Absolute novice ready to take the leap!

[jlholm]

Hello! We just moved from a large southern city to a 5 acre home in Western New York. I have always been fascinated by chickens and been wanting to raise a small group as a hobby. I know nothing about starting up and have been reading and checking out all the information I can find on the web. This looks like a great site to learn how to start and get good information from real people who share the love!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, jlholm, and

! Great to have you here! Happy you are starting out with some poultry! BYC is the greatest place to start!! Below are some links to help get you started. Good luck and have fun!

The Learning Center gives you general info on the care and maintenance of chickens:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/

The Breeds forum as well as the chart below help you decide what varieties of birds you'd like:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

The Coops thread helps you decide what style housing you'd like your new birds to have:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coop_Designs

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

We have very cold harsh winters, but do not heat our coop at all - we actually leave a window at least cracked open for better ventilation. A well-built coop will not need supplemental heat in winter. you will find out plenty in the Learning Center and the Coops sections.

 

[sourland]

Congratulations on your new home. Search the forums, ask questions, plan and you will be set to start your flock the proper way. Welcome to BYC.

 

[WildBilly]

Welcome to BYC! jlholm, have any questions about start up feed and coop designs?,i may be able to help.
where at in western New York, that's where i'm from. i live in cattaraugus. thats cool, snow is just melting here.

I also raise small flock of chickens as a hobby, and am 6 months new to chickens!www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2010/.../winter-chicken-coop-care-p2...
Winters get cold in New York, make sure to build and place coop out of wind as best as possible. I used a heat lamp for a while and lowered during the day to just above head level on really cold days(even when my chickens were still 4 months old) when they roost in the winter at night i raise the lamp so they can jump off their coop without knocking the lamp around. i then lower heat lamp again during daylight.

 

[jlholm]

Thanks" I don't even have chicks yet. I am still researching and trying to figure out what breed would be best to start with and looking for ideas on coops. Do I buy a coop or build one and where to get plans. What do I need in a coop and run, etc. we just moved into our new place and are excited about beginning our new hobby farm from scratch. We are also considering ducks since we have a pond, but are not sure about having them with chickens.

 

[jlholm]

Thank you for all the info. I need and appreciate it all!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!

 

[Going Bhonkers]

 

[WildBilly]

We built ours inside a pole barn so it takes up less space, we built our own design based on the space needed for each chicken.
I have the Black Jersey Giant rooster, a white leghorn hen, a barred rock hen, a buff orpington hen, a rhode island red hen, and an easter egger hen. My dad bought day olds from meyer cheaps chicks hatchery which i am sure it is in ohio. we ordered them and they were shipped to our local post office for us to pickthem up. they all lay eggs frequently. the white leghorn hen is known for it's egg laying about 300 eggs a year. i think it is actually more than this though.LINKS BELOW CONTAIN GOOD INFORMATION

http://www.coopsnmore.com
homesteadrules.com/homemade-chicken-waterer/