I'm new, but ready to do this!

[tracyk914]

Welcome to backyard chickens!!

What qualities are you looking for in your chickens? Do you want a breed that lays tons of eggs or a dual purpose breed (meat and eggs)? Do you want hens that will go broody?

As far as the space requirements for your coop, it is best to have 1sq of roosting space per chicken and 1 or 2 nesting boxes. You could probably get away with 1, but 2 gives the hens more space for laying.

Are you planning to move your hens to fresh grass daily or are you looking into a permanent run/coop?

Hello! Great question, and thanks for the steering on this...

Chickens will be for eggs only. Hopefully for a family/kid friendly breed that checks all the boxes if that exists.
Planning on a permanent run at this time. 2 boxes seem perfectly doable. Would there be a benefit to more boxes?

 

[ChickenMumAbi]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, Welcome to BYC Good luck with your new adventure.

 

[Farmlife16]

Hello! Great question, and thanks for the steering on this...

Chickens will be for eggs only. Hopefully for a family/kid friendly breed that checks all the boxes if that exists.
Planning on a permanent run at this time. 2 boxes seem perfectly doable. Would there be a benefit to more boxes?

If the chickens are only for eggs, I would recommend a hybrid breed. Golden comets are a great breed! They lay eggs every day, except when taking a break, and have been very hardy with diseases and temperature. They are more cold tolerant than heat tolerant.

Having more boxes has little benefit. Hens usually do not lay at the same time and having more boxes only means more boxes to clean.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Chickens will be for eggs only. Hopefully for a family/kid friendly breed that checks all the boxes if that exists.
Planning on a permanent run at this time. 2 boxes seem perfectly doable. Would there be a benefit to more boxes?

I've never owned them but Orpingtons are known for being very friendly. I have owned Rocks and Australorps and both are very friendly. All are cold hardy.
You wouldn't need for than 2 best boxes.
I highly recommend you build a walk-in run with a solid sloped roof in your climate.

 

[N F C]

Hi, thanks for joining us!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Enjoy your time here!

 

[STACEYH]

HELLO

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Hello! I am looking to add chickens to my suburban property this season, we can have 4 hens. Especially looking for winter hardy feathered friends as we reside in Wisconsin. Hoping to find tips and tricks with a coop/run set up for this small flock.

With two young children (3 and 4), I am really interested in introducing them to having animals and chores (I grew up on a farm, but chickens will have to do for now!). By day I am busy designing and overseeing landscape construction on residential outdoor living projects, but I generally love nature, growing my own food in an ever expanding garden, and slow time with my family. Looking to keep life simply and memorable for my young family!

I stumbled upon this group though a facebook search, hoping to be inspired and educated by other's experiences raising chickens in their own yards.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Happy hen lover]

Hello! I am looking to add chickens to my suburban property this season, we can have 4 hens. Especially looking for winter hardy feathered friends as we reside in Wisconsin. Hoping to find tips and tricks with a coop/run set up for this small flock.

With two young children (3 and 4), I am really interested in introducing them to having animals and chores (I grew up on a farm, but chickens will have to do for now!). By day I am busy designing and overseeing landscape construction on residential outdoor living projects, but I generally love nature, growing my own food in an ever expanding garden, and slow time with my family. Looking to keep life simply and memorable for my young family!

I stumbled upon this group though a facebook search, hoping to be inspired and educated by other's experiences raising chickens in their own yards.

Oh you will love it here! There's so much knowledge here! I would lean to the heavier breeds for winter hardiness. My hens do fine and 2 weeks ago it was a whopping 17f in their coop . You'll have to pay attention to ventilation with your humidity. Check out the articles on coops its full of great ideas.