New Homesteader here.

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Ken Raz

Hatching
Jan 20, 2021
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Hello all,

I'm new to raising chickens and have many questions. I’ve had some leghorns once at our last house but the coons found them and took them out. we know have moved to a more rural location and have about 10 acre as to play with. Some of it floods in the spring, but I have plenty of room to set up a coup for layers and a chicken tractor for meat birds. I have hawks and eagles around so free ranging not a option.
can you recommend any breeds and hatcheries to purchase from. I’m thinking to get the chicks end of March or early April . I’m in Northwest Indiana and have a large out building I can get them started in. What am I forgetting? Remember I know absolutely nothing and would rather learn from your mistakes.
thanks in advance.

ken
 
Hi Ken! Welcome.

Here are some things to think about. How many chickens do you plan to have? Figure at least 4 square feet per bird in the coop. Figure at least 10 square feet per bird in an enclosed run. Even your meat chickens will need a coop to go into at night, for security. I don't know of any reason why they can't share a coop with your layer flock, but maybe someone else will have an opinion on that.

When you say "tractor," I think of an enclosure for chickens to be in during the day. It might be pretty difficult to make one secure enough for birds to stay in it overnight. Usually, tractors are moveable, so that chickens can be moved to new places of grass to forage for bugs, eat greens, etc.

You said you have some flooding in the spring. Keep your run away from that area! A wet run makes for a smelly mess, not to mention more chances for sickness and disease.

There is a wealth of knowledge here. Start reading articles, read through threads, ask questions. Someone will have an answer or a suggestion.

Good luck and enjoy the community.
 

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