New here

[Jenbirdee]

welcome to BYC! You came to the right place… there are lots of great brains here to be picked.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens! I've heard it said, "You can take them from the farm, but you can't take the farm out of them." It definitely sounds like you are living that. Enjoy your flock and make yourself at home here!

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC! Glad to have you in this poultry loving community.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Good luck with your city flock.

 

[triciayoung]

Welcome to BYC

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. First, be sure your city allows chickens! The simple thing, if you haven't already done this, is to call city hall, or its equivalent. Many states are passing right to farm laws, so that may help you out! You are at such a fun stage, just planning and choosing. Have fun and best wishes!

If you can keep chickens, Yay! If not, or even if so, consider also coturnix quail. They are small, lay eggs and are delectable. I have both chickens and quail, and have found that even if my city has limits on chickens, quail fly (hah!) under their radar, and are not under any limits. The other nice thing is that quail tend to be quieter than chickens. Even the cocks' "crow" sounds a lot like a songbird, so you're less likely to get hassle from neighbors.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

Chicken articles

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops (you'd be surprised at how many predators you will find even in a city!)

5. Pickin' the Right Frickin' Chicken (choosing breeds)

6. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.


Quail articles

Coturnix Care

Incubating Coturnix and Beginners Guide to Hatching Quail

Quail Diseases and prevention

Man, they are CUTE little birds. They come in lots of other colors and patterns, but the Egyptian or Pharaoh pattern is one that you can tell in a young bird whether you have a male or female. There are a few breeds of chickens with similar patterns that let you know early on the gender.

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

Hi y'all. I new here and to chickens. I live in the city so this is definitely a challenge. I love farming so when we moved here, well, I didn't change. This is how I make a living. But with egg, soil, and basically everything going up, I decided to try something new. And I had been a fun challenge. Well it's nice to meet all of you, and I look forward to picking your brains.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THUS AMAZING COMMUNITY!!!!!!! may I ask... What breeds do you keep or are planning to keep? Living in the city I'd suggest breeds like Sebrights or Seramas! But quail are also an amazing little bird to keep!!! And coturnix quail lay everyday!!!!!! I'm sure you'll fit in here very well!!!!!

 

[N F C]

It's nice to meet you, make yourself at home here!

 

[Tookie]

Hello! Welcome to BYC.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! It's nice to meet you! Please make yourself at home here!