Hello Chicken enthusiasts

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brushy_chicks said:
I'm not yet a chicken owner but am in the planning stages. I live in Western NC and have known I would be getting a coop for several years but had to wait until the timing was right to make the commitment. Well, the timing is looking like it will be next Spring!

I've been enjoying learning about the different breeds and raising chicks and coops. What kind of litter to use and how to not feed chickens too much scratch or mealworms. I'm constantly changing my mind about what chickens to order (Speckled Sussex, New Hampshire, Bienfeilder, Delaware?!?) and from where. Should by first batch just be a couple Easter eggers from Tractor Supply so I can see if my coop is really predator proof and see if I can keep them alive?

I especially enjoyed the post by @Tre3hugger regarding the NH from freedom ranger as I had been looking at those. I had almost given up on using a dual purpose bird for a sustainable meat and eggs combo until I read his very exciting post. I'd like to try something like that myself!

My biggest challenge will be predators and what to do with all the roosters I want to keep. And not letting Chicken Math get out of hand. lol I don't have chickens yet and can already see how it can be a problem. I already explained to my dear husband that I would be needing 2 coops/runs but will I need 3??
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Welcome to BYC!! Good luck with your chickens, there’s certainly a lot of thought to put into it!
I find that sand makes a great litter, and pine shavings are good for the nesting boxes.
 
Welcome to BYC. Good for you doing so much research ahead of time. What fun to be choosing and anticipating! It's a really fun stage, and nearly as much fun as the chicks themselves (or pullets if you go that route). There are lots of considerations besides meat/egg production, though those are really key.

Are you up in the mountains in western N.C? You probably have 4 distinct seasons, and can really not have to worry so much about really severe heat or cold like folks in Arizona or Minnesota, for instance. So you can pick most any kind of breed and not worry about climate.

You might also consider if you want them to free range - if predators are an issue you may not want to risk that since it really raises the danger of losses to hawks, dogs, and other animals that enjoy chickens as much as we do. But if you do, it will reduce your feed bill and the chickens will enjoy the time out, and get a broader diet. Some breeds are better at free range than others. Some are more skittish and that means they are more alert to danger. Others are colored so they blend into the landscape better - white birds and free range probably are a bad combo. If you do free range, be sure to put out some tables or other things for the birds to take shelter under, scattered about so they can quickly run to a safe spot if danger comes.

Some breeds are better at close confinement than others - how big will your pen be for the birds to leave the coop, even if they don't free range?

And here is my favorite article intro to chicken keeping. It's short but covers a lot, and has handy pictures to illustrate. And another article on predator proofing - should make you feel a lot more confident. I like to check out the ratings on articles by other members, because I am still a newbie, and it helps me sort the better articles. You can find more articles in the learning center and by using the SEARCH button and choosing Articles in the top bar, so you don't get lost in the discussions.

Enjoy your prep stage and all the fun of chicken keeping! We look forward to hearing about your choices and the chickens' adventures!
 

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