Need Help with chickens!

[twinnersmom]

Hello!

I am Twinnersmom and I have moved from the city to a farming community with my little family and we want to start a little hobby farm, and we have decided to dtart with chickens!!! Now, I have been reading everything I can find on them and all the breeds and would like to know what everyone on here recommends or likes!

What breed do you recommend? (We will be using them just for eggs, not their meat.)

Do I need a rooster and some hens so that I can get eggs?

How big of a coop do I need for about 5 chickens?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated, Thank you so much!

 

[Mahonri]

FIRST, WELCOME TO BYC!

now,

If you are out in the country, you might as well build a large coop right from the beginning... Five will be too few... believe me.

Start out with an 8X12 coop with 6 or 7 nest boxes... you'll probably have neighbors or friends from the city who will want to buy your eggs.

I like variety so I have lots of different breeds. I'm finding that I like some more than others.

I REALLY like Ameraucanas. I love blue and green eggs.

 

[twinnersmom]

I was kind of thinking we should do a big coop but hubby is concerned that me or the kids will not like it enough to have alot of chickens. I am super excited though! I have seen that you should have so much space per chicken too.

The winters get really nasty out here and that concerns me. Any ideas on a good coop option that could keep them through the winter?

Oh, and can I have different breeds in the same coop or should they be seperate?

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

from TN

 

[n-da-woods]

Hello and

from NC

 

[Scoop]

Build BIG I'm telling you, you're gonna get addicted and then you'll want more and more believe me! There are so many wonderful breeds, but the Americanas are neat because of the colored eggs. We just got a bunch of chicks and the Blue Cochins and the Dominiques really seem much mellower than the others!

 

[schmije]

Welome from Illinois!

Definitely build a bigger coop than you think you'll need. It'll make it much easier when you decide that you want more. And you can mix the breeds in one coop.

You don't need a rooster to get eggs, but you'll need one if you want to have chicks. We like Rhode Island reds, buff orpingtons, New Hampshires and barred rocks. They're all good layers, and they have good personalities. We're trying a few more breeds this year, but they're still in the brooder, so I can't vouch for them yet.

You'll be totally addicted before you know it. Good luck!

 

[Catalina]

Read, read, read! There is a wealth of information here on BYC. Lots of very smart people with tons of combined years of experience. (I'm not counting myself in this group, since I've only had chickens for 2 year!

)

Do I need a rooster and some hens so that I can get eggs?

You do not need a rooster to get eggs. You only need a rooster if you want baby chicks. But you could have one just for fun.​

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
That's definitely right!! You'll be able to find answers to all of your questions just by browsing and chatting in different areas of the forum.

By the way,

and glad to have you here!