit the Flock City PDX website to see available breeds and pick up dates.
- Choose your breeds and follow the ordering and payment instructions on the site.
- Come by Livingscape on your designated pick up date to get your chicks and the food and supplies you’ll need to care for your flock.
Feed
We carry organic and conventional feed in both pellet and whole grain form, as well as grit, oyster shells, grubs and snacks. We also have all the feeders, waterers, heat lamps, bedding, and books you’ll need to get your flock started and cared for.
Care
Please check out our chicken resources below!
Birds and Mason Bees
Attracting birds to the garden.
Having birds regularly visit your garden brings a lot of benefits. They pollinate our plants, prey on unwanted insects, and bring a sense of wildness to our outdoor spaces. It can be really rewarding to watch birds gather nest-making materials from our gardens in the winter.
The best way to attract birds to your garden is to provide proper habitat – plants for food and shelter, an exposed mulch/leaf layer, and water. Once you’ve created a supportive habitat, it’s time to add feeders and nesting boxes. We offer feeders, seed, and shelters.
We are proud to partner with the Backyard Bird Habitat certification program operated by Portland Audubon and Columbia Land Trust. We carry lots of plant options and provide discounts to participants in the program. We’re also recipients of the certification and highly recommend it!
Mason Bees
Mason bees are unique and quite beneficial. They’re native to the Pacific NW and, in contrast to honey bees (which are from Europe), mason bees will fly and pollinate even when it is raining or cool outside. They’re not hive-forming and rarely sting.
We carry mason bee cocoons that hatch in late winter ready to pollinate your plants through spring. We also carry mason bee boxes and tubes to provide them nesting spaces.
Caring for your chicks
Temperature
90 degrees the first week and then 5 degrees less each week, until 60 or 70 degrees and then they should not need supplemental heat anymore. One 125 watt half-power heat lamp in a utility reflector is sufficient. Ventilation is important also.
Floor space
Provide ½-1 square foot per bird for the first four weeks. Two square feet per bird after fours weeks. Birds often pick at each other if they do not have sufficient space, fresh air, food or water, or are too hot. Fresh grass clippings and/or clumps of sod with grass may keep them busy and help eliminate problems.
Sometimes in the first few weeks chicks tend to paste up on their rear ends (ie, dried poop on their butts). This needs to be removed. Use warm water and cloth or place their butt under a faucet with gentle warm water. Moisten and dissolve the clump. This is less of a concern after 4 weeks.
Litter/Bedding
Do NOT use newspaper (alone) or anything slick to raise chicks on because this may cause damage to their legs. Shavings work well, particularly hemp, pine and fir. Hemp shavings are our favorite for chicks as they absorb 4x their weight and produce very low dust. Straw will work but can be slick for young chicks and usually harder to clean. Be sure to clean often and keep the bedding dry.
Feed
Use chick starter crumble for at lest 3 months from hatch. At month 3 or 4, layer hen pellets can be gradually introduced into their food. You may blend chick and layer food or buy a developer feed for the 10-20 week old period. Also, provide some grit, preferably in a separate container (though chickens that are free-ranged at least part of the day may not need supplemental grit). By 4 to 5 months, your girls should be on layer food. It is recommended to provide oyster shells for calcium to assist with egg shell development.
Water
Always provide ample, fresh water to your birds. Use appropriate waterers so that birds do not drown. Do not use bowls or dishes. Raise waterers as the birds grow. The lip of the waterer should be even with the bird’s back. That way the waterers will stay cleaner and it is easier for the birds to drink.
Feeders
Like the waterers, raise the feeders as birds grow. Hanging feeders and waterers reduce spoilage from chickens stepping in the device.
Additional Info
Be prepared before purchasing poultry. More chicks are lost due to improper preparation such as heat, litter, waterers, feeders and feed than from disease. The area used for rearing should be free of rodents, cats, dogs, etc. It is not suggested to raise chicks together that are more than two or three weeks apart in age. The older ones may pick the younger ones, potentially to death. Use your good judgment if you try this. It is often not a problem, though providing sufficient space and heat minimizes problems.
Buy a book on home chicken raising, talk to friends (or strangers) who have chickens, and search the online for more information.
Good luck, have fun!
Breed Information Websites
Other Chicken Resources
Chicken Health Handbook
This book is an excellent reference and first place to start for non-emergency chicken health questions. We have a reference copy at the store and you are welcome to look at it at the store.
Chicken Vets and consultation- Who to call when there is a health crisis
Leslie with Flock City is our go to for consultation. She provides consultations by phone 503-832-7137 or email www.flockcitypdx@gmail.com. Leslie also provides home visits, help with minor procedures, hen companion services and lot of experienced recommendations.
Vet practices come and go. We suggest calling your local vet and seeing who they would recommend. That said, there is the Avian Medical Center off Boones Ferry in Lake Oswego and they may be able to help you or refer you to someone closer to you. Let’s hope you never have to make that call. Good luck!