Hello, BYC! I don't have any chickens yet, but I'm doing serious research (and hopefully building) this year, because next spring is The Year - you know the one! The one where we get some chickens! \o/ I live in a mountainous, cold, windy, and predator-friendly part of the world, so I'm here well in advance of any cute little birds arriving to find out how to give my future-flock the best chance they can have. I know chickens can do well here - someone down the road has the biggest, glossiest black chickens I've ever seen - so it's just a matter of finding out their needs, so I can meet them. Edit: I'm starting to plow through the FAQ and required reading now, so already I know more than I did yesterday. Still, any recommendations of further good reading - online or books - would be very appreciated. I'm not new to birds - I've kept budgies and a single larger parrot - just to chickens.
Welcome to BYC. Go to the Learning Center at the top of the page, tour the forums, question away, plan, and you will be successful. Good luck in establishing and protecting your flock.
Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined. We'll be happy to answer all of your questions! Good luck with your future flock!
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to our flock. Definitely check out our Learning Center. There is lots of useful information there that will keep you from making beginners' mistakes. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your flock.
Could be you've seen Black Australorps they are said to endure cold as well as heat and great layers to boot. Hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do.
Glad you joined us. I don't know any complete books on-line. But there is a lot of free info on BYC as you have already noted. Many of the commercial and sponsor's sites have a lot of info as well. Good luck with your new adventure. If you are getting baby chicks, spend time now getting the basic brooder and care info and get everything ready for their arrival. Decide on your coop with predator protection and start building at least by the time they arrive. They do grow fast and will outgrow the brooder in 5-6 weeks. If you are getting pullets, you will have to have coop/run ready earlier. Feel free to ask questions.
X3, the BYC Learning Center is a great place to start. For books, Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow. and Keep Chickens! (Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces) by Barbara Kilarski. are both nice basic books on chicken keeping, they are available from Amazon etc. and The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow. is handy. Here are a couple of links to some nice chicken breed comparison charts you might like http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html and http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf and http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx when you have narrowed down your choices, don't forget to check the BYC Reviews section for member reviews on the different breeds. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds And you might want to check out your area thread to see what people in your area are having luck with www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread
Welcome to BYC!!! There are loads of members on here…so if you have ANY questions…just ASK!!! Hope you have loads of fun and all your answers answered here on BYC the BEST CHICKEN KEEPING FORUM on EARTH!!