So good to be here :)

[beckyrasdf]

My name's Becky, and my husband and I are planning on egg laying chickens for spring '15. We live in the suburbs, have a back yard with privacy fence and love fresh eggs

. We'll most likely end up with 5 hens or so of a variety of breeds. I think half the fun will be watching them out our windows! We're very excited
We live in the western Chicago suburbs and would love any info on what folks have found work best for the weather we get. Also, if there are ever any 'chicken related events' we'd love to hear about them!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

 

[sunflour]

Glad you joined us..good luck on the new adventure.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC, Becky! Glad you decided to join our flock. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Do you have any particular breed preferences?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community!

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

 

[Ashley Stroud]

Hi and welcome! You can find info specific to your geographical area in the Where Am I, Where Are You forum

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you

And of course, everyone here is always happy to help and talk chicken with ya!

 

[beckyrasdf]

Welcome to BYC, Becky! Glad you decided to join our flock. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Do you have any particular breed preferences?

Hi there! We are considering: Australorps, Easter Eggers, barred Plymouth Rock, speckled Sussex, and Wyandotte. All supposed to be good layers, sweet temperament and cold weather hardy?? We'd love to have a mixed bunch (variety is 1/2 the fun for us!!). We want eggs and entertainment So now we're trying to do research on finding what breeds we can mix together. AND trying to figure out the coop situation! We unfortunately have never built anything ourselves and have big time constraints which would limit our ability to take on the project of building our own...so we're trying to determine what premade/store bought coop will work best for us (big enough for 5-6 hens, moveable and winter proof are our top concerns). It's a big world with a LOT of information!!!

 

[Michael OShay]

Hi there! We are considering: Australorps, Easter Eggers, barred Plymouth Rock, speckled Sussex, and Wyandotte. All supposed to be good layers, sweet temperament and cold weather hardy?? We'd love to have a mixed bunch (variety is 1/2 the fun for us!!). We want eggs and entertainment

So now we're trying to do research on finding what breeds we can mix together. AND trying to figure out the coop situation! We unfortunately have never built anything ourselves and have big time constraints which would limit our ability to take on the project of building our own...so we're trying to determine what premade/store bought coop will work best for us (big enough for 5-6 hens, moveable and winter proof are our top concerns). It's a big world with a LOT of information!!!

I've had all of those breeds at one time or another over the past 50 years, and they are all docile breeds (although I did occasionally have an aggressive Barred Rock or Wyandotte). The Australorps and Speckled Sussex were especially calm and gentle. I never had an aggressive one among either breed, and my children (and now my granddaughter with the Australorps) had no problems turning them into lap pets. In addition, the Australorps are particularly excellent layers. Whatever breeds you decide to get, good luck with your flock.