Just pondering the ckn thing.

[muddy75]

 

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! Get some birds they will steal your heart! Very enjoyable!

 

[GodLovesU]

 

[triciayoung]

Welcome. I think often, people focus on what you need to get chickens, when...in my opinion, there are very important first questions to ask yourself. Will they be pets? If so, will they be part of your family? Mine are. Therefore, if I had known this when I first had chickens, I would have had fewer and I would have never had any production breed hens (the statistics are that 54% of production breed hens will get reproductive disease by age 2, and 81% by age 3. These statistics are staggering and sickening what we did to them with selective breeding). At the same time, now that I am a rescue, all I get brought to me is production breeds and roosters. I would start with those important questions and here is why....if you get chickens and fall in love with them (which many of us do), you will want the ability to bring them into your house when needed (they are sick/inclement weather, etc...), that effects what you do outside as well. I would start with 4 and see what happens. With 4, you can be agile and not make as many money and time mistakes. You really won't know until you have them. I NEVER thought my chickens would be as important to me as they are...but, it happened.

 

[Floridaboy1084]

Good day. I just joined to find out if I really want to do the ckn thing or if I'm having another old age trying to be productive event.
I forgot to mention, I live in Tucson AZ. I'm thinking of setting up an 8x12 hoop coop and having around half a dozen laying hens. I can move it to 2 other spots in my yard periodically. I'm thinking at that size and amount of ckns I won't have to move it very often.
Does that make sen of course

 

[Floridaboy1084]

I honestly don't think anyone on BYC is going to tell you it's a bad idea, considering everyone on here loves chickens the question you have to ask yourself is if you can actually stop with only that many chicken I've personally never seen the point in moving it, but that's my personal opinion. I know their poo kinda kills the grass, and I love my grass... Therefore I wouldn't want a bunch of dead spots in my yard. Biggest question you have to ask yourself is if you can stop with only half a dozen Then if they're laying hens you have to ask yourself if 3 to 4 eggs per day is actually enough... Some people that's great. Either way whatever you'd do, not only do they become awesome pets, it's also a great hobby...

 

[Debbie292d]

Welcome. I think often, people focus on what you need to get chickens, when...in my opinion, there are very important first questions to ask yourself. Will they be pets? If so, will they be part of your family? Mine are. Therefore, if I had known this when I first had chickens, I would have had fewer and I would have never had any production breed hens (the statistics are that 54% of production breed hens will get reproductive disease by age 2, and 81% by age 3. These statistics are staggering and sickening what we did to them with selective breeding). At the same time, now that I am a rescue, all I get brought to me is production breeds and roosters. I would start with those important questions and here is why....if you get chickens and fall in love with them (which many of us do), you will want the ability to bring them into your house when needed (they are sick/inclement weather, etc...), that effects what you do outside as well. I would start with 4 and see what happens. With 4, you can be agile and not make as many money and time mistakes. You really won't know until you have them. I NEVER thought my chickens would be as important to me as they are...but, it happened.

Tricia, consider posting on this thread. It's got nobody posting on it, except me, just with an idea. You have a lot of insight! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/meat-birds-what-makes-them-different.1679615/post-28901365

 

[Jener8or]

Good day. I just joined to find out if I really want to do the ckn thing or if I'm having another old age trying to be productive event.
I forgot to mention, I live in Tucson AZ. I'm thinking of setting up an 8x12 hoop coop and having around half a dozen laying hens. I can move it to 2 other spots in my yard periodically. I'm thinking at that size and amount of ckns I won't have to move it very often.
Does that make sense?

I've never kept chickens in a climate similar to Arizona, but hopefully the link to the AZ state thread that @N F C left you will lead you to folks with some good coop and heat hardy chicken advice! We're glad you found the site!

Thanks for joining and welcome to BackYard Chickens!

 

[Bsmac]

Welcome. I think often, people focus on what you need to get chickens, when...in my opinion, there are very important first questions to ask yourself. Will they be pets? If so, will they be part of your family? Mine are. Therefore, if I had known this when I first had chickens, I would have had fewer and I would have never had any production breed hens (the statistics are that 54% of production breed hens will get reproductive disease by age 2, and 81% by age 3. These statistics are staggering and sickening what we did to them with selective breeding). At the same time, now that I am a rescue, all I get brought to me is production breeds and roosters. I would start with those important questions and here is why....if you get chickens and fall in love with them (which many of us do), you will want the ability to bring them into your house when needed (they are sick/inclement weather, etc...), that effects what you do outside as well. I would start with 4 and see what happens. With 4, you can be agile and not make as many money and time mistakes. You really won't know until you have them. I NEVER thought my chickens would be as important to me as they are...but, it happened.

Very well said! Start to finish!

 

[Tookie]

Welcome!