New Member with a Love for Chickens

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Kristy21859

In the Brooder
Mar 26, 2023
4
37
21
Marquette, MI
Hi y'all! I'm new to the group, but I have been watching a referencing the forum for years. Thanks again for everyone's discussion. I'm excited to be a part of this community and looking forward to getting to know you all. I'm based out of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so if you have any recommendations on winter hardy birds, let me know! Have a great one!
 
Kristy21859 said:
Hi y'all! I'm new to the group, but I have been watching a referencing the forum for years. Thanks again for everyone's discussion. I'm excited to be a part of this community and looking forward to getting to know you all. I'm based out of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so if you have any recommendations on winter hardy birds, let me know! Have a great one!
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Welcome to BYC!!
 
Glad to meet you, Kristy, and welcome to BYC. Besides the list that Tonya (DobieLover) gave you from upstate NY, here is a handy guide for selecting breeds. I like it because it has a table that lets you look at different characteristics, cold-hardiness and temperament, and egg laying capacity among them. The one thing it lacks is a note about which breeds tend to lay eggs through the winter. Here is a list about that, and a discussion among our members about winter laying breeds.

And to help you get ready,
Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

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

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Winter chicken care

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.
 

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