Hi - I’m a newbie!

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Hen-She

Chirping
Mar 16, 2023
19
79
56
West Michigan
1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Yes, we are new to chickens! Husband and I are expecting our chicks around the 27th
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? I wanted 4, he wanted 6, we’re getting 8 :)
(3) What breeds do you have? We decided on Buff Orpingtons

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens? Knowing where my food came from, fertilizer for composting, caring for the animal

(5) What are some of your other hobbies? Gardening, beekeeping, pollinating gardening

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. We are interested in doing as much “homesteading” as we can as time allows, both being FT employed.

(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :D I was looking up dogs and chickens, there was comments from others. Honest, true experiences, so I wanted to join to learn 🤗
 
Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. What a harmonious solution to your dispute about number of chickens! Best wishes with your new flock! It's so much fun that you will be amazed!

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Introducing dogs to chickens

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.
 
Hen-She said:
1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Yes, we are new to chickens! Husband and I are expecting our chicks around the 27th
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? I wanted 4, he wanted 6, we’re getting 8 :)
(3) What breeds do you have? We decided on Buff Orpingtons

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens? Knowing where my food came from, fertilizer for composting, caring for the animal

(5) What are some of your other hobbies? Gardening, beekeeping, pollinating gardening

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. We are interested in doing as much “homesteading” as we can as time allows, both being FT employed.

(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :DI was looking up dogs and chickens, there was comments from others. Honest, true experiences, so I wanted to join to learn 🤗
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Welcome to BYC!! :)
 

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