Interested in getting into this "chicken thing..."

[jbrianchamberli]

So I've been doing some reading and am thinking about getting into this chicken thing, but I have some concerns. I have a lot of land but a small house. So I'm worried about starting off with chicks. Sure they're cute but I don't have anyplace to keep a brooder in the house. My shed has lawn equipment in it and would not be ideal for a several week stay in there with all those gas fumes. So... I'm thinking about buying adult birds. Not sure where to look. A few of the hatcheries I've seen online seem to only sell 15 chicks as a minimum. I'm only interested in about 4 hens of varying type but again, I think they need to be old enough to go straight into a coop.

Any suggestions?

 

[fried green eggs]

Hi &

. You could do a search on Craigslist for you area. I often see post on there from people that are willing to let go of a few hens as their younger ones start laying. You could also check Craigslist for small garden sheds and convert it into a coop with a area for brooding for later. You can also post a Wanted ad here on BYC in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum.

 

[Percheron chick]

Don't buy POL pullets from a hatchery unless it's local. The shipping costs will kill you. CL is your best bet. This time of year is the best time to find 2-6 month old pullets that are fully feathered and ready to go outside. You should be able to find them between $15-25 each. Select hens that are going to do well in your climate. Some are going to handle cold damp winters better while others do fine in the south. Chicks as young as 6 weeks should be able to go straight outside depending upon how warm your nights are. Add your location to your posts so if anyone on here has some pullets for sale or knows of any they can help you out. Find your state "Where am I, where are you" and put some feelers out there. If you hold off until late fall, there tend to be lots of free hens on CL. Get going on the coop first. Chickens are easier to find than building a good coop.