Hello from Utah!

I just bought 6 golden sex-link hens a couple of days ago, and made a post on a forum I manage about it. One of the members there referred me here, and I have been reading posts here for a few hours so I figured I might as well join.

I have a semi rural house on 2.3 acres of very rocky, arid soil. It was built in 1979, and has an old, original chicken coop with a nice chain link fence chicken run. My wife and I talked about getting chickens when we moved here 3 years ago but the city ordinances forbade it.

Last year, we merged with the neighboring town, and since they allow chickens, we can have them now (verified by a call to the city office).

I have a good bit of work to do cleaning out and refurbishing the original coop, but it will be easier than building from the ground up. Mostly it will need to be raked out and have loose boards screwed down tight, and all the little holes filled in so mice have to work harder for their inevitable invasion. And it will need a cheery coat of paint as well.

I will be lining the bottom of the chain link run with chicken wire as well. The fence is tall, I think 8 feet. But it is open on top, and there are a bunch of predators in my area, including coyotes, mountain lions, skunks, bears, bobcats, eagles and others.

But anyhow I am looking forward to this new adventure. I have always wanted chickens because they are so comical and entertaining, the eggs are just a bonus.

I am looking forward to learning from everyone here. Thanks to the admins here for this great resource!

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I added a couple of barred rock chicks yesterday just to add a little variety. It's been cold and windy so they have been "cooped up" for most of the time. I am looking forward for the weather to relent so I can let them out in the run.