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RehobothTony said:
That was on the table as well as Rhode Island Reds..
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My experience with Barred rocks is that they seem to do better when in a flock of their own. Otherwise they can be a bit of a bully sometimes. Of course each chicken is its own individual - this is just an observance.
 
RehobothTony said:
That's what I heard, but one of our employees has been raising chickens for years and has never had a problem with them. I guess you are right about how they are raised...what advise do you have on what to avoid when raising them? (If we go with the Reds).
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Spend lots of time with them, and try to have one or two of a different breed, who are slightly older and/or bigger. I have 2 rather calm Rhode Island Red hens, and I think their demeanor has something to do with the meat birds that they were raised alongside. They are still more aggressive then my Australorps and my Plymouth Barred Rocks, but they also know their place, and are a lot less crazy than their predecessors.

So basically be extra nice and have a good role model bird.
 
RehobothTony said:
That was on the table as well as Rhode Island Reds..
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My Dominiques are sweet as can be.
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Went with the Rhode Island Reds and the Plymouth Rocks. Ordered through Tractor Supply. Got the chicks within two days of them being shipped. Perfect condition! Shipped on Wednesday and local post office called 6:30 in the morning on Friday to pick them up. Now they are pooping up a storm so picked up wood shavings today instead of changing out newspapers. Next...put the coop together!
 

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OOOH, congratulations on your beautiful chicks! Best wishes from just south of Boston!

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.
 

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