Hello from the thumb of Michigan!

[sixmurphys]

Hello, my husband and I have 4 children and we are considering setting up a chicken coop for our own farm fresh eggs.

There are a bunch of baby chicks at our local Tractor Supply store, but how do I know what kind to get? How do I tell if they are girls? I'm also wondering how many we should start out with. A coupe dozen eggs a week would be about right for our family.

Can I go and buy the chicks and put them in the bathtub while we are building the coop? I don't want them to all be gone by time we are really ready for them!

Sorry so many questions... I will be off to go and read some more now!

Thanks!

Kim

 

[wyliefarms]

Welcome Kim!

You will have to check out the Michigan thread.

As for chicks...I always order from a hatchery. That way I know what I am getting are pullets (girls) and what breed.

PM me and I can recommend a few hatcheries.

Sarah

 

[michelle1017]

I will try to answer a few of your questions. Make sure you get out of a bin that says pullet, straight run could be either. You will just have to do your research to see which chicks will suit you best. I suppose a bathtub could be used as a brooder. Just make sure you keep a heat lamp on them and feed and water. There is a lot of good information on this site. Read, read, read, and then sit back and enjoy your chickens!

 

[Freebie]

yes, welcome to byc.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

from TN

 

[b.hromada]

Hi Kim and

from S. Florida. enjoy your endevor in chickenhood! You'll love it!

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

Hello from Indiana and

 

[joedie]

from SW Indiana.
I'm new to this also and started with 12 pullets from local feed store. I kept them in a box in the basement with a brood light on. They are still there and will go to the coop this weekend when it's finished.
I bought a book on chickens to find out what kind to get. Look for the traits you want such as cold tolerant?, docile, egg production, broodiness,etc.
I ended up with 2 of each (Rhode Island red. Barred rock, buff orpington, black sexlinks, black australorps and silver-laced wyandottes).
You can learn more from this site than anywhere! It is addictive.

Good Luck!

 

[sixmurphys]

Thank you so much for the friendly welcome!

We have a large shed 12x16 in the back yard. I'm thinking we could build the coop off one side of the shed. They would have a decent size run area, part of it shaded with trees.

Our local store has "assorted pullets" and comets??? There was one bin that had week olds and they were only $1 a piece.

This is going to be fun!

 

[Lil_Chickadee]