One Newbies Journey to Chicken mania

This is wonderful and I feel like I'm walking in your footsteps as I travel the same path. I'm reading, reading, reading...and appreciate BYC and articles like yours so much!! I am moving to the extreme north of CT (Can almost throw a stone into MA) and plan to have coop ready this fall. Your descriptions of the predators are exactly what I know will be on my property. I have family 2 miles away from my new place and they have had black bear and bobcat in their back yards. I do not plan to free range....but think I might get easy-to-move poultry fencing to extend their space beyond the run when I'm able to be outside with them. You didn't mention heat (I don't think)....but I assume you are not providing a heat source. I don't plan to either. Thank you again for sharing your journey....I'm off to read "Part Two"

Excellent! This is well thought out, well planned and well executed ... both the set-up and the article. The tips on "What to Do Differently" are extremely helpful. That's the second rule of chicken keeping, second only to "Beware Chicken Math." Rule #2 is just as stated here ..."Go BIGGER than you think you'll need." Always!
VERY Nicely Done!

EDIT 12/19/19 to correct typos from "happy fingers!"

I really enjoyed reading your story. And all the thought you put behind your reasons for building the way you did. Very informative!