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dphaller

In the Brooder
Feb 10, 2023
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I'm so new to raising chickens that I haven't even gotten them yet. I'm ordering a chicken tractor for my backyard farm (3/4 acre) early next week and am looking for chickens. I'd like to get 3-5 barred Plymouth Rock laying hens because they're hardy in winter. I had chickens when I was growing up (55 years ago) on a farm but haven't had them since. I want to gather an egg or two in the morning and eat it fresh for breakfast or lunch. I want to show my grandkids the glory of raising some kinds of farm animals, and I want my Airbnb guests to enjoy a little of the country life in a small town.

Other hobbies of mine are: gardening, reading, biking, hiking, swimming, and playing with my grandkids. I just retired from teaching high school special ed, and I plan to spend more time than ever on my little farm/yard. I look forward to moving my chickens daily and to seeing how it helps to fertilize my lawn. I have four grown children and three (soon to be four) grandchildren.

I've been looking online for places to get mature, egg-laying hens, and I came across this website from a post on Facebook. I decided that joining this community can only help. I need all the support I can get. :)
 
Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. Retirement is excellent and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. You will enjoy Plymouth Rocks, which are excellent birds, and are winter hardy and often go on laying through the winter. Be careful about the size of your tractor and also read some of the attached articles on predator protection.

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)

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. (are you where winter is starting??) 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.
 
Boppo said:
Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. Retirement is excellent and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. You will enjoy Plymouth Rocks, which are excellent birds, and are winter hardy and often go on laying through the winter. Be careful about the size of your tractor and also read some of the attached articles on predator protection.

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)

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. (are you where winter is starting??) 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.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for this support! I am getting a chicken tractor that I can move daily. My 3/4 acre yard has lots of shade and is fairly flat. I may end up putting chicken wire on the bottom to keep out predators, but I have to read more about that. I look forward to reading these articles. Thanks again!
 
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dphaller said:
I'm so new to raising chickens that I haven't even gotten them yet. I'm ordering a chicken tractor for my backyard farm (3/4 acre) early next week and am looking for chickens. I'd like to get 3-5 barred Plymouth Rock laying hens because they're hardy in winter. I had chickens when I was growing up (55 years ago) on a farm but haven't had them since. I want to gather an egg or two in the morning and eat it fresh for breakfast or lunch. I want to show my grandkids the glory of raising some kinds of farm animals, and I want my Airbnb guests to enjoy a little of the country life in a small town.

Other hobbies of mine are: gardening, reading, biking, hiking, swimming, and playing with my grandkids. I just retired from teaching high school special ed, and I plan to spend more time than ever on my little farm/yard. I look forward to moving my chickens daily and to seeing how it helps to fertilize my lawn. I have four grown children and three (soon to be four) grandchildren.

I've been looking online for places to get mature, egg-laying hens, and I came across this website from a post on Facebook. I decided that joining this community can only help. I need all the support I can get. :)
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!!
 

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