My wife "informed" me we had a chicken coming...
.... BUT that is fine I have been wanting to start keeping chickens for awhile. I found this site shortly after and really appreciate it already. Informative, and well organized. Public thanks go out to: Ms. Gretchen for both hatching this hen in her preschool class, and to her son, who it turns out is terrified of chickens
Also to Brian and Andrea for leading the way as an example (they have a large coop), and to the City of Austin... who has recognized the good in not imposing harsh or draconian ordinances against just keeping some birds, and to the BYC trend in Austin, meaning there is an abundance of second hand coops, equipment, and resources on hand from those who found out it may not be for them.
Here is our setup so far: SMALL Coop with one fairly large New Hampshire Red named Chicken Love Hope. Name courtesy of our 5 year old daughter. We have a separate chicken yard and fenced back yard. I am an avid composter and have already explored chicken composting threads, and have the yard set up for this purpose. C-love is already helping out, knocking the pile down to the fences I installed to keep it contained. I am running pine bedding and nesting, with DTE setup for help. We will be free ranging, as possible, but will have to keep an eye out.. as our house backs up to a LARGE nature preserve and we have a larger than average urban predator count.... including a pair of LARGE owls that have always nested in the area above the chicken yard.
Goals: We would like to grow the coop soon to at least three to four, in the same breed for now. So anyone knowing sources for New Hapshires to Austin would be appreciated. I have already found great advice on integrating.. here is hoping it goes well.. I also need a larger coop, and probably an enclosed yard. We got our first egg this morning, and have been told this hen is an avid layer.
Well that is my introduction...
Here is our setup so far: SMALL Coop with one fairly large New Hampshire Red named Chicken Love Hope. Name courtesy of our 5 year old daughter. We have a separate chicken yard and fenced back yard. I am an avid composter and have already explored chicken composting threads, and have the yard set up for this purpose. C-love is already helping out, knocking the pile down to the fences I installed to keep it contained. I am running pine bedding and nesting, with DTE setup for help. We will be free ranging, as possible, but will have to keep an eye out.. as our house backs up to a LARGE nature preserve and we have a larger than average urban predator count.... including a pair of LARGE owls that have always nested in the area above the chicken yard.
Goals: We would like to grow the coop soon to at least three to four, in the same breed for now. So anyone knowing sources for New Hapshires to Austin would be appreciated. I have already found great advice on integrating.. here is hoping it goes well.. I also need a larger coop, and probably an enclosed yard. We got our first egg this morning, and have been told this hen is an avid layer.
Well that is my introduction...
and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your first egg, good luck with your new girl and getting her some friends.
