New Chicken mom!

[Kebrea81]

Hey hey!! New chicken momma here!! And live in Central Florida! Just wanting about 4/6 hens and have a full fenced in backyard! Wondering which breeds are better more for pets and possibly eggs. Also any tips on keeping snakes and other predators like spiders away from coop?

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens, And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska! The Best of Luck with your Plans. Here's a link to the Learning Center lot's of Great Info,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/learning-center.11/

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
Any breed should be good for a pet.
Take your pick.

1/2" hardware cloth EVERYTHING to keep snakes out.
Permethrin should keep spiders away too.

 

[Logar]

Welcome to BYC! It is great to have you here!

My barred rock is for sure my friendliest chicken but Orpingtons, Brahmas, EEs, marans, speckled Sussex, and australorps are also known for being friendly and decent layers. As for snakes just keep your food secure so mice can’t get to them. And spiders can’t do anything to chickens so there is no need to worry about them.

 

[muddy75]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

 

[Kebrea81]

Welcome to BYC! It is great to have you here!

My barred rock is for sure my friendliest chicken but Orpingtons, Brahmas, EEs, marans, speckled Sussex, and australorps are also known for being friendly and decent layers. As for snakes just keep your food secure so mice can’t get to them. And spiders can’t do anything to chickens so there is no need to worry about them.

We have black widows and recluse spiders one killed my rabbit before.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC and good luck with your plans!

 

[Themellowyellows]

Hi! All breeds are great and beautiful! Welcome! Try to stay away from Sex links, they are constantly egging and can have problems in the future. You should tottaly reserch and make a chicken first aid box, maybe even get a book on chicken health. Make sure they always have girt and oyster shell flakes, when they get to about 2 months put a table spoon of apple cider viniger in there water and maybe even squish a garlic! Hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!!

A few years ago we had spider issues in our basement, as in they took over. We bought this stuff. It combats them for a year. It's pet and child safe after it dries. It must last more than a year as that was 5 years ago and we've never had issues since.