my first time having chickens; any advice?

[mfpif16]

so, I've been trying to get my parents to let me have chickens for a long time, and I think I have them convinced finally. I've been doing a lot of research, and was wondering if anyone has any specific advice for someone who's first time it is raising chickens.
some questions I have:
-Is it a better choise to make or to buy an incubator/ brooding box, or does it not really matter?
-How much does feed generally cost?
-How much room does it take if I wanted to raise 3-5 chickens
-How many chickens would it be a good idea to get for someones first time/ someone who doesn't have a very big yard?
-beside normal feed, is there any other food I should give my chickens?
-Is it possible to build a coop, and how much would it cost to buy one?
-Is it better to give chicks medicated or non-medicated food?
Thank you for your opinions, and I am super excited to possibly soon have my own chickens!!

 

[PoultryGirly]

Incubator-$$Buy$$$ because it's much more reliable
Feed- About $10- $15 per 50 lb. bag
Room/Area- 2 to 5 feet per chicken
Amount of chickens-4
Food (again)- layer, scratch, oyster shell
Coop- Yes, you can buy a coop, to buy- about $1000
Chick food- Medicated because it reduces the chance of the disease Cocci
Hope I helped!!!!

 

[ChicKat]

Welcome to the BYC forum.

Congratulations of being able to get chickens.

I would suggest that you focus in on the reason that you want to have chickens and talk that over with your family. If you want them for pets, or showing that would be one approach, while if you want them for producing eggs, that would be another approach. Perhaps you want them for everything that the chicken experience provides.

For a small back yard, if you want to have interesting birds that provide your family with nice fresh eggs, amusing antics and poop that you can put in the compost pile for fertilizer, then a breed that lays eggs would be important. If you are more into the decorative aspect, then you may want a bantam breed.

I always used to recommend that a person just starting would get pullets that are nearly full grown. Often this is called Point of Lay Pullets or POL pullets. You may be able to find them on Craigs List, here on BYC forum in the buy sell trade section or from a breeder or a farmer near your home. It is surprising how many eggs a couple of high producing chickens can give your family. If you are able to start small and be successful, you can determine which direction you want to go from there.

1. Go to your library or book store and delve into a good book, or buy keeping chickens for dummies here in the BYC store.....
2. talk to your county extension agent and find out some things that affect chicken keeping in your area
3. discuss with someone near you how their chicken keeping is going....you have 4H, FFA, breeders, and maybe even some byc members near you.

Here are some specific answers:
You can find out feed costs if you go to a local feed store and see the price on a bag of 'layer pellets' or 'layer crumbles' if that is the desired approach for you. (keeping chickens for eggs) Different breeds eat different amounts of feed. so your 50# bag could last you a very long time.....(depending on how many chickens you get.)

3-5 is a very good starting number, and you could easily keep them in a small back yard.

All the rest of the answers you will find in chicken books and by talking to people and researching the forum.
Good luck with all the fun ahead of you and the enjoyment of having chickens.

 

[mfpif16]

thanks for your feedback guys! my dads helping me with the research and it sounds like I'm making progress trying to convince him. my mom's another story though. do you guys have any breed recommendations? I'm looking for lots of medium-large eggs, and a friendly chicken that would make a good pet. thanks again for all your help!

 

[ChicKat]

My favorite breed for eggs for a backyard chicken is golden sexlink. They produce a lot of eggs and don't need a lot of feed.

Tell your mother how fabulous the eggs will be from your own chickens...and how convenient to get fresh eggs. She may become an advocate of chickens -- good luck.

 

[nick8950]

I go about 2 ft by 2 ft per chicken

 

[nick8950]

as long as they have food and water they are pretty good

 

[PoultryGirly]

I recommend a barred rock chicken. They are really sweet, lay brown eggs, and are good at egg laying. Good luck!!!

 

[mfpif16]

thanks! I'll check that out. I've been looking at the Plymouth rock and leghorn. I've also looked at the rhode island red, but the reviews said they can be kind of aggressive.

 

[Kagu]

if you get RIR's I suggest a RIR mix... We have them , think its orpington mixed(btw those are real sweet), they lay large brown eggs, adorable, and talk all day

(like a orp!)

Goodluck , for someone considering eggs AND pets ;Orpingtons, plymouth/barred rock, Brahma (they do lay pretty well-so long as its not a hachtery brahma- that and I'm partial to them ), marans, and MAYBE leghorns or andalusians- both of the breeds are real flighty and not to friendly, but if you really tame them they can make good pets!