New to backyard chickens

[Talk_to_shawkey]

Welcome to BYC!! How has your experience been so far?

Thank you. The chicks grow so quickly. We also got 4 ducklings that seem to grow even faster. The ducks are very messy, I think I prefer the chicks .

 

[Talk_to_shawkey]

Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC.

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!)

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.

Thank you. I will look into some of this information.

 

[Talk_to_shawkey]

Welcome. Fill out your general location in your profile. We don't need your mailing address but general location could help us later on if you have an area specific question.

I would, but I don't know how to access my profile.

 

[DobieLover]

I would, but I don't know how to access my profile.

Click on your "avatar or username" at the top right of your screen then click on "account details":

Scroll down until you find "Location" then fill in the information in the window and click "Save".

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Enjoy your new babies, this is a fun stage in chicken keeping, they grow so fast!

Make yourself at home here and welcome aboard!