New and excited!

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HannahR318

Chirping
May 17, 2023
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(1) I grew up on a dairy farm and have experience with hoofstock but we never had chickens. I had my husband almost convinced and we happened to be at rural king where they had a bin full of "assorted pullets" for $1 each and the rest is history!

(2) starting with just 6

(3) My best guess is: australorp, gold comets and Easter egger.

(4) Looking forward to eggs. I have been really surprised how much personality chickens have even at this young age.

(5) I am an artist

(6) Teaching our daughters about animal care. Plus our cat isn't lonely anymore because the chicks love him.

(7) I saw some awesome coop design ideas, great advice and other important information here so I knew this was a good place to be.
 

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Glad to meet you, Hannah. That is an awesome photo of the cat with the loving chicks. There are periodic picture contests here, so keep an eye out of them. You can win gift certificates for equipment.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, 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. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

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.
 

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