Hello everyone,
I have been lurking for a few days and decided to finally say hi. I am thinking of starting a backyard chicken project/coop. I have been reading up on the subject now for a few weeks now. I have a okay background in taking care of animals (I have cats, mice ,rats ,and snakes as pets, Oh and the mare,wife's horse) but have never been around chickens except when visiting friends that have barns(where the mare is kept). I am intrested in trying my hand at it, and from what I read it looks addicting. I did some zoning research (like suggested by the site) and I can have chickens on my property in the city. However I must watch the noise levels. I have plenty of room, I have an acre back yard that drops down to a creek and forested area. How much noise do hens make in general? I was thinking of raising hens for some fresh eggs and see where it might take me from there. (They also have a county fair that a few people show their chickens at every year. It sounds fun.)
I love building things and have buit several mice and rat racks/ cages to house all the little buggers, and a coop doesnt seem out of my league to build. I have read several differnt post reference size space for each bird. What I would like to know, Is there a good number of birds to start with. I was thinking 3 birds to get my feet wet, but then read that introducing new birds to a flock is hard to do... Any suggestions on this?
This will also influnce the size coop I am going to build. I will be building off the back of my shed. I already have a covered area on the back where the lawn tractor sits. I am moving the tractor to a new shed(christmas present). The covered area is 12ft out from the shed and about 8 ft deep. I could also make a run out from the area. I was going to start construction when my son visits after Christmas, Father/ son thing.
Anywho, I ramble sorry, any help/suggestion/opinion would be awesome. I guess I maybe overthinking all of this, but I hate jumping in without at least some information.
Thanks in advance
I have been lurking for a few days and decided to finally say hi. I am thinking of starting a backyard chicken project/coop. I have been reading up on the subject now for a few weeks now. I have a okay background in taking care of animals (I have cats, mice ,rats ,and snakes as pets, Oh and the mare,wife's horse) but have never been around chickens except when visiting friends that have barns(where the mare is kept). I am intrested in trying my hand at it, and from what I read it looks addicting. I did some zoning research (like suggested by the site) and I can have chickens on my property in the city. However I must watch the noise levels. I have plenty of room, I have an acre back yard that drops down to a creek and forested area. How much noise do hens make in general? I was thinking of raising hens for some fresh eggs and see where it might take me from there. (They also have a county fair that a few people show their chickens at every year. It sounds fun.)
I love building things and have buit several mice and rat racks/ cages to house all the little buggers, and a coop doesnt seem out of my league to build. I have read several differnt post reference size space for each bird. What I would like to know, Is there a good number of birds to start with. I was thinking 3 birds to get my feet wet, but then read that introducing new birds to a flock is hard to do... Any suggestions on this?
This will also influnce the size coop I am going to build. I will be building off the back of my shed. I already have a covered area on the back where the lawn tractor sits. I am moving the tractor to a new shed(christmas present). The covered area is 12ft out from the shed and about 8 ft deep. I could also make a run out from the area. I was going to start construction when my son visits after Christmas, Father/ son thing.
Anywho, I ramble sorry, any help/suggestion/opinion would be awesome. I guess I maybe overthinking all of this, but I hate jumping in without at least some information.
Thanks in advance
