Ok, I'll go first. Also:
Coops: I used a cardboard box that watermelons come in as a brooder for the first batch. Our coop - well, we built it BEFORE the chickens were (mostly) grown. They got to move in at 12 weeks. I've since added on - the coop and chickens. Still wish it was bigger. It's called "chicken math". They're like potato chips - you keep wanting more. I also have a tractor we built from pvc to let them hang out on the grass. I can't free range because the dogs have high predator instinct - and they lived here first.
Feed: Mainly Purina. Last time I bought a different brand. Don't know what off hand... but I'm switching back. Other brand made poop really runny and not a nice big glob.
Sorry - there's no other way to say it. They get black oil sunflower seeds and freeze dried mealworms as treats. They also get lots of kitchen scraps - especially overripe tomatoes from the garden, cucumbers, canteloupe and watermelon.
Breed(s): I went for a mixed flock of sexed pullets. I started with 2 Columbian Wyandotte, 2 Speckled Sussex and 2 Silver laced Wyandotte. The 2 SLW were mis-sexed and crowed heartily during a severe thunderstorm at about 16 weeks.
Sold on Craigslist the next day. I lost a Columbian in the extreme heat last summer. This summer I added 3 day old Rhode Island Red pullets to a broody Speckled Sussex. They've been doing great and she's been a good mama. She just recently quit nesting with them and rejoined her flock sisters on the roost at night. Two of her babies are snuggled up in a laying box. The third was recently discovered with a bare and bloodied neck and shoulders.
Spent the weekend making her a separate pen to live in until she's healed and can rejoin the flock.
Bedding: Pine shavings. Best thing ever. I have a poop board under their roost with Sweet PDZ on it. Works like cat litter (thus the problem with runny poop - hard to scoop!) Their covered run has sand flooring. Love it too - easy to rake clean and the poop in there seems to magically disappear into the sand (if I miss any). Hardly and smell either. Their add-on run is just dirt flooring. It was weeds and grass - but they picked it clean within a week or two. They love the dirt for scratching in and making holes for dust bathing.
I got my (original) chickens from a local farm/feed supply store. Not TSC - nothing against them. Just went the local mom-n-pop route. I didn't want to pay shipping, only wanted 4-6 chickens, and I'm an instant gratification kind of girl.
I bought my three RIR babies from a local NPIP certified chicken breeder. He advertised on Craigslist. Very kind and welcoming, willing to "talk chicken", let me look around - and he had TONS of birds in a lot of different set-ups. I would definitely buy from him again. Very happy with my new additions.
I got the "itch" for chickens many years ago. It spent a LOT of time reading BYC and educating myself - enough to seriously annoy my husband. This site is still the best resource - and it doesn't require purchasing a book or magazine subscription. I have had many of my questions and concerns rectified here. BYC IS BETTER THAN ANY BOOK HANDS DOWN!!!
Good luck to you - and keep reading BYC!
