Hello All!
I've been enjoying this website, since I first discovered it in September.
I just moved to Missoula and purchased my first home. I've been wanting chickens for a long time.
I had one-RIR, that I hatched from an egg when I was in sixth grade. Out of the 4 eggs, only she hatched. But we were within city limits, in Portland, OR, and my parents made me give her to some friends who already had several hens.
So, it's 16 years later and tomorrow is the big day!!
I am only getting 2-3 chicks. They will not be able to free range because I have a dog with a high prey drive and we live in a pretty wooded area. So I converted a dog run into a covered chicken run. I am converting a wooden dog house into a coop and should be done next week. The coop is 3 ft x 3 ft x 4 ft tall. The run is only 6 ft by 10 ft.
I have been planning on getting a red star pullet and a black star pullet.
I adore barred, heavy bodied chickens as well. So I was thinking a may try to also pick up a barred rock chick tomorrow as well.
I know some people say you can look for the ones with darker shanks and smaller head spots and those are more likely pullets.
Yeah, I know this is last minute, but should I not try my luck at getting a barred rock chick and hoping it's a hen. It won't be the worst, if it turns out to be a rooster, but I'm worried that since the run is smaller that having a rooster in that space may be too much.
Ideas, thoughts?
Thank you!!
Melissa
I've been enjoying this website, since I first discovered it in September.
I just moved to Missoula and purchased my first home. I've been wanting chickens for a long time.
I had one-RIR, that I hatched from an egg when I was in sixth grade. Out of the 4 eggs, only she hatched. But we were within city limits, in Portland, OR, and my parents made me give her to some friends who already had several hens.
So, it's 16 years later and tomorrow is the big day!!
I am only getting 2-3 chicks. They will not be able to free range because I have a dog with a high prey drive and we live in a pretty wooded area. So I converted a dog run into a covered chicken run. I am converting a wooden dog house into a coop and should be done next week. The coop is 3 ft x 3 ft x 4 ft tall. The run is only 6 ft by 10 ft.
I have been planning on getting a red star pullet and a black star pullet.
I adore barred, heavy bodied chickens as well. So I was thinking a may try to also pick up a barred rock chick tomorrow as well.
I know some people say you can look for the ones with darker shanks and smaller head spots and those are more likely pullets.
Yeah, I know this is last minute, but should I not try my luck at getting a barred rock chick and hoping it's a hen. It won't be the worst, if it turns out to be a rooster, but I'm worried that since the run is smaller that having a rooster in that space may be too much.
Ideas, thoughts?
Thank you!!
Melissa
from Ohio. So glad you joined. Congrats and have fun. 
