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TheAntman

TheAntman

Chirping
Jun 20, 2023
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Hello fellow chicken lovers

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?

I'm hoping to get chickens in the future

(2) How many chickens do you have right now?

None

(3) What breeds do you have?

N/A

(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?

Fresh eggs abd the enjoyment of watching them run about the yard.

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?

I'm a huge animal lover, I love taking pictures of grasshoppers and butterflies, and my neighbor has bunnies and chickens so I love helping her out whenever needed.

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.

We have a lovely family dog 🐕 ❤️

(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :D

I found BYC when I was researching about chickens online, I knew about it for about a month before finally deciding to join thus wonderful community. ☺️
 
Welcome to BYC. You are at such an exciting and fun stage, just starting out. Best wishes! Here is a terrific article, Pickin the Right Frickin Chicken that helpfully lists major important features of different breeds. You need to be aware that there are 2 broad classes of chickens: those raised for meat, and those raised mostly for eggs. There is a 3rd group that does both well, dual purpose breeds. Choosing a breed that can be more accurately sexed at hatching gives you better control if you can't have roosters. But the some of the "auto sexing" breeds are also bred to be extremely high egg producers. That can be a plus, but it's hard on the birds, and they tend to live shorter lives.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, 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. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

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:
Welcome to BYC. You are at such an exciting and fun stage, just starting out. Best wishes! Here is a terrific article, Pickin the Right Frickin Chicken that helpfully lists major important features of different breeds. You need to be aware that there are 2 broad classes of chickens: those raised for meat, and those raised mostly for eggs. There is a 3rd group that does both well, dual purpose breeds. Choosing a breed that can be more accurately sexed at hatching gives you better control if you can't have roosters. But the some of the "auto sexing" breeds are also bred to be extremely high egg producers. That can be a plus, but it's hard on the birds, and they tend to live shorter lives.

Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. I hope you will find them helpful as well. All articles are short, 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. Gardening for chickens

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

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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Thank you for all the helpful information!
 

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