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Chickylove12 said:
Thankyou for your response and your tips. I am definetly researching and reading long before I even build a coop. I want to ensure they will be getting the best care. A little apprehensive about free range as there is seven acres of woods around me. Would love to let them free range for a period in the day when i am out there...however my presence may not detour a coyotee or a hawk. Will want a chicken mansion and a really big covered run though.
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May I suggest a bantam variety? I have had many different chicken breeds and I find that the banties stick much closer to home, whereas my standard girls will march right down the road and into the neighbor's horse pen! Luckily, I have amazing neighbors who think that is cute :) I think bantams are just fantastic and their eggs are amazing. You might have less issues with coyotes and such with birds that free range near your house. Plus, their poos are smaller!
 
BantyChooks said:
Ha! Thanks. It's so much fun to spend time in after having a 50 year old crumbling mouse infested coop for the first ump de ump years. I swear I had to do repairs daily on that thing. The bottom half of the door had gotten smashed in some wind so I had to repair it with hardware cloth, duck tape, and hope. Couldn't use nails, the wood was too rotted and split.

Rafters were open too, well, covered with a tarp because the roof leaked wicked bad. I am amazed I still had a flock by the time demolition day rolled around.
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Well you have certainly upgraded them to a beautiful mansion now.
 
honanbm said:
May I suggest a bantam variety? I have had many different chicken breeds and I find that the banties stick much closer to home, whereas my standard girls will march right down the road and into the neighbor's horse pen! Luckily, I have amazing neighbors who think that is cute :) I think bantams are just fantastic and their eggs are amazing. You might have less issues with coyotes and such with birds that free range near your house. Plus, their poos are smaller!
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I love bantams. Unfortunately they require assistance in real cold or you will lose many as I found out the tough way. :(

It's the weeks of never getting above -20 or -15 that kill them. Just lost a bantam cockerel this December.
 
BantyChooks said:
I love bantams. Unfortunately they require assistance in real cold or you will lose many as I found out the tough way. :(

It's the weeks of never getting above -20 or -15 that kill them. Just lost a bantam cockerel this December.
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That's so sad! I live in western Washington so I definitely do not have any experience with that type of weather... We have a pretty temperate climate. I do have the mottled cochin bantams and they are pretty resilient with their feathered feet, but again, no clue how they would fare in those types of weather conditions.
 
honanbm said:
That's so sad! I live in western Washington so I definitely do not have any experience with that type of weather... We have a pretty temperate climate. I do have the mottled cochin bantams and they are pretty resilient with their feathered feet, but again, no clue how they would fare in those types of weather conditions.
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Cochins would probably do a bit better due to more abundant feathering than the OEGBs. I have one mutt bantam hen that only came in once this year. Super tough bird. Still, I have frostbite issues on even the hardiest bantams. One lost her feet.
 
Yes Virginia, you are being paranoid. But, that's not uncommon with new owners and veterans alike. Chickens, unlike many other pets we choose to keep around us and enjoy require unique circumstances that are not that out of the normal. Like anything a great maintenance program, diet, self restraint and knowledge are the key stones to any good foundation for the hobby. They bring you a lot of joy if you let them and some times a lot of heartbreak at the same time and wonderment. If you want to create a unique and interesting micro environment where you can watch, study and learn some things about yourself along the way..chickens are great for that. At some point one will get sick, one will get lice and mites, one will cause chaos in your flock, one will break you're heart and one will help you realize something amazing within yourself, these are right for you. If you want them because it seems cheaper to grow your own eggs, than they probably won't work out as well. The chicks are cheap, everything else can get expensive just really depends on how far you want to go with it. I encourage everyone to learn as much as they can, read as much as they can and visit someone who has them before hand as much as they can. A little or a lot, you are a farmer with chickens. Its a commitment like any other pet in the cold and snow, rain and wind, blazing sun they'll depend on you. Requires patience, understanding, acceptance and a lot of pre planning. Can't just drop them off at the kennel for a ski weekend. If you think you are capable and willing to do this and succeed at it, go for it!
 
BantyChooks said:
Cochins would probably do a bit better due to more abundant feathering than the OEGBs. I have one mutt bantam hen that only came in once this year. Super tough bird. Still, I have frostbite issues on even the hardiest bantams. One lost her feet.
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Aww...lost her feet...now What? Can you make some kind of device..aww
 

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