Considering chickens

[janiedoe]

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!

Our weather is hot & humid most of the year and we seldom have snow or ice (big exception this year) but we have mud. A lot of mud. I have brahmas and langshan and I haven't had too many issues with feathered feet.
I free range and I have had to treat for scaley leg mites on two occasions. Both times I used ivermectin pour on. It was an easy fix.
I love my feather footed chicks and find it is easier to rehome the males because of the cuteness factor. I also love the brahmas because you can handle them. They don't run everytime you look at them. I'd love cochins but it is just too hot here.
Best wishes for success!

 

[DobieLover]

I'm in NY. Bad winter this year. I have a Salmon Faverolles rooster and 2 MF d'Uccles with feathered legs as well as 5 SF mix pullets and hens that are the daughters of my rooster that have lightly feathered legs.
Those legs are definitely more maintenance and I personally will allow it to breed out of my flock in generations to come. I don't have a problem with mud so much as recurring SLM. I spray with LiceFreee but can't do that in the winter.

 

[cmom]

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!

I don't free range anymore due to losses from predators. My flocks aren't the average backyard flock. I currently have around 200 birds with more due to hatch out soon. I have several coops and nice big pens for each coop. I would consider making everything such as the coop and pen as large as practical. I also have several game cameras up on my property and see quite a few predators roaming especially at night here. Here is a picture of my pens. Not a current picture but not much has changed. Not too pretty but functions. It's even been through a hurricane a few years ago. Luckily everything remained intact. Some of the fencing did get blown over somewhat and I straightened it up as best as I could. I'm an old lady and my DH has issues so me, myself and I did it. Again, good luck and have fun...

 

[cmom]

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!

I have had several different breeds over the years. I eventually settled on the ones in my signature. I do show my birds at poultry shows. I would get whatever you really want. You can always add others later. Some breeds are better layers than others and some are prone to be more broody.
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at BYC. I think you're gonna love it here, we surely do.