- Jan 5, 2013
- 112
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Hi folks. I'm brand new here, and almost brand new to keeping poultry--the last time I had chickens of my own was 20 years ago when I was a kid. A friend on facebook (Hi, Elena!) recommended that I join. I have some elementary and probably stupid questions.
I am recently moving into a new house and I'd like to get a couple birds for the back yard. I'm having trouble choosing which birds to get, though, because I know so little about the day-to-day practicalities of keeping them. I want to do everything right, but there's so much information out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed...
So far I've been thinking of a couple bantam chickens, a couple Coturnix quail, or a couple of bantam ducks. I'm not hardpressed on any of those so if there's another suggestion you have, I'd love to hear.
I plan to get only hens, and eat the eggs although eggs are not the biggest concern for me. I basically want a couple of birds because they're pretty--even if they didn't produce eggs. I also prefer smaller animals, but I'm not committed to that, either, so if there's a larger variety that you think I'd like, let me know! OK, my questions:
1) Which birds are the quietest? (I know that all birds make noise, but I'm curious as to whether there's a difference in noise level between species.)
2) Which are the easiest to care for in Kentucky (where we have 25 degree winters and 100+ degree summers)?
3) If I get chickens, I plan to let them out of their habitat (which I am going to build) sometimes to forage in the yard. I'm pretty sure I can do this with ducks, right? Can I do this with quail?
4) This is probably the stupidest question I have--what's the difference between a coop, a run, a cage, a tractor, a yard, and all the other names I see called places where chickens are kept? Are they all different names for the same thing?
5) Anything else you think I need to know--I'm all ears!
Thank you! <3
I am recently moving into a new house and I'd like to get a couple birds for the back yard. I'm having trouble choosing which birds to get, though, because I know so little about the day-to-day practicalities of keeping them. I want to do everything right, but there's so much information out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed...
So far I've been thinking of a couple bantam chickens, a couple Coturnix quail, or a couple of bantam ducks. I'm not hardpressed on any of those so if there's another suggestion you have, I'd love to hear.
I plan to get only hens, and eat the eggs although eggs are not the biggest concern for me. I basically want a couple of birds because they're pretty--even if they didn't produce eggs. I also prefer smaller animals, but I'm not committed to that, either, so if there's a larger variety that you think I'd like, let me know! OK, my questions:
1) Which birds are the quietest? (I know that all birds make noise, but I'm curious as to whether there's a difference in noise level between species.)
2) Which are the easiest to care for in Kentucky (where we have 25 degree winters and 100+ degree summers)?
3) If I get chickens, I plan to let them out of their habitat (which I am going to build) sometimes to forage in the yard. I'm pretty sure I can do this with ducks, right? Can I do this with quail?
4) This is probably the stupidest question I have--what's the difference between a coop, a run, a cage, a tractor, a yard, and all the other names I see called places where chickens are kept? Are they all different names for the same thing?
5) Anything else you think I need to know--I'm all ears!
Thank you! <3
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from Highland County Ohio!!! There is no such thing as a stupid question on here! 1) You can go to this link and read reviews on breeds to see which ones are right for you. 
