Interesting stuff. For us "never had chickens before" folks, it can be daunting getting the right information. I have found that I can get information that makes a lot of sense to me from the local cooperative extension. I've gotten good information also from Storey's Guide and Raising Chickens for Dummies. I've talked to a few people that have backyard flocks in my area. (We have unique climate and distance issues here) I "chicken sat" for some friends while they were out on vacation, (which is how I found out they're actually friendly and make cute noises) I have a pretty good share of common sense and a decent knowledge of animal physiology, and by comparing sources, I can determine what I'm going to try first when various issues come up.
I've also gotten good advice in the posts here, but the problem with internet sites and chat rooms is that there's no way of knowing how good the information is, or how reliable the source is, especially when you're new to the forum. There is a difference between experience and expertise. Some people with lots of experience can be doing the same wrong thing for years, and since they don't know any differently, they think they're doing the right thing. Other people experiment and study and develop expertise. Figuring out which is which isn't easy when there are hundreds of posters with funny names and avatars, and great stories, but none of it easy to verify. How do you really get to know someone on the internet? And should I trust someone whose passion is a small flock of pets, if I want to know how to supplement my budget selling eggs? Or should I rely on the advice of someone who raises birds mostly for meat if what I really want is to show my pet hens at the local fair and get blue ribbons?
That's why some of us newbs turn to books and other sources. At least the books are vetted and provide references. I'm fairly late to the internet, and it's not always my first pick for detailed information. It seems that some of the issues on this thread and others are matters of preference, and size and purpose of the flock, and the personality and sensibilities of owners, and differences in climate and predator profiles, and other environmental factors, which indicates to me there are a lot of different right answers out there, and a lot of advice that's good in some situations but not in others.
I guess the bad advice I've noticed is the advice that includes the words, "Always", "Never", and "Only". I'm sure there have been an exception or two to that rule as well.
So I'll keep reading, and keep comparing, and eventually I'll have chicks to put in my coop and I'll start adding experience to my list of resources. Thanks all, for your input.
I've also gotten good advice in the posts here, but the problem with internet sites and chat rooms is that there's no way of knowing how good the information is, or how reliable the source is, especially when you're new to the forum. There is a difference between experience and expertise. Some people with lots of experience can be doing the same wrong thing for years, and since they don't know any differently, they think they're doing the right thing. Other people experiment and study and develop expertise. Figuring out which is which isn't easy when there are hundreds of posters with funny names and avatars, and great stories, but none of it easy to verify. How do you really get to know someone on the internet? And should I trust someone whose passion is a small flock of pets, if I want to know how to supplement my budget selling eggs? Or should I rely on the advice of someone who raises birds mostly for meat if what I really want is to show my pet hens at the local fair and get blue ribbons?
That's why some of us newbs turn to books and other sources. At least the books are vetted and provide references. I'm fairly late to the internet, and it's not always my first pick for detailed information. It seems that some of the issues on this thread and others are matters of preference, and size and purpose of the flock, and the personality and sensibilities of owners, and differences in climate and predator profiles, and other environmental factors, which indicates to me there are a lot of different right answers out there, and a lot of advice that's good in some situations but not in others.
I guess the bad advice I've noticed is the advice that includes the words, "Always", "Never", and "Only". I'm sure there have been an exception or two to that rule as well.
So I'll keep reading, and keep comparing, and eventually I'll have chicks to put in my coop and I'll start adding experience to my list of resources. Thanks all, for your input.
