Hello All! I'm Ferris from Dutchess County, NY. For years I've wanted to get into raising chickens to supply myself, friends, and family with fresh eggs. My fiance and I finally decided to make it happen.
We plan on a 9x10 coop (max I can build without a building permit locally) and a 18-20x8 run. It will be in a chain link fenced in 1/4 acre yard on a 3 acre yard property. I'd like to let the birds free range, but there are many coyotes, cats, and hawks/eagles that roam locally. It'd be fantastic if the chickens would stay within the chain linked area, but I know that's totally unrealistic.
I'll most likely purchase 25 chicks - hoping to get at least 20, but planning for potential losses since this is my first go on raising chicks. Definitely going for layers as opposed to meat birds, at least for the foreseeable future. Also thinking about getting 2 to 3 guinea hens as I've heard they make excellent "watchdogs."
As for other hobbies... I'm your typical 80's born nerd.
I'm a big collector of vintage toys, comic books, video games, anime and manga. I also love music from classical to metal (especially combinations of both!) Some other interests I have include reptiles (owned and bred 13 species of geckos at one point), blacksmithing (barely a novice), and history!
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Yep! Completely new to this.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
0 currently, but planning on 25 with a hope for at least 20 to survive to laying age. Most likely to be purchased within a week or 2.
(3) What breeds do you have?
See 2
I do plan on getting layer breeds though.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I'll have to get back to you on that one
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Already covered above!
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
For other pets; currently we have 2 cats, a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, and an Australian Cattle Dog (who is 9 months old).
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I found BYC several years ago when I first thought about getting chickens and was looking for coop ideas. I finally joined up when I decided the time was right to make it happen!
We plan on a 9x10 coop (max I can build without a building permit locally) and a 18-20x8 run. It will be in a chain link fenced in 1/4 acre yard on a 3 acre yard property. I'd like to let the birds free range, but there are many coyotes, cats, and hawks/eagles that roam locally. It'd be fantastic if the chickens would stay within the chain linked area, but I know that's totally unrealistic.
I'll most likely purchase 25 chicks - hoping to get at least 20, but planning for potential losses since this is my first go on raising chicks. Definitely going for layers as opposed to meat birds, at least for the foreseeable future. Also thinking about getting 2 to 3 guinea hens as I've heard they make excellent "watchdogs."
As for other hobbies... I'm your typical 80's born nerd.
I'm a big collector of vintage toys, comic books, video games, anime and manga. I also love music from classical to metal (especially combinations of both!) Some other interests I have include reptiles (owned and bred 13 species of geckos at one point), blacksmithing (barely a novice), and history!(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Yep! Completely new to this.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
0 currently, but planning on 25 with a hope for at least 20 to survive to laying age. Most likely to be purchased within a week or 2.
(3) What breeds do you have?
See 2
I do plan on getting layer breeds though. (4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I'll have to get back to you on that one
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Already covered above!
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
For other pets; currently we have 2 cats, a Netherland Dwarf rabbit, and an Australian Cattle Dog (who is 9 months old).
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I found BYC several years ago when I first thought about getting chickens and was looking for coop ideas. I finally joined up when I decided the time was right to make it happen!
Glad you joined.
