Brand new from MD

[pmcquitty]

I just got my coop for my bday! Wanted chickens for years! So overwhelmed, I don't even know where to begin! Any pointers for someone just getting started? Don't even have the coop set up or even know what type of chickens to start with!!

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Chicken breeds depend a lot on where you live and what you want them for. Is it hot, rainy, cold, snowy, humid where you live? Are they for pets, meat, eggs, dual purpose or showing? Also research the type of predators in your area. You will need a bottom on the coop or buried wire to keep digging animals out. And a roof or netting to keep hawks or owls out and chickens in.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Hi and

Happy birthday, that is an awesome birthday present! A good place to get started is the Learning Center. It has tons of useful information. Also, I would recommend Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, which is a fantastic book. Thanks for joining us, and good luck!

 

[drumstick diva]

Please check out the Learning center - a great place to start a poultry education. Welcome to the flock.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - enjoy your planning - keeping chickens is not so difficult, so don't worry.

Best wishes
Ct

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Find out what the ordinances (if any) in your area says about chickens, how many you can keep, etc: https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/3/Laws

Breeds, depending what you want them for, eggs, meat, both, pets, lawn ornaments: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

And go through the Learning Center articles: https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you have any questions, shoot. We've all been new once

Enjoy!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[pmcquitty]

Thanks everyone. I've read just about read everything in the Learning Center... and then some, including 3 books that were recommended on this site. My coop and pen are almost ready. I feel like there is so much I don't know and need to learn. A little nervous about actually starting. My coop is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland so we have hot/cold weather and just about every know predator. Fortunately, my husband is a contractor and was able to help me build a pen that should help guard against most of them - the sides are not buried, but curled about a foot out from the pen so a digging predator will hit wire if it tries to dig. Hubby seems to think it will deter digging better. I have fallen in love with the buff Brahma during my breed research-I'm looking for some eggs but mainly needed a hobby. Any advise in starting my flock would be appreciated.