I am new to chickens. I am very impressed with this website and such friendly replies to my post about raccoons are smart. We purchased retirement property northeast of Parry Sound Ontario about five years ago. I am 69 years old, working part-time but spending more and more time away from the office. The property is about 30 rugged acres of Maple forest on the Magnettawan River. Way off the grid. I put in solar power and worked on the little hunter's cabin that came with it. It is my paradise.
This year we decided to buy some chickens. I bought 4 ISA Brown laying hens in mid-May. Before that, I purchased a plastic Costco coop kit. It was advertised for four chickens but seemed too small. so I purchased a home hardware wooden coop and joined the two coops together. They still appear pretty small although during the day we let them run all over. I knew nothing of chickens before that but I tend to over-research everything and purchased a lot of books and read a lot of articles on the net.
I plan to make a large arch fence run following the instructions of Chook-a-holic found on this site.
This is because my family has fallen in love with the chickens and we want more. We want to experiment with other types. Our chickens are so friendly and I could watch them in amusement all day long.
By the way, the girls seem to prefer the plastic Costco coop. The Home Hardware wooden one looks nicer but they lay all the eggs in the plastic coop. The chickens never learned to roost upstairs so I have started chasing them upstairs and locking them in the roosting/laying area for the night.
They remind me of sweet little dogs. My attitude towards eating industrial chicken and eggs has completely changed. No one can tell me they do not have feelings. They do not mind being locked up at night but when we have to go away and in mid-day, I lock them in the coop for their safety their plaintive cries really let you know they have feelings. They prefer outside and I do not blame them. That is why I will start building the large predator proof run this weekend.
Best wishes.
This year we decided to buy some chickens. I bought 4 ISA Brown laying hens in mid-May. Before that, I purchased a plastic Costco coop kit. It was advertised for four chickens but seemed too small. so I purchased a home hardware wooden coop and joined the two coops together. They still appear pretty small although during the day we let them run all over. I knew nothing of chickens before that but I tend to over-research everything and purchased a lot of books and read a lot of articles on the net.
I plan to make a large arch fence run following the instructions of Chook-a-holic found on this site.
This is because my family has fallen in love with the chickens and we want more. We want to experiment with other types. Our chickens are so friendly and I could watch them in amusement all day long.
By the way, the girls seem to prefer the plastic Costco coop. The Home Hardware wooden one looks nicer but they lay all the eggs in the plastic coop. The chickens never learned to roost upstairs so I have started chasing them upstairs and locking them in the roosting/laying area for the night.
They remind me of sweet little dogs. My attitude towards eating industrial chicken and eggs has completely changed. No one can tell me they do not have feelings. They do not mind being locked up at night but when we have to go away and in mid-day, I lock them in the coop for their safety their plaintive cries really let you know they have feelings. They prefer outside and I do not blame them. That is why I will start building the large predator proof run this weekend.
Best wishes.
Welcome to BYC!!! 
We are glad you joined our flock!
