I know nothing. Teach me, chicken gurus!

[LovlieLayers]

Hello all, newbie and total novice here in Madison, WI, here for your wisdom and guidance!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Welcome!

 

[BantyChooks]

Welcome to BYC. Do you have chooks yet? What breeds? I hope you enjoy your start into the crazy world of chicken keeping.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC

You'll find lots of info in the Learning Centre - https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/learning-center.11/ and if you have a specific topic in mind, just type it in the search box - there's a wealth of information on past and present threads.

Each week, various topics are discussed, which can also be a great resource - https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

You may wish to consider joining your state thread as it will put you in touch with other BYC members in your area - http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread#post_3239224

All the best

CT

 

[LovlieLayers]

Welcome to BYC. Do you have chooks yet? What breeds? I hope you enjoy your start into the crazy world of chicken keeping.

Thanks! And still in the planning stage. My backyard is getting an overhaul, and I'll be building a coop in anticipation of spring chicks once the yard work is done! I'm still researching breeds...they'll need to be winter-hardy and amenable to small kids, good layers. Heritage breeds and nice lookers a big bonus! Thinking about cuckoo marans, barred rocks, lace wyandottes...but still learning!

 

[BantyChooks]

Thanks! And still in the planning stage. My backyard is getting an overhaul, and I'll be building a coop in anticipation of spring chicks once the yard work is done! I'm still researching breeds...they'll need to be winter-hardy and amenable to small kids, good layers. Heritage breeds and nice lookers a big bonus! Thinking about cuckoo marans, barred rocks, lace wyandottes...but still learning!

If you're looking for something a little bit more out of the ordinary, I recommend Chanteclers. They're a lovely heritage breed that are sweet, good layers, and also good for meat if you wish to process them too. They really need more interest. There are two APA accepted varieties, white and partridge. There is a buff variety too, but they haven't been accepted yet. I own the partridge birds and wouldn't trade them for anything.

If you're looking for blue egg layers, true Ameraucanas (NOT the feed store birds) are a lovely, cold hardy chook that are definitely worth owning.

Oh, and one more thing---make the coop much bigger than you think you need. Don't even bother with them spindly little coop-and-run combo kits, you'll outgrow it in a week. The addiction will take hold and you'll end up with 50+ birds of all different breeds and colours. Trust me on this.

 

[LovlieLayers]

If you're looking for something a little bit more out of the ordinary, I recommend Chanteclers. They're a lovely heritage breed that are sweet, good layers, and also good for meat if you wish to process them too. They really need more interest. There are two APA accepted varieties, white and partridge. There is a buff variety too, but they haven't been accepted yet. I own the partridge birds and wouldn't trade them for anything.

If you're looking for blue egg layers, true Ameraucanas (NOT the feed store birds) are a lovely, cold hardy chook that are definitely worth owning.

Where are you located? Oh, and one more thing---make the coop much bigger than you think you need. Don't even bother with them spindly little coop-and-run combo kits, you'll outgrow it in a week. The addiction will take hold and you'll end up with 50+ birds of all different breeds and colours. Trust me on this.

Thanks for the rec, I'll look into them! And yes, Ameraucanas are on my potential list, too! We are limited to 4 hens here (Madison, WI), and it's so tough narrowing down. I am planning a good sized coop, nonetheless...have my eyes on one in particular, and I should post a thread about it, come to think of it!

 

[BantyChooks]

Thanks for the rec, I'll look into them! And yes, Ameraucanas are on my potential list, too! We are limited to 4 hens here (Madison, WI), and it's so tough narrowing down. I am planning a good sized coop, nonetheless...have my eyes on one in particular, and I should post a thread about it, come to think of it!

What a terrible shame... I'm sorry. If I had limits here I'd never be able to comply with them---I'd just be an undercover chook keeper. Stash the rest in my basement or something.

Since you're in the US, it shouldn't be hard to find at least hatchery stock Chanteclers. They're not the same quality as one from a good breeder would be, but they're still cold hardy, dependable, and not near so pricey.

 

[LovlieLayers]

What a terrible shame... I'm sorry. If I had limits here I'd never be able to comply with them---I'd just be an undercover chook keeper. Stash the rest in my basement or something.
.

I do have a pretty big basement....Hrmm! I think the 4 hen rule will be a challenge, for sure, especially if this ends up being something that my kids really take to!

 

[BantyChooks]

I do have a pretty big basement....Hrmm! I think the 4 hen rule will be a challenge, for sure, especially if this ends up being something that my kids really take to!

Just wait until you get into ducks and quail. Might as well convert your basement into a coop now and be done with it.