Information Overload + Analysis Paralysis

[Folly's place]

Have you posted on the 'coops' site yet? My impression is that your coop needs more ventilation than mentioned, and facing the door into the west wind (is it a protected spot?) won't be good either.
Again, chickens are fun, be ready to enjoy them, and how fast they grow.
Mary

 

[BeckyRK1974]

Have you posted on the 'coops' site yet? My impression is that your coop needs more ventilation than mentioned, and facing the door into the west wind (is it a protected spot?) won't be good either.
Again, chickens are fun, be ready to enjoy them, and how fast they grow.
Mary

I did a post on the coop page and few days ago after I visited the builder to add a little more ventilation to the design. Sounds like one more adjustment is needed and I should be good, which my husband said he can do once it's delivered.

I didn't think about the west winds, so thank you for that. It is not a protected area there.

 

[Folly's place]

Our coop doors are on the south and east sides of the coop, no windows on the north, and an upper vent and window on the west.
Think about big openings on the south and east sides at least, which can be partially covered on the lower parts to block winter winds and snow. Ventilation and blocking winter winds matter more than cold.
And Silkies don't manage either cold or heat well. Look at breeds that do well in your climate. Henderson's poultry chart is a good resource!
Mary

 

[ConnieSmeltzer]

Wow! I won’t show your garden/ chicken coop pics to my girls… they would want me to do something like that for them too! Yes, I do think you might be overthinking just a bit. I’ve had my girls for almost a year now and they are amazing. We have a good coop and also an attached run, but they also free range a bit each day while we sit and watch them. Relax and enjoy them!

 

[townchicks]

I just have to say, you are going to be very well prepared for your chicks, when they arrive. That said, there will always be things that turn out to be not quite right, or don't work for your situation, that need to be tweaked or discarded. I've changed a lot over the years not just in the physical manner of keeping my girls , new coop, new run, etc , but in my philosophy. We evolve, and learn as we go. I've spent hours on here reading about diseases or predators that I haven't yet encountered in 9 years, so don't let it scare you. It does help a lot, though, to be able to recognize the issue and jump into action, because you educated yourself ahead of time. There will be losses, in spite of that. Chickens can be incredibly tough, and so freaking delicate at the same time. I just can't imagine my life without them now, however.

 

[NameIwish]

I swear I have packed 5 years worth of education into these last 4-5 weeks. I am thinking myself into a tailspin here. I naturally have an analytical mind, and I struggle with perfectionism. Like I had mentioned in my intro, I also have a ton of respect for all living things. My logic mind is telling me that all the posts of injured hens and dying chicks only seem to be extensive because, generally speaking, people tend not to post when things are going wonderful and all is well. But I'm fighting off the panicky thoughts that I am going to get my 6 babies on July 8 and I'm going to inadvertently kill them all.

All of that on top of stressing about how the layout will be where I'm going to place the coop and chicken run. And I want it to be mostly aesthetically pleasing, and also still be functional. I attached a preliminary plan in case anyone wants to review/critique

Ugh! I'm laughing at myself about the coop/run part, because I am seeing how I am acting as if I have royalty coming to live on my property.

But with all that said, and jokes aside, I have read 'Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple: A Fun, Friendly Guide to Backyard Chicken Keeping' by Nikki Husted from Purely Chickens. There was a lot of great info in there, but I would like to see more than one person's perspective so I can feel more prepared. I have read through at least 2-3 dozen threads in this forum also, but feel like I have a few empty nooks in my mind that need filling with more info.

Do any of you have any recommendations for other books or online articles I could read that may help alleviate my overthinking mind? Maybe videos on YouTube that would be helpful?

Any tips on what the most important things to consider when deciding on brand of chick starter, and also feed for when they're older?

Any words of wisdom for a 1st time chicken mom?

Words of encouragement even?

I would even accept if someone commented saying I'm overthinking by way too much. I tend to do that with things that are important; especially if my decision affects another living being. I'll take whatever you got to give.

OMG, you'll drive those hens nuts! You're so well organized, they'll never be able to keep up!

I bought some guineas from a couple the next town over that had an organized layout - they made it look like a Western town movie set!

I used to have access to a floor planning application and used it to layout remodeling projects until Microsoft change the OS and it no longer worked! So I can appreciate the efforts expended but, so far as chicken raising goes' any old place will do. You water & feed 'em and they'll find places to roost and places to lay their eggs (that's where the idea of an Easter Egg Hunt likely came from - back then 'everybody did it daily.'

So, relax. K'sarah, sarah - whatever will be will be . . .

 

[rosemarythyme]

I didn't think about the west winds, so thank you for that. It is not a protected area there.

Are west winds an issue where you're at, or are you basing that off the advice you were given? For my lot the worst winds are from east and south (a neighbor who lived here 22 years helped confirm that), so I when I designed my coop I had the one windowless wall facing SE.

 

[BeckyRK1974]

Are west winds an issue where you're at, or are you basing that off the advice you were given?

The wind that blows through my lot comes from the western vicinity most of the time. And our lot was completely empty when we bought it, so the only trees I have are ones I've planted but it's only been a handful so far in the 6 years we've been here. And it's about 2-1/2 acres, so quite wide open.

There have been some days where the wind comes more directly from the South or North, but that's rare. It was definitely a tidbit of data that I hadn't yet thought about, and I'm really glad it was mentioned. Once my coop is delivered and placed, it isn't going to be very easy to move so better to consider as much as possible beforehand. I have a couple of weeks to finalize it, so that helps.

 

[Folly's place]

Wisconsin! North and west winds most of the time, same as Michigan.
Mary

 

[Jen-the-Hen]

When I got my first chickens, I read as many books as I could find, then I found this forum, and the books went to the used bookstore. I learn so much more on here everyday, even after 8 years. One thing I have learned, is that there are many ways of keeping chickens happy and healthy. As I go, I've changed a lot of things, it always seem to be a growing and adjusting process. You have time, so take a deep breath, let it out, and keep up the good work of learning and preparing, but know it never be perfect. Chickens are messy, and chicken ownership is too. Well worth it IMO, and not just for the eggs.

What is "IMO" please?