Hello! I've been lurking on your forums and finally joined this morning 
I moved to my new home in New Hampshire a few months ago, and for the first time I'm in a town that allows chickens! yay! I've wanted to have a small backyard flock for a long time. I've since been in studying mode, absorbing and learning as much as I can online (and thankfully, there is a LOT online, lol)
I narrowed down my choice of breeds by those known to be more friendly/docile, a few good egg layers, and of course cold hardiness! I decided on 2-3 Barred Rocks for their eggs, and then 5-6 bantams for occasional eggs, but more for the fun and personalities...they'll be bantam Salmon Favorelles and Silkies. I have chicks due mid-February. I plan to keep them indoors in a pop up playpen brooder until the beginning of April...I really want to spend a ton of time with them so they know me and will hopefully accept me as their friend Right now I'm semi-retired (widowed 2 years ago too..so I do devote a lot of time to my pets! lol)
I've been on a shopping spree preparing for the chicks to arrive! From the indoor brooder set up to the coop/run (I went with a Nestera Large Lodge and Omlet 12 foot walk in run) ...and everything inbetween (foods, meds to have on hand/syringes in first aid kit, heater plates/pad, waterers, chick feeders and a cool smart feeder from Omlet for the run, etc etc. I think Fedex is getting tired of delivering to my house! lol)
I have 2 dogs too. One elderly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a 5.5 year old Shih Tzu who's the best dog I've ever owned. Both have come across robins in the yard who were bumped from their nest and just wag their tails and kinda walk a circle around them...curious, but never aggressive or even making contact. I'll take my time with the introductions to the chicks but expect no problems long term.
I have a 9 year old niece that is 25 minutes away and obsessed with chickens!! I can't wait to let her have hands on experience with them, too
So glad to have found this group and I've definitely used many many of your posts to help me make decisions in setting up! Thanks, and looking forward to participating in the future!
I moved to my new home in New Hampshire a few months ago, and for the first time I'm in a town that allows chickens! yay! I've wanted to have a small backyard flock for a long time. I've since been in studying mode, absorbing and learning as much as I can online (and thankfully, there is a LOT online, lol)
I narrowed down my choice of breeds by those known to be more friendly/docile, a few good egg layers, and of course cold hardiness! I decided on 2-3 Barred Rocks for their eggs, and then 5-6 bantams for occasional eggs, but more for the fun and personalities...they'll be bantam Salmon Favorelles and Silkies. I have chicks due mid-February.
I plan to keep them indoors in a pop up playpen brooder until the beginning of April...I really want to spend a ton of time with them so they know me and will hopefully accept me as their friend Right now I'm semi-retired (widowed 2 years ago too..so I do devote a lot of time to my pets! lol)I've been on a shopping spree preparing for the chicks to arrive! From the indoor brooder set up to the coop/run (I went with a Nestera Large Lodge and Omlet 12 foot walk in run) ...and everything inbetween (foods, meds to have on hand/syringes in first aid kit, heater plates/pad, waterers, chick feeders and a cool smart feeder from Omlet for the run, etc etc. I think Fedex is getting tired of delivering to my house! lol)
I have 2 dogs too. One elderly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a 5.5 year old Shih Tzu who's the best dog I've ever owned. Both have come across robins in the yard who were bumped from their nest and just wag their tails and kinda walk a circle around them...curious, but never aggressive or even making contact. I'll take my time with the introductions to the chicks but expect no problems long term.
I have a 9 year old niece that is 25 minutes away and obsessed with chickens!! I can't wait to let her have hands on experience with them, too
So glad to have found this group and I've definitely used many many of your posts to help me make decisions in setting up! Thanks, and looking forward to participating in the future!
Glad you joined.
