City girl converted!

Hello and welcome.

I'm by far no expert, but there are some things I learned watching and reading.

From my life up in Michigan I think those with the east exposure coops had the best time, however the number of hours in the sun are much more important than the direction. Winters up near the lakes are all a very crazy equation of lake effect, sunlight, and wind direction. So many days can be spent on the sunny side of the house with a lawn chair getting a tan with fresh snow keeping your beer warm if the wind is properly blocked.

 

With that in mind I think variable ventilation is really important. It’s really possible to be way too hot in the winter, crazy as it sounds.

My uncle had a rood on his coop that never closed, just threw a tarp over the vents on windy days. (his coop also keeps neighbors from building a house within a mile... bad summer memories)

 

For poop control it’s all a matter of how proactive you want to be. With two free-balcony turkeys, and old dog who can’t really make the trip down the stairs, in the elevator, and far enough outside the neighbors don’t mind anymore and a couple younger dogs who are lazy making their leavings daily our rooftop garden is pretty clean. However it’s a scoop a day plus wash a week life.

 

I'm really into the deep litter method and if I had the space for a big flock would use it.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/70/deep-litter-method

 

The poop tray near the roost will help as I made a crude version of it for my turkeys and it keeps the balcony cleaner.

Just remember they poop where and when they feel it so you always have to do something about it if you don’t set up a natural-ish system in the coop.

 

Good luck picking the breeds, I really have no memory of what kind of chickens everyone back home had.

I'm also new to the "World of Chickens" .  I ordered my chickens from www.mypetchickens.com They have something on their site that will help you decide what type of chicken is best for what your climate.  They also have a calculator that will tell you how many you need to order.  I only had to order 6.  Some places only have to order 3.  The chicks that I received are in excellent health and are now 3 weeks old (almost 4 weeks).  We lost one on the 3rd day.  She was too weak from the travel.  Another site is www.meyerhatcher.com I have only ordered supplies from them and not chicks.  I think their ordering for chicks is about the same. I've had great communication from both of those hatcheries.  This site is a wonderful asset to have also.  I have learned a bunch on hear and received some great advise.  hope this helps.  There are a lot more experienced 'chicken people'  on here that will hopefully come along and share their advise.  Best of Luck!

another good breed is rhode island reds. they lay about 300 eggs a year per bird and are real easy to care for. as for as the coop you need about 4 square feet of coop with about 10 square feet of run per bird. and its fun and cheap to build if you do  it your self. look in the coop section to get ideas and build it the way you want it.. you want the coop facing east to west with the back of the coop facing the sun on the hottest part of the day and plenty of shade

Welcome to BYC! I would recommend Plymouth Rocks or even a Rhode Island Red. Both lay great eggs and a lot of them. They have both been breed for cold climates (Rhode Island Reds can survive even in the teens and single didgets). While I got my chicks from a farm store called Big R, they only carry chicks in the spring. I have heard good reviews about Meyer Hatchery. They have a minimum order of only 3 chicks and they also guaranty live delivery. Hope that helps.

Hi and from a fellow Buckeye. So glad to have you aboard. Australorps are good heat and cold hardy birds along with Barred Rocks, Wyandotte and RIR. I am sure there are more. I get mine from Meyer hatchery. You should also check out the other Ohio members at the link below. .
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/12049/ohio-come-on-buckeyes-let-me-know-your-out-there

 &  from Alabama. Glad you joined us.