Hello!

[CluelessNewbie]

Hello. Just signed up here after deciding to take the plunge with a few back garden hens. What could possibly go wrong?

I've got a coop being delivered this week (that's the bank holiday weekend taken care of, then!) and have been reading lots, but have not yet decided what birds to get. We've got a reasonable size garden with a mix of lawn, paved areas and shrub borders - the intention is to keep them in a fenced-off area of the garden most of the time, with the odd foray into the wider garden just for a laugh.

I'm minded towards common-or-garden hybrids, but not sure. Some say that bantams do less damage? I'm not that precious about the garden, but I guess it would be nice to hang on to a bit of grass....

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Hello

and Welcome to BYC!
I'm glad you've decided to take the plunge of getting chickens

. I would recommend Cochin's as a good breed. You can read more about them in the "Breeds" section on the bar up top. I hope you share all your adventures as a chicken owner!

 

[sunflour]

glad you have joined us.

Sounds like you plan some supervised ranging. You could protect the important areas or plants with rocks or fencing. If they have only short times daily in the grassy areas IMO unlikely they will destroy it. It seems to be an issue only in a confined run area?

But mine live confined, so cannot support the opinion.

 

[Cynthia12]

Garden? Chickens? They love tomatoes, peas, lettuce, oh so many things you could plant for them to eat.

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't know that bantams would do less damage but, their eggs are smaller. Do you want layers, lawn decorations, pets, etc? That would narrow the choice of breeds?

Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[ninjawesome]

Welcome to BYC! I hope your plunge has gone well thus far!

 

[chickens r life]

Welcome to byc!!!

 

[CluelessNewbie]

Thanks all for the welcome!

@Drumstick Diva - somewhere between layers and pets, I think. The eggs part is pretty important, but I'd also like them to be tame and laid back enough to be interesting family pets.

Ok, here goes with a possibly stupid question. Is ok to get one of each of different breeds (we're thinking of going for 3 birds in total), or is it advisable to get all the same?

Thanks again all for the warm hello. Looks like a great community here!

 

[Chicken Girl1]

It's fine to get a different breeds, I have a flock of 17 and in it is about 7 different breeds. What breeds were you thinking on getting?