Howdy y'all

[ghunnicu]

I'm a new member here at BackYard Chickens.
I don't have any chickens yet but hope to start our flock this spring.
Decisions...Decisions......Decisions
What breed...How many...Coop design...Where to put it...
Yes, I'll need lot's of help and ask a bunch of silly questions but
I think I'm headed in the right direction now.
George

 

[N F C]

Good morning George and welcome to BYC!

Here's a link to a chart I used a lot when deciding which breed of birds to get. Maybe you'll find it helpful also:

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Another helpful place is right here on BYC under the Learning Center tab:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens

Keep us posted on what you decide to get. And if you have any questions, feel free to post them...there are a lot of friendly, helpful people here.

Nice to have you join us!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community!

There are lots of great breeds out there. Definitely take a look at that link that NorthFLChick has left for you. Lots of quick info on each breed and their attributes. I am a huge fan of the Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes...all very docile friendly breeds, great on the laying and hardy over all. We have a breeds page as well here on BYC. Lots of comments from our members on each breed...https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

Have you stopped by our coops pages? Lots of coop designs from our members here. Some of these coops are very easy to follow and many have plans...https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

Stop by our learning center too. Lots of good articles on getting started, building the coop, picking the breeds, raising the chicks and keeping your adult flock happy, healthy and safe from predators...https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask. Welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some nice links to check out from NorthFlChick and TwoCrows, you might also want to check out your state thread for chicken keeping neighbors and any suggestions they may have for your area https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread

 

[liz9910]

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

You've been given some good advice already. Good luck with your future chickens!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.
The above posters have given good advice.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC, George. Glad you decided to join our flock. There are some excellent breed charts at http://albc-usa.etapwss.com/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf, http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx, and http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html. Also, Murray McMurray has an excellent "chick selector" tool at https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chick_selector.html to help you determine which breed is best for you. Just be sure and click on "show more characteristics. If you're looking for personal recommendations I would recommend Black Sex Links (Black Stars) as they are hardy and friendly egg laying machines. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds) and they have been my best layers, consistently churning out over 300 eggs per bird per year. If you prefer a standard breed (BSLs are hybrids which won't breed true so you would have to replenish your stock by ordering from one of the hatcheries), I would suggest Black Australorps. They are extremely hardy, calm and gentle (my children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of ours), and the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. A Black Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that level of production (and likely never will), I've still had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year. 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.

 

[sunflour]

So glad you joined us.

You are gonna love raising chickens.

Everybody always says give more room in coop/run than you expect. Wish I had listened to them, it's easier to build before the chickens move in. You may plan for a certain number and get more. Full size chickens are larger than I had expected. Once you decide on what and how many you want, place 5 gallon buckets in a mock up of your planned area…subtract space for ramp, feeder, water fount, ? flock block….and the area really shrinks. This is also true for you brooder if you get baby chicks, they grow so fast.

Have fun, learn, plan.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

The members above have given you great advice.

For breeds what else are you looking for besides mild tempered? Is egg production a need? Are you going to be eating your birds? Or are you just looking for pets?

Breeds that are good for both pets and egg production include (my personal favorite!) buff orpingtons, black australorps, speckled sussex, wyandottes and easter eggers. If you are just looking for a pet that will not lay super well then the cochin and silkie are for you. If you are planning on eating your birds then buff orps, black australorps, faverlloes, cochins, barred rocks, EEs and game birds are all good. If you are looking for egg-cellent egg layers then leghorns, sex links and RIRs are your best bet.

I personally LOVE the buff orpington. They are sweet, cuddly, affectionate, great layers, cold hardy, bearers of confinement and docile. They can be loud and bossy at times though.

You may want to check out our learning center and breed area too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx