New member never had chickens before (northern Ontario)

[mojoejoe]

Hi all I just moved to the country and am going to get started this spring with some chikens.

I have been reading up on it for quite some time.
I have yet too:
Build a coop.
Decide on the breed.
Figure out how many.
First thoughts I had was dual purpose. Maybe 10 birds.
I thought of buying some ready to lay in the spring (May) get eggs until Dec or Jan and then butcher. Start again the next spring.
Is this realistic?
Any suggestion on breeds? I would like a friendly breed if possible.
Would a 4x8 foot coop be good? With an outside run. I also plan on free ranging them whenever possible, probably a couple of hours a day minimum.
Thanks for any pointers and.or advice

 

[Judy]

My parents used to get chicks every spring and butcher by winter, too. I suspect they thought the birds would not overwinter well, or maybe would die. Nowadays, many or most people keep them year to year, at least a core of a flock, or the best or select birds from last year. Your choice, of course.

Friendliness is more a matter of handling as chicks than of breed. Generally, birds raised by a hatchery will never be friendly. they need to be trained to explore you (your hand, lying in the brooder) when young. Some breeds are flightier than others, but unless you happen to have access to certain breeds of good breeder birds, they are not likel to accept your walking up to them and picking them up.

Chicks are great fun to raise and this can be done outdoors, expecially if you build the coop first and wire it. If you live in a snow area, I'd definitely recommend an 8x8 building with a roof slanted one way, with an open ara at the highest point for ventilation. Simple to build and uses little more materials than a 4x8 -- and you won't regret the space, even for 10 chickens. If you live in a climate like mine, you don't need a f sided building. A 3 sided one with attached "wire room" is more practical.

I'll give you a few of my favorite links. Patandchickens is a Canadian member.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

This style works well anywhere there is not much snow. Chickens have a lot more trouble dealing with heat than cold.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

A bit expensive to build -- but works well, and educational to read about:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter/0_20

Good luck!

 

[gander007]

 

[drumstick diva]

The Learning Center is the best place to start. Good luck on your chicken journey.

You might want to subscribe to "Canadians - check-in-here," thread so you can see what breeds are available to you, and meet some neighbors.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Start with the Learning Center - top of the page- then search the forums and question away. Plan and you will do fine.

 

[TwoCrows]

Some great links have been given to follow. Great to have you aboard and enjoy your new chicken adventures!

 

[mojoejoe]

Thanks you very much for the info and the links. They are all very informative. I learn more about this chicken stuff every day

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[mojoejoe]

Well I have made some decisions

.
Taking into consideration all the great input and advice I ordered 4 ready to lay black sex links and 10 mixed baby chicks.
With the 10 mixed I get 3 or 4 different breeds of dual purpose brown egg layers. I thought this way I would get to experiance some different chicken personalities, and, raise them myself so they would be more friendly. I will also get some different color chicken which will be nice to look at.
The 4 ready to lay will at least get me some eggs while I take care of the 14.
I have also decided to go with the 8x8 coop as suggested.

If you guys have any more good advice I could use it.
When I get the chicks/chickens home there will still be about 2 feet of snow and temps down to about 10 or14 F
I was going to put the chicks in my garage (not heated) with a heat lamp and insulated floor. Is it to cold for that? What about the RTL birds any thoughts on how I could get them used to the colder weather without freezing them to death? I thought maybe in the garage as well with a heat lamp and gradually lower the temperatue over a few weeks and then put them in the coop with a heat lamp or some thing like that.

Thanks

 

[TwoCrows]

Well I have made some decisions

.
Taking into consideration all the great input and advice I ordered 4 ready to lay black sex links and 10 mixed baby chicks.
With the 10 mixed I get 3 or 4 different breeds of dual purpose brown egg layers. I thought this way I would get to experiance some different chicken personalities, and, raise them myself so they would be more friendly. I will also get some different color chicken which will be nice to look at.
The 4 ready to lay will at least get me some eggs while I take care of the 14.
I have also decided to go with the 8x8 coop as suggested.

If you guys have any more good advice I could use it.
When I get the chicks/chickens home there will still be about 2 feet of snow and temps down to about 10 or14 F
I was going to put the chicks in my garage (not heated) with a heat lamp and insulated floor. Is it to cold for that? What about the RTL birds any thoughts on how I could get them used to the colder weather without freezing them to death? I thought maybe in the garage as well with a heat lamp and gradually lower the temperatue over a few weeks and then put them in the coop with a heat lamp or some thing like that.

Thanks

Because you are still in the depths of winter, your heated garage may not be the best place to brood your chicks. What will happen is that over night as the temps drop outside, so will your brooder temp. If the night time temp drops 20 degrees from the day time temp, so can your brooder temp. So it is best to brood in a heated area where the air temp remains stable.

As for the older birds, if they are fairly acclimated to cold temps, say 20 degrees, they can probably handle 10 or 14 degrees F. If they come from an area that has never gotten below freezing, then yes, you can gradually get them acclimated in the garage, lowing their temp ever few days by 5 degrees.