Hi, thank you for letting me join! I've been watching this community off and on for YEARS now! Since at least '09 to give a rough estimate. I'll be getting my own place here soon hopefully just looking for the right one. One place I have in mind has a 1/2 acre of land while the other is something like .3 or .4 acres of land. I currently do not have chickens and actually am in the process of doing research to see which breed (s) fit my needs best! So I will definitely post a thread around here soon enough to look for some recommendations! In the mean time I am a small scale meat rabbit breeder, I mainly work with mutts (dutch, holland, mini rex, lion head, Netherland crosses. I created this cross myself) and I look forward to eventually tanning their pelts as well! I also have a cat with food sensitivities and part of the reason I want chickens is so I can get him on a full raw diet.
WELCOME TO OUR FLOCK OF EVERYTHING! I personally think that a Buff Orpington, or Speckled Sussex are good starter breeds.
Welcome to our FUN-omenal community! Easter Eggers, Brahmas and Marans are some of my faves. Best wishes and have lots of FUN!
Welcome to BYC! I like my Speckled Sussex's personality most! Not the largest bird and a decent layer, but personality makes for a great starter chicken. My Orpingtons (1 Lavender and 1 Blue Silver Laced) are shy and sweet birds and grew pretty quickly. I don't weigh them, but those two orps got big fast and have just recently began to lay eggs for the first time. Lovely good sized eggs. The one chicken breed I simply will not go without though is the Light Brahma. I have two of them in my flock of 7 hens. They are big friendly giants who have laid well for me. The eggs are not the largest, but are a good size and frequent in my experience. They grow and bit slower, but I love these birds.
Thank you so much for the welcome guys! And thank you so much for the suggestions already, lol. I'll be living in city limits but with a permit ($25 a year) we are allowed up to 6 hens and no roos. I'm really looking for winter hardy breeds since I live in Iowa as well as something that lays fun colored eggs. I may got with 3 different types. One that lays white eggs, a brown egg layer, and an Easter egger. I'll be supplying eggs for not just myself but some family as well hence the desire for white egg layers. My grandmother is funny that way and won't touch anything but white eggs. I was considering Red Runners, anyone have experience with those guys?
Welcome to BYC. We are glad you joined this flock! Jump right in and make yourself at home. This video will help you learn how to navigate this site: Coop Ideas: Chicken Coops BYC has an APP!