Hoping to start first ever flock soon!

Pics
Date sort Score sort
T

Tigmao

In the Brooder
Jan 1, 2018
3
16
31
Elizabethtown, Pa
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
-Very new, in the research phase!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
-my coop says its for 6-8 chickens
(3) What breeds do you have?
- I want cold hardy, friendly, possibly free range (not sure how we will like that). I have a two ur old daughter, 4mo old, and small dog, so docile chickens I think are what we need. I wanted to get 2 of a few breeds but I'm having trouble finding a place I can order 10 or less. My thinking was I'd learn more about what breed we like. My gut tells me EE will be a good start, we can get 10 from tractor supply-thoughts?
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
An app search
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Riding dirt bike
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
Mom of 2 girls, 2 & 4mo. 1 jackrussel/pug dog. I'm an RN I work weekends so I get to be home with my girls all week! I've never owned chickens or know anyone who has! Yikes! We are in central pa. Between Harrisburg and Lancaster
 
Welcome to BYC!
Chickens need 4 square feet of space in the coop per bird, 10" of roost space per bird, and 1 nest boxes for 5-8 hens. Roosts should be 4 or 5 feet high, with ventilation above the roosts. You should have 1 square foot of ventilation per bird. Don't overcrowd, because it can result in feather picking, self mutilation, no eggs, or disease!
1 rooster for 5-8 hens.
A good breed that would suit your needs well would be an EE (not a pure breed though, only a hybrid), Orpington (highly suggest), or Wyandotte chicken.
Your run should have at least 10 square feet of space per bird. Preferably 20 or more! Free range is awesome, but many birds are under constant attack from other predators like hawks, dogs, foxes, cats, coyotes, weasels, raccoons. A run is a good idea!
Also remember the theory of "chicken math"- you will want more chickens!
 
Hi! I always recommend half the amount of chickens your coop recommends. I have four chickens right now, 2 golden laced Wyandotte, one is a brown and a tenderness red Bantam Cochin frizzle. My coop said 8 but that would be a cruel amount of space. Think of yourself as a chicken and imagine living in a coop with how many Chickens? Take into consideration having to winterizing the coop and any unexpected things which. Use straw for the winter along with a heated waterer I would do about five chickens for your coop and raise the chicks together not at separate times. Good luck keep us posted and ask for good breed choices any in mind?
 
Wyandotte, Brahmas, isa browns and Cochin sound good for you or Easter baggers.Heck, you could get one of each! 3-4 feet per hen and while not necisarry one roo for every 5-8 hens as mentoned before. If you want a rooster get a bantam as they are not as loud or mean as big breed roos. I recommend one nest box for every 2-3 hens and a water and food refill/change every other day.
 
WildCHILD400 said:
Wyandotte, Brahmas, isa browns and Cochin sound good for you or Easter baggers.Heck, you could get one of each! 3-4 feet per hen and while not necisarry one roo for every 5-8 hens as mentoned before. If you want a rooster get a bantam as they are not as loud or mean as big breed roos. I recommend one nest box for every 2-3 hens and a water and food refill/change every other day.
Click to expand...

Gunna just say some things on this. Most on this post I second but here's 3 things many will disagree on. Wild, I am not at all arguing. I just want to add onto what you said for the OP to see :)
Bantams are awesome little birds. I envy those who have Sebrights. However, keeping bantams with other big breeds can result in the bantam being bullied. Also I am not sure if a bantam rooster can successfully mate with a full grown hen, if you want fertile eggs.
Many hens decide to lay in only 1 or 2 nest boxes no matter how big the flock. I have 4 hens. They all lay in only 2 boxes out of 8.
Water and food is a bit subjective. I ALWAYS keep my food topped up, especially in winter when it's out free choice in their coop 24/7. Some only feed their animals twice a day. It's personal choice.
Always check your water. I water mine daily in cold weather and in warm weather, I always have 2 waterers available in case one runs out. I refill when they are below half.
As for cleaning waterers and feeders. It is often suggested, but I have never had to, since I've gotten chickens. With ducks I did certainly have to.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom