Hi, I'm new here!

[debid]

I've been reading and enjoy your forum so I thought it was high time I registered and introduced myself.

I do not yet have chickens but have a stack of drawings I've made for a 4x8 coop with a 10x10 run. We plan to build it over the next month and get pullet chicks in March/April/May (whenever the hatchery can fill my order). I live in middle TN and have a 20-acre homestead just begging for farm animals to come live here so we thought we'd start with chickens.

We have a big spaniel (no hunting for him and he sits and watches the turkeys and deer that pass through so I'm hoping he isn't a problem) and a cat (someone's dump & run pet -- she lives outdoors with a shelter and she's a very friendly cat but also a hunter -- she worries me a bit as I've seen her take down a squirrel...)

I'm bound to have a million questions so I'm thanking everyone in advance for tolerating my ignorance and sharing their wealth of experience.

 

[S&N Livestock]

from Ohio

 

[StevenW.]

from Illinois

 

[teach1rusl]

from Indiana! Very wise of you to work on the coop first!!! That not the usual here, LOL!!

 

[michelle1017]

 

[terrilhb]

from Ga.

 

[debid]

Quote:
Yeah... my folks bought 4-weekers, put them in a thrown-together brooder, and then were startled when their chicks were feathered out with nowhere to go because they hadn't even started the coop (too busy playing with the chicks). Whoops! They ended up partitioning off a portion of an existing (and very expensive!) shed. I've vowed to learn from their mistakes.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

4' x 8' is a nice sized coop. Good planning makes all the difference. Welcome to BYC!

 

[3goodeggs]

 

[rancher hicks]

from Syracuse, NY

I'm sure you'll get more answers than you've got questions, so ask away.

Rancher Hicks.