Hi there! I'm from Southwest Michigan and will be acquiring an entire setup with chickens that are already laying. Not sure what I'm getting into 100% so any advice is welcome!
Hello, and congrats on your newcoming birds!
May I just say, that if you do this again in the future, you should quarantine them for atlelast a month to prevent on diseases from spreading. The number one cause of disease spreading is exposure from flock to flock.
Also, I reccomend that at some point you raise a chicken from a chick. You can find them in springtime at feed and supply stores (Tractor Supply, Farm & Fleet and such) or you can buy chicks year-round online. Be sure it's from a trustworthy source so you don't get sick chicks. Whenever you buy chickens which you plan to sell their meat or offspring (or if you wish to show your birds), ask your dealer for Pullorum papers. These papers proove that your birds have had their Pullorum and Typhoid vaccinations. These are required for showing birds.
And welcome to the world of chickens! You will definitely want to stop by our learning center here on BYC. You can find all kinds of articles on getting started, chicken breeds, building the coop, raising the babies and keeping your adult flock happy, healthy and safe from predators. Feel free to ask questions if you don't find what you are looking for.
Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!