Beginner help please

[CarboneFamily]

The Wife and I are starting our chicken journey this spring ! Trying to prepare our selfs and have several questions and thought this might be a good place to ask . 1) we live in north western part of Ohio and it gets pretty cold here during winter what breed of chicken would you recommend? 2) we are wanting to start with six chickens we are not going to free range due to living next to a major highway what size coop and run should I plan to build how much room do I need for 6 chickens ? Thank you in advance!

 

[HappyClucker7]

For breeds, what exactly are you looking for in your chickens? Do you want them specifically for eggs, do you want them for pets, or do you want to eventually be able to eat them?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Brahmas are pretty hardy for cold weather. Any specific reason for wanting chickens?

Eggs, family activities, etc? Asking to recommend chickens more adequate to your conditions .

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Think about what you want these chickens to do; eggs daily, different colored eggs, be social with people, taste good? Bantam sized (small) or large sized?
Climate matters, so you should look at breed types that manage cold weather.
Henderson's poultry breed chart, feathersite, and 'Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry' are great places to look. Also the Cackle and MurrayMcMurray catalogs, online and paper.
Then, pick some that just look and sound good to you; start somewhere! We all have our favorites, which have changed over time, part of the fun.
Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, Buckeyes (from Ohio!), Chanteclers (my favorites), French Marans, Plymouth Rocks, all good choices. There are many more!
Because your birds will be confined most of the time, avoid breeds described as 'active' or excellent free range types. Good flying skills won't help you either.
Silkies, Seramas, and frizzles need some help in cold weather, not best either.
Build big!!!
AT LEAST four to six square feet per bird in a coop, and ten square feet in the run. Woods coops are really nice, see @Ted Brown 's thread about his build.
Otherwise, modifying a garden shed is good, with an added run. In snow country, a roofed run will make you very happy!!! Lots of ventilation too.
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

Barred Rock another good cold tolerant breed.

AT LEAST four to six square feet per bird in a coop, and ten square feet in the run. Woods coops are really nice, see @Ted Brown 's thread about his build.

Otherwise, modifying a garden shed is good, with an added run. In snow country, a roofed run will make you very happy!!! Lots of ventilation too.
Mary

Very happy with my Woods coop, scalable from 6'x10' to 10'x16', great in areas that get serious winters.

I second a roofed run area whole heartedly, makes life easy especially in the winter.

Drop boards under your roosts, drop boards under your roosts...

Good luck!

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

Salmon Faverolles I've heard are good cold hardy breeds

 

[CarboneFamily]

I’m so sorry every one this is my first time posting to something like this we are looking for egg laying chickens

 

[CarboneFamily]

For breeds, what exactly are you looking for in your chickens? Do you want them specifically for eggs, do you want them for pets, or do you want to eventually be able to eat them?

Egg l

 

[CarboneFamily]

For breeds, what exactly are you looking for in your chickens? Do you want them specifically for eggs, do you want them for pets, or do you want to eventually be able to eat them?

Egg laying

 

[CarboneFamily]

Brahmas are pretty hardy for cold weather. Any specific reason for wanting chickens?

Eggs, family activities, etc? Asking to recommend chickens more adequate to your conditions .

Egg laying