Hello, nice to finally join

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[The Prancing Raptor]

Welcome!

What are you currently using for housing your chickens?

Be sure to check out the coop construction area, lots of good ideas and advice there:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/

I'm currently renting a place that has an old concrete dairy barn/parlor...the chickens are housed in a secure part of that. During the day they are free range when the weather is nice.

I originally started with a little bitty coop from tractor supply - I had received some bad advice from a chicken owning neighbor who recommended it & said they house 10 chickens in theirs. It was just ok for chicks but I don't use it at all now that the poulets are adult size. I keep it only because I spent so much money on it & think I might find a secondary use for it in the future.

Thank you for the coop link - very helpful!

 

[The Prancing Raptor]

Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. Best wishes with finding your new home!

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Winter chicken care

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

Thank you for these links & the good advice. I'll definitely look over the new property for drainage, wind & sun issues before starting any build.

 

[The Prancing Raptor]

Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.

Thanks so much!

 

[casportpony]

Hello lovely chicken people! I have been referencing this site for over a year & thought it was time to join

I am new to chicken keeping & currently have 2 Black Jersey Giants. I am in the process of buying a property & while there are existing buildings that could be converted to a chicken coop I will probably be building a dedicated chicken coop in the near future. I also hope to expand my flock once I have chicken housing sorted. I am sure lots of questions will arise, lol. Thanks for having me & I look forward to learning from you all.

Hello and welcome to the chicken-keeping community! It's great to hear that you've been referencing this site for so long, and even better that you have decided to join us.

Congratulations on starting your own backyard flock, and good luck with your future expansion plans! Building a dedicated chicken coop is a great idea, as it will give your chickens a comfortable and secure home.

If you have any questions about chicken keeping, feel free to ask - we all started somewhere and there's always more to learn. Thanks for joining us, and happy chicken keeping!