New Member, pre-chicken, need advice

[Kinzkey]

Hello! I'm pretty excited to be here! You can call me Kinzkey (pronounced kinz-KEY, like what you call family + )

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am so new to chickens! I've raised a pet rabbit, as the closest experience I have to chickens. Really trying to find out if chickens are right for me!

(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Zero! I'm thinking maybe 3 or 4. We live in the suburbs and aren't allowed many by zoning laws.

(3) What breeds do you have?
I really need advice on the best hot weather chickens. The last thing I want is to lose 4 pullets to 110°+ heat in the summer.

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I want to raise chickens for eggs and have them for gardening! I'm vegetarian, so I'm not planning on eating my feathered friends.

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love to craft and paint. I keep failing at gardening, but I keep trying!

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I have 2 indoor only cats and a husband with asthma and scoliosis, so chicken raising will be a just-me activity. I am disabled and have trouble getting out of bed, some days, so it's possible that raising chickens isn't for me. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ Regardless, I want to be as self-sufficient as I can be.

(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I've known about this community for a few years, but haven't been ready to ask serious questions until now.

 

[andreefs]

I live where it gets hot also, but the chickens do fine. I let them have the whole back yard but they are going to be confined to a run when I finish it. It is addictive to own chickens, have seven and 10 more coming this week. If you have a racoon problem make sure they are secure at night. I started with 6 silkies but 4 were male, then I incubated 6 but 5 turned out to be male! I finally bought 6 females from Tractor Supply (where I ordered 10 from because they received 130 and were gone before I had a chance to get them)

 

[BantyChooks]

Welcome to BYC! You may wish to look into automatic pop doors, automatic feeders, and nipple waterers to help you keep the flock safe and fed on days you struggle with getting out to care for them. Best of luck with your research.

 

[Down Under]

Hi Kinzkey, welcome to BYC.

I have found this article to be pretty accurate for breeds that can handle the heat more than others: https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/hot-climate-chicken-breeds unfortunately there is only one breed on the list that would not be a complete nightmare for a beginner and that would be the Naked Neck (Turken). The other option you have for hot weather is hybrids/sex links https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/sex-link-chickens as their own well being is a second thought if a thought at all so if they do manage to kill themselves they are usually cheap and easy to replace.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, Kinzkey and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC, Kinzkey!

 

[Jenbirdee]

 

[N F C]

Hi Kinzkey, glad to meet you! It might be helpful to you to chat with other members in your general locale, here is a link to take you to the state (and country) threads: State and Country Threads Members that share your climate can be a great source for what works best.

Good luck to you, keep us posted on how things go!

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi Kinzkey, welcome to BYC. There are tons of ideas to help keep a flock cool and they are very simple. I live in the Phoenix area of AZ and it is HOT here, but chickens manage. Good luck on your new adventure!

 

[muddy75]