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MEP2013

MEP2013

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I am a new member to backyard chickens and a brand new chicken owner! I live in New England and I have three small children and now 6 new chicks! My husband and I are the proud parents of 3 black austorlorps and 3 Easter Eggers. We are all so excited to start our new journey with these sweet little ladies!
I'm sure you will see my name a lot because I have a lot of questions! Please be patient with me!
Thank you!
 
welcome-byc.gif
and congratulations on getting your own flock.

Feel free to ask questions, we're here to help.

If you haven't already explored the Learning Center, do so. There are so many articles there to help with raising baby chicks and managing the flock.

Also, if you haven't already started the coop, get it going, you will need it sooner than you think.

Enjoy your new adventure.
 
Thank you!
I actually just posted a question about a coop in a different section. My husband are at odds about the size we need. Of course I want my girls in a palace and he wants to cram them into a shoebox. I think I found a good comprise on size and price. Here's the link if anybody here wants to take a look and let me know what they think!
Thanks!!

http://t.tractorsupply.com/product__10151_-1_10001_254548#desc-tab
 
IMO that will be too small and for the price you could build or get someone to build a larger home for the 6.

Also, there is only one nest and for 6 layers you need 2 and wish I had given mine a third.

I would suggest you do a mock up of the size you are looking at and place 5 gallon buckets in there and see what you really think. Also the same size space for a water fount and for a feeder. Entertainment features - flock block, sand bath or others also take up a lot of space.

The breeds you have are full size chickens and they will be about the size of a 5 gallon bucket.

Those type of pens IMO could only house bantams.

Hope you get more suggestions on the other thread.

Good luck.
 
Welcome to BYC and congrats on your new flock!

@sunflour has given you some good suggestions for a coop. One thing I've learned the hard way is, whatever coop you buy/build, make it easy to clean. Having a clean coop will be nicer for you and healthier for the birds.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. There are a lot of friendly and helpful members here.

Good luck to you!
 
Thank you so much for the information! We are not going to get that one. We actually found a really nice large coop at a place near us! We will have to build a run for them but seeing as we actually saved money that won't be an issue!! Thank you again for this wonderful information!
 
To help decide, rule of thumb is 4-5 sq.feet per bird not including roosts and nestboxes, in the coop, and 10 sg.feet per bird in the outdoor run. Tell your hubby when chickens are cramped in a shoe box they start feather pecking, fighting and can advance to cannibalism. NO JOKE.

Given the space they need, chickens aren't very fussy, they don't care if their coop was liberated from a dump or if it comes with a hot tub, cable and game room.
welcome-byc.gif
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. Raising chickens is a wonderful experience for children. My granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) loves our chickens. Black Australorps are an especially good breed for children as they are very calm and gentle. My children and granddaughter made lap pets of our BAs. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your chicks.
 

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