Hi all, new member here.

[WGB]

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[Scrambled Egg]

I think we met in chat last night, but the room was crowded so not real sure but anyway, welcome to byc!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Hello and Welcome, Bill

 

[Wildsky]

Hi Bill, some great advise from everyone.

Have you decided yet how many and which breeds you're going to get? Are you getting day olds or eggs to hatch or?

Chickens are so much fun, and then you get eggs to eat - I think they're the best "pet" a person can have.

I'm going to let mine free range in the spring and from then on forever........... I just don't want to be standing out with them in this freezing cold and snow - and they don't like the snow very much either...

Good luck and enjoy the journey!!
Cheryl

 

[HennyPennies2007]

I'm new too.... Finally found some other fanatics! I have a book for "poultry enthusiasts.... but the hubby says that's too mild a term. Just recently got 2 roos and 7 hens. All RIRs except for Mickey. A friend of my hubby's gave them to me cause they weren't laying. Was he ticked when they started laying for me a week after I got em! I think its the Taj Mahal my hubby built for them and the TLC.... Spoiled chickies! I want to get some barred rocks in the spring, maybe... Depending on how these guys are doing.

 

[Chirpy]

Welcome Bill and HennyPennies.... so glad you are both here and about to be addicted.

I free range my chickens only when I'm home just to help keep an eye on them. They mosey around between the chicken house and the barn (which is 30 yards away in one direction) and also up to the house (which is 50 yards away in another direction) but have, so far, always stayed in those parameters.

99% of the time I just let them go back in and put themselves to bed at dusk and then go shut them up for the night. If I have to lock them up before they are back in I just call for them and they have always come running. I, too, tend to give treats so they love to see me.

Have lots of fun!

 

[pattycake]

It's true they don't usually go too far from the coop... though I notice they go farther the older they get. This summer they never went farther than a 15 second run from the coop, but when they went out a couple days this winter they went right around to the opposite side of the house for the first time.

I have three acres, and they usually stick to one of those, maybe creeping onto the second acre.