ALABAMA!!

[icandi]

Hey everyone! Central AL here.
I've looked around for a few days but have finally joined BYC today I don't currently have any chickens, or a coop, but I hope to remedy the coop part soon in time for some spring chickens! I'm hoping to get some local rather than mail order. I haven't settled on what breeds I want yet but they will mostly be for eggs and I want a nice/docile breed because I have small children. We have a shed the previous owner built himself over a decade ago that I might make into a coop with a run on the back.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Hey everyone! Central AL here.
I've looked around for a few days but have finally joined BYC today  I don't currently have any chickens, or a coop, but I hope to remedy the coop part soon in time for some spring chickens! I'm hoping to get some local rather than mail order. I haven't settled on what breeds I want yet but they will mostly be for eggs and I want a nice/docile breed because I have small children. We have a shed the previous owner built himself over a decade ago that I might make into a coop with a run on the back. 

Rhode island reds or barred rocks if you want brown eggs or any leghorns if you want white eggs. -MCF

 

[JDchicks]

Hey everyone! Central AL here.
I've looked around for a few days but have finally joined BYC today I don't currently have any chickens, or a coop, but I hope to remedy the coop part soon in time for some spring chickens! I'm hoping to get some local rather than mail order. I haven't settled on what breeds I want yet but they will mostly be for eggs and I want a nice/docile breed because I have small children. We have a shed the previous owner built himself over a decade ago that I might make into a coop with a run on the back.

Welcome!

Check out these two links...they are great for helping decide on a breed

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

I'm partial to Brahmas, cause of how docile and weather hardy they are and since they are heavy, I don't have to worry about them going over the fences. But get several peoples opinions. Everyone has a favorite breed.

Also, about the end of February thru April, Tractor Supply will be selling chicks if you have trouble finding what you want locally.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Personally I try to avoid tractor supplys chicks. From what I've seen the quality is just not worth it. There's nothing wrong with mail order chicks, just know like most things you get what you pay for. If you look for the cheapest you'll end up with low quality birds. That's not to say you should spend a ton on show quality birds for your first birds either. Read read read before you start out and learn as much as you can. -MCF

 

[Ceraglassics]

Re-homed 5 of my hens, #1 being that unruly RIR, since then I have no others that have their eyes missing and no heads being pecked at...Yay for my remaining crew. However, we did have that really cold spell and I could not stand the thought of them being out there with no heat, so I put 2 lamps in there. Yesterday my hubby brings me an egg! ! ! ! Now I do not know if it was the undue stress the mama RIR was causing or the extra lighting, whichever it is it's a winner and I'll take it!

 

[JDchicks]

Personally I try to avoid tractor supplys chicks. From what I've seen the quality is just not worth it. There's nothing wrong with mail order chicks, just know like most things you get what you pay for. If you look for the cheapest you'll end up with low quality birds. That's not to say you should spend a ton on show quality birds for your first birds either. Read read read before you start out and learn as much as you can. -MCF

Oh. I didn't know that about Tractor Supply. I had thought they came from hatcheries like Meyer and Ideal. Good to know. I was looking at getting some pullets just for eggs (for eating) from them. Think I will need to look into another option now.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Oh. didn't know that about Tractor Supply. I had thought they came from hatcheries like Meyer and Ideal.  Good to know. I was looking at getting some pullets just for eggs (for eating) from them. Think I will need to look into another option now.

Sometimes they do get them from decent hatchery. All you can do is ask them where they came from. Cackle ideal mcmurry and meyer are all good hatcherys overall for hatchery quality birds, but tractor supply will mark up the price for sure. -MCF

 

[waynec1955]

Tractor Supply may mark them up. but you will not have to pay a shipping fee. The shipping is sometimes as high as the chicks.
My Black Austrolorps came from McMurry. I have been pleased with our hens. They lay everyday and they are friendly with my grandchildren.

What part of Central Alabama are you from icandi? We live in Munford. There seems to always be someone around us with chickens for sale.

If you want them to be friendly, I recommend you handle them while they are young to get the used to you.

Welcome to BYC.

 

[icandi]

I'm in Pleasant Grove, one of the cities that tornado nearly leveled a couple years ago. I have looked around at a lot of hatcheries online McMurry being one of them. My dad got some birds a year or two ago I don't remember where. Both of his turned out to be pullets. (he always was lucky!) A lady I know a town over has free range chickens and said there's a hardware store near her that carries chicken feed. IDK price or quality yet so I will have to check that out. The store is only 10 minutes away from me so that would be great!
I have looked and looked and could not find a thing on having a flock in my city. I do know of at least one neighbor a street over who has them, including a rooster that I have heard for years. Also, a couple streets over the other direction a neighbor has 2 horses! I don't plan on keeping any roosters myself though since my neighbors are close.
This is the first year I've actually had a chance to have chickens because the next house after mine was a rental with a LOT of mean dogs that barked constantly and that wouldn't have worked. They are gone finally, thank goodness. Long story but they trashed the place and my husbands aunt was the land lord! Plus we fenced in our backyard (with my dad's help) in the fall to keep neighbor cats out.
Here's the shed I may convert. I don't know measurements yet and the bottom would definitely need hardware cloth there's a good gap there and I have seen opossums and raccoons come out from under it. I would like to do a run off it but I don't see how it would work off the back with that huge pine tree in the way. To the right of that building starts a slant in the ground that goes through most of my yard which has a lot of shade and trees.


My dog just sat there staring at me when I took the picture just now lol. I guess she thought I was going to run around with her out there.

 

[Tomtommom]

My husband is from Pleasant Grove. He's a weirdo, he probably knows someone who knows someone who knows you (it's his favorite thing in the world, to tell me random things about complete strangers

)

I know there's quite a few folks out that way with chickens. Roosters in a subdivision are the best way to make your neighbors mad

I've got one, he's inside at night til 9am. He doesn't crow during the day, just in the morning when he wants outside. My first rooster got me a call to the city from the neighbors, so I got in trouble. He was outside and crowed ALL THE TIME.