I've been reading this thread for a day or so, and the info is terrific. I started with chicks last year for the first time in my life (trip to the feed store with my then 18-year old daughter--"I'll take care of them, Mom"...HAH!). I got two to start, and put them in a brooder made from a large rubbermaid container. I put a chicken wire lid on it, since we have cats. They hung out in that for about 2 months (until they were too big). While they were growing, I checked into what coops were around (I hadn't found this, my most favorite site, yet). I planned and built a two-level coop--the downstairs is "open" but completely enclosed with 1" chickenwire on the sides and 1/4" hardware cloth on the top/bottom; the upstairs is the closed in coop with roost bar and egg door. I made this myself (hubby helped me with the roof), and I had planned on being able to move it, so it comes apart--roof section/coop section/bottom section. Suffice to say, we made a nice fenced-in run, so I don't move it around--but I could if I wanted to. I got two more at the end of May, and they joined the flock in the summer--I have a flock of 4 girls.
My whole point is I never had any before, and I just LOVE them. Easy to care for, they love you back, and they keep me active. Like everyone else says, have a plan for where you want to put them. You can build the coop while they are growing in the brooder. Start with pullets--minimum of 2 so they have a friend. The container(Rubbermaid) I used for a brooder was about 2.5' tall x 2'W x 3'L approximately. If you think you'll be moving, just make the coop/run area moveable, too. If you have a detachable run section, you can even move them in that.
Have fun and be sure to let us what you do--we like pictures!!
My whole point is I never had any before, and I just LOVE them. Easy to care for, they love you back, and they keep me active. Like everyone else says, have a plan for where you want to put them. You can build the coop while they are growing in the brooder. Start with pullets--minimum of 2 so they have a friend. The container(Rubbermaid) I used for a brooder was about 2.5' tall x 2'W x 3'L approximately. If you think you'll be moving, just make the coop/run area moveable, too. If you have a detachable run section, you can even move them in that.
Have fun and be sure to let us what you do--we like pictures!!