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[Kelly G]

Hello, River!
I'm in the Tampa area - not too far from you. I just ordered my first 8 chickens (silver laced Wyandottes) from mypetchicken.com I cannot WAIT for them to get here! According to their sight, they should ship in "late August". We bought 2.5 acres about a mile from our home to keep my two horses and my father-in-law

on. I'm there twice a day for probably 3-4 hours. Some day (when the house selling market improves) we may build a new house there and live there...we'll see...

Here are what the Silver Laced Wyandottes look like:

I have read (and re-read) everything I could get my hands on about raising chicks, and this sight has been a GREAT resource! I'm about to post a question about raising chicks in warmer states over in the "raising chicks" forum. I've never raised or owned chickens before, so I'm really anxious about being able to do things right.

Here is my chicken coop (a modified children's play house).

This will hold 5 hens (no rooster right now)...so if all the chicks live that I ordered (8) I will be re-homing 3 of them once they're past the little-tyke stage

What kind of chickens will you be getting? Do you live on a lot of acreage? Do you have other animals? Good luck to you with all your chickens!

 

[RIVERA69R]

We bought a house about 2yrs ago now but its in town so just your average backyard. So i just want about four chickens, im thinking buff orphingtons there quiet and docile from what i hear and lay nice big brown eggs. Its funny you put that picture up of your coop, I was just online the other day looking at the same one from lowes thinking it might be easier and cheaper to just buy that then build one myself (and probably nicer!!!!). How do you like it?

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Hi Kelly, The coop is beautiful. You will have alot of fun with the chicks. I just hatched 5 of my Polish eggs, and 2 from Perfectly_Polish. It's so habit forming. The chickens you're getting are very nice. Do you plan on building a run?

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Hi, I'm butting in here, LOL. If you can afford it, it's easier to get one already made. If need be, you can always add on yourself. May I make a suggestion? If you can, put a cement floor/slab down because it will save you from critters getting into the coop. And I do believe cement will stay cooler in the summer.
Another thing is that I did alot to provide shade. The sun here is a killer, (like you didn't know, LOL). I'm also planting young trees so that one day they will shade the coop and run.

 

[Kelly G]

Quote:
I like it a lot! I bought mine put together from Lowes last month. They were out of the ones in packages, so they sold me a floor model for $149! Great! Sold! My husband and I are not really handy, so this was a great solution for us! We are putting in a wood floor and covering it with a 4' x 4' laminate to make cleaning easier - and to keep out predators (it probably won't do as good a job as cement, but I need it to be portable.

We are building a 12'x12' run that is 6 feet tall and covered. Much of the property is shaded...so shade is no problem.

Sorry to be so quick tonight!! I have a 6:30am appointment with the blacksmith. I'll be back on tomorrow night.

 

[RIVERA69R]

Quick question how do you reply to a specific entry where it shows up in the white box above your reply? And i think im going with that play house from lowes, my wife thinks it looks nice I may and a little porch railing to it!

 

[ras719]

Hi, I am in Brooksville too. Just got into chickens and my daughter wants to show our rooster. Any suggestions on how to get started? Is there anything special that we need to do for him?

 

[ChickenChaser]

Hernando Co. Brooksville/Spring Hill
Pretty easy to find. If you watched the weather channel a few years back with all the hurricanes we had - I live right where they all were headed!!

 

[911randal]

Here in North Fla new to site, People here just gotta find them,Also the lake city show this year will host aba Nationals it will prop have over 1000 birds entered.

 

[greenapple]

Quote:
Pet him and hold him a lot, also check the state fair web site for classes on poultry showing, call dept. of Ag to get him tested and an NPIP number. If he is Old English Game, then you have to get him dubbed. If she wants to show at state fair, I believe they have to be banded, which the Ag inspector can do when they test. Most of all just have fun with all of them