Hi! I'm new

[Equus5O]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I really do want the birds out and about to help with the buggies, but I'm not sure about the dog. Keeping her on leash really isn't an option. She's my mother's dog, for one thing. We're on almost fifty acres. When we're outside, the dogs are always loose. I'll have to see. And I'm absolutely roofing the run! I don't need the hawks taking off with my birds! LOL I don't know yet which breeds I want. Something cold hardy, I suppose. And personable. I'd prefer not to keep just one breed. I'd like brown and white eggs. My husband asked if I was still going to be buying eggs from the supermarket!!

 

[patandchickens]

Hi, welcome to BYC

You can keep pretty much any breed you want, as you're in a pretty moderate climate. (No, really, you are

. I'm originally from Philly and lived in NJ for a while)

If your coop is big enough for 8 hens, I'd build a run no smaller than 8x10 (ish, or the equivalent).

Where to keep food and water depends on lots and lots of factors. One is, if you will be locking them in the coop from sunset to sunrise (whcih is HIGHLY advisable), will you unfailingly get out there at daybreak to let them out, or might they be stuck in there for a couple hrs or more sometimes? If they might sometimes be locked in the coop during daylight hours, I'd for sure put the water in there, maybe food as well.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[countrygirlatheart]

i'm a newbie too....we have our's in a "run" because we have hawks were we live. their yard measures 13 1/2 ft w x 19 1/2 ft l x 8 ft tall (don't ask me where the 1/2's came from, it was my DH's idea) with poultry fencing over the top to keep the hawks out. Their food and one waterer is in the coop house and a couple of waterers are outside for them. Because we have no trees in our yard, they have sun ALL DAY LONG, we put a tarp over the top part of the yard. that seemed to help quite a bit since we did that.

 

[Equus5O]

I guess compared to Canada, NJ's moderate! I leave for work at 5am, so they may have to stay locked in the coop until about 7 or so.

 

[babymakes6]

to both of you! This site is extremely addictive, just so you know! For personality, I recomend Silkies!

 

[blueheaven]

i was/am new too and ordered my chix from mypetchicken.com and on the site there is a place to see what breeds of chix you should get. you can choose cold hardy/docile/etc.

check it out..it helped me.

good luck.

 

[chick'n'run]

does mypetchicken ship to Canada?

 

[blueheaven]

not sure...you can check on their site.

 

[patandchickens]

It's rather obnoxious to get chicks across the border from US to Canada (you need extra health papers, ~US$70 if the seller will do them at all, plus you need the chicks shipped to a US post office near the border then you drive down when they arrive and hand-carry them across the border). Murray McMurray and Sandhill are the only two US hatcheries I know for sure will do the health-papers-and-ship-to-border-post-office routine. I doubt MPC will, since they drop ship their chicks, but I suppose you could ask if you don't mind the expense and aggravation.

If you are in Canada I would suggest your local feedstore for the commonest breeds, or www.performancepoultry.com for a wide variety of breeds (he does mail chicks, albeit expensively, but may be sold out for the year, I dunno), or find a local breeder.

Good luck have fun,

Pat

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I live in south Jersey. It seems it can get a bit colder & snowier up north. We get fridgid temps and sometimes snow. I have Amerucanas, buff orpingtons, rhode island red
and red stars AKA red sex links. It depends on your preference and climate the breeds can tolerate.

I keep food & water in the coop. If they are free ranging or in the tractor I put water there.

Enjoy your new addiction.