New member and soon to be chicken owner

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Egg Basket.jpg I started with 6 chicks and 2 started pullets
 
I started with chicks, then added an older laying hen and am hoping for an egg someday. But I'm not in a hurry for eggs. I'm enjoying my pullets but it seems longer to the time i can expect a full compliment of layers. And i have quail. And I'm getting bantams as chicks next Monday which will include my first roo.

A good thing is to save some excitement for next year, lol.
 
Either way you're gonna have a great time. ;)

I'd personally start with chicks, but that's because:
1. I love them as babies and I wouldn't want to miss out on that stage
2. I feel like bonding is easier if they know you from 2 or 3 days old
3. As long as you're buying sexed chicks you'll probably end up with the genders you want. No, sexing isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. All of my chicks were sexed correctly.
4. THEY'RE SO CUUUUUUUUUTE!!! :love:love:love
 
:frow
Hi, Joe, welcome to the hensanity! Here is my response to your query:

We were blessed to have a crazy chicken lady in our church who was willing to give us 8 or 10 of her older "ladies" to get us started. She had close to 100 and likes to buy at least 25 or 50 chicks every spring, a true victim of "chicken math," so we were actually helping her out by making room for more in her coops! That was 8 years ago. We bought a few more from other sources, lost a few to old age, sickness, and predators, and our flock has varied between 8 and 25 birds at different times.

Our hens hatched out some babies last year and 4 survived (hawks), and they were so much fun that this year we ordered baby chicks for the first time. They are nearly 4 months old now and should start laying soon. We bought a storage shed as a coop and built fences for them. It hasn't been cheap, lol!

I recommend that as a beginner you start with pullets or older hens. Baby chicks are fragile and vulnerable. You will suffer losses and could become discouraged. Older, started birds are much hardier and more forgiving of a rookie's mistakes as you learn. As another poster said, you'll have a blast. But you'll also learn and gain confidence. You'll get eggs and feel successful. And then, in a year or so, you'll be eager - and ready - to try your hand at raising babies.

That was our experience, anyway. For what it's worth! Either way, welcome to BYC and good luck! Enjoy the journey!
 

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