Considering chickens

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cmom said:
:welcome :frow I can't really add anything that hasn't been said. Everyone is different as well as their situations. Once you start to get some eggs, offer your neighbors some. I raise chickens for exhibition/showing at poultry show. It will be good for your kids too. They may get involved in 4H if they aren't already. Years ago I raised certain breeds for the local 4H kids. Check out the BYC coop page and it may give you some ideas. Good luck with your future flock and have fun...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-coops.12/
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Thanks so much! I spoke to some neighbors today and all were supportive, so I'm feeling better about it. Just need to figure out the coop. I wish I had a shed to convert, but sadly no shed . . . A walk-in coop is my ideal.
 
rjohns39 said:
My hens are squawking up a storm right now. They can certainly be louder than a roo, but still a barking dog is louder then them. More importantly, they don't go at it constantly, just when something riles them up.

For your coop, have you considered a shed conversion?
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I so wish I had a shed to convert--that would be ideal and less overwhelming than the thought of building from scratch (alongside a full-time job and two hybrid school schedules). I feel the right thing will come along.
 
Penelopechick said:
Yes, the more I read the more I feel I need to read more! I worry I'm going to become so informed I'll scare myself out of the whole enterprise! Seriously, though, I'm not afraid of hard work and if I had more land and less proximate neighbors, I'd have a large wonderful flock in a heartbeat. It just keeps coming back to the noise issue for me. The upfront investment is large, so I don't want to end up having to give it all up after not long. Maybe I could try bantam cochins or bantam brahma, though what I'm gathering is that in a flock of hens without a rooster, somebody is going to be a loud and proud top hen. Thoughts? Reassurance?
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Thoughts and Reassurance, GO FOR IT ! LOL Do you know of anyone close to you that has chickens? If so maybe you could go and check out their little operation to see how easy it really is.

As for the noise being a factor definitely no roosters. Our four Isa Brown hens for the most part are very quiet until one goes to lay an egg or a little noise after she is done, but nothing I would call super loud and quits shortly after.

For a breed choice that is a tough one, so many great breeds to pick from. We went with Isa Browns because of their reputation of being great layers and very very friendly. Your kids would just love them.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, best of luck and please keep us posted with your journey. Link below may help you. :)

https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/isa-brown
 
Penelopechick said:
Thanks so much! I spoke to some neighbors today and all were supportive, so I'm feeling better about it. Just need to figure out the coop. I wish I had a shed to convert, but sadly no shed . . . A walk-in coop is my ideal.
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Some people have converted a kids playhouse as a coop. I built all of my coops over a span of many years. Some have used the wood from old pallets. Hopefully you will come across something. All of my coops except one I can walk in which I like too. Is there any local papers that have a for sale section in it for people to sell different things or something like a Bargain Trader? Again, good luck and have fun...
 
I want to thank everyone who weighed in on my chicken plans. I have taken the advice to use a shed as a coop and ordered a sturdy kit from a local maker. The shed will be 8x10 (so 80 square feet) and I'll add a covered run about 120 square feet. (Once the shed arrives, I'll ask advice on where/how best to add ventilation while keeping things predator proof.) Now I'm trying to narrow down the breeds. I'd like a mixed flock of about 8 docile chickens that tend to be gentle, on the quieter side, and tolerate confinement (as outlined above). I will get some portable fencing to allow some free range, but it likely won't happen every day and rarely in winter (which is almost half the year in VT). I'm hoping the combined 200 square feet or so will be sufficient to keep 8 birds happy and stimulated (I will hang cabbages). Here's my current conundrum. I am really drawn to the Brahma, but as a beginner the care of their feathered legs gives me pause: I'm thinking leg mites and keeping their feet clean and dry. The coop and run WILL be in the driest part of our yard, next to a stand of white pines on the east side of our house, so it actually doesn't get nearly as much snow/mud/weather as other spots. BUT, we do have mud season here. Am I just getting myself into a ton of extra work by getting Brahmas and Cochins? Should I just focus on non-feathered leggers, like Orpingtons, Marans, and Easter Eggers? Or does my set up seem workable for the feathered leggers? I'd especially love to hear from those who have feathered leggers in climates like mine. Thank you!
 
P.s., I'm seeing that even some of the Marans and Eggers in my MPC cart (not ordered yet) can have some feathering on their legs, so maybe I just need to go for it with a feathered leg crowd. Keeping the coop clean and dry is less my concern than the challenge of checking legs for mites. Are mites so common they're inevitable at some point, or can they be easily avoided with good hygiene, including the dust bath?
 
Wild birds usually introduce them. I don't think you can prevent them. Some people have tried but if you use something on a regular basis the mites will get an immunity to it. I only treat when I see anything then treat weekly for 3 or 4 weeks and then stop. I do use poultry dust in my nest boxes.
https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html#Chickens
 
Thank you for that dose of reality and for sharing how you manage things. I've just been reading some threads about run size per bird and see that I should probably increase the size of mine or get fewer chickens, maybe six. It's so tough to choose which ones!
cmom said:
Wild birds usually introduce them. I don't think you can prevent them. Some people have tried but if you use something on a regular basis the mites will get an immunity to it. I only treat when I see anything then treat weekly for 3 or 4 weeks and then stop. I do use poultry dust in my nest boxes.
https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html#Chickens
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