- Thread starter
- #21
LauraLGeorgia
Chirping
Thank you so much! There's so much to learn and I want to be prepared before I start. I'm planning on making my own coop and run. I'm just learning all of the very basic terms. (I had to look up what a pullet wasTo start, you should see what the minimum amount of chickens is that you are required to purchase. In Ohio, it is 6. If your state has no minimum, I think between 4 and 6 is good for the first generation. For a beginner flock, I would recommend Silkies, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, and Easter eggers/ Americanas.(same thing, but one has a fluffy face. Basically what happens when a true Ameracauna jumps the fence, and now they’ve got to put something on the breed label other than “mixed”)
The most important things I have to say from experience are:
1. Rhode Island Reds can be docile, but most strains I encountered were prone to aggressive behavior. The roosters are also possessive of hens, rather than protective, and tend to rip more feathers out when breeding, as compared to my Plymouth.
2 if you want small hens, get Bantam. I recently rehomed my quail, because I had too many roosters and they would have killed each other. I got fed up with it and gave away all 3 roosters and 2 hens. It was better financially than buying 10 hens and another coop. Chicken politics are complex, but nowhere near quail.
3. Depending on budget and materials, it is usually cheaper to get a whole bunch of dudes to build a coop, instead of trying to buy one. My mom only needed to go get some free secondhand wood pallets, then wrap it in chicken wire and put a roof on it. My stepdad was able to make a simple sliding door. If you can, build your own.
4. Pullet is never absolute. About one tenth of the pullets are improperly labeled, so if you don’t want roosters get pullet, but it’s still a good idea to have a rehoming plan. Also, if you do want roosters, you need at least 5 or 6 hens for the first, and add 10 hens per rooster after that. If they free range, it is better, but if they are confined in a small yard or run, I would suggest not getting more than 2 boys, as they can be territorial during spring and summer.
Hopefully this helps!![]()
