New to BYC & Considering Chickens

[errs]

Hello All,

I've been reading through the forums and other sections this past week and decided it was finally time to register. I'll be moving from my suburban postage stamp yard to 5 acres within a month. While complaining about the increase in bugs and small rodents, somebody suggested that I get some chickens as they'll eat just about anything.

I have to admit I'm a bit leery about chickens. My memories of chickens & gathering eggs as a child at my aunt's farm 30+ years ago are not exactly pleasant. I mostly remember the smell and how nasty the chickens were. However, I'm hoping that with the right breed, I'll get some eggs and organic pest control. I'll be browsing a bit more and then start asking some questions as I make my final decision. (The husband is on board with whatever, as long as he gets to build the coop).

Regards,

Erika

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined. Chickens are the great bug eaters.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
First of all

Buff Orpingtons are a good breed to have around! They will go broody alot ( hatch out chicks ) they're good mothers. They lay large brown eggs and they lay alot of them, too! I really like them because in winter time you can stick a heat lamp in their coop and they will lay all winter long! It helps me bacause I can sale eggs in winter to help pay for their feed! They are very friendly, and just pleasent to be around! I haven't had any agressives roos yet. Or you might like a Bantam! If you want bantams, then the cochins are good! If you have any questions, fill free to pm me or what ever!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

You WILL get poop on your fingers!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OH MY! I can't understand people who think chickens are nasty LOL I am IN LOVE with mine and trust me, if someone told me three years ago that I would have chickens I would NEVER believed them. I thought the same thing...nasty, smelly etc...but they aren't at all! I clean my coop once a year (YEP thats it) and I do the deep litter method (do a search on it and you will find many things on it) and they don't smell AT ALL as long as you go with the 3-4 feet per SQ inch per chicken. If you overload your hen house thats when it gets nasty. ALL I do is add a bag of pine shaving every month and that's it. Gets cleaned out every spring VERY well and we start again

Your going to fall in love with your fuzz butts!

WELCOME To the insanity! MWAHAHAHAHA

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

from Alabama

 

[M To The Maxx]

 

[Dar]

your aunts chickens may not have been very clean which is why they smelled...

my coop does not smell... yes there is poop but i keep my coop clean so no smell..

I love my chickens for the pest control. When we moved in we had a really bad problem with carpenter ants. One summer was all that took.

 

[melody]

As with any animal I believe it's how you treat them. Years ago people never thought you could love or cuddle a chicken and granted maybe not every chicken you can. If you raise your chickens as chicks they will learn to trust you and will gladly give up their eggs and some will proudly do so. I was a bit afraid to get chickens four years ago, today I could not think of not having them. Learn as much as you can, get yourself set up and enjoy the chicken life

 

[savingdogs]

We moved to the country a year and a half ago from the city to five acres, so we are just a little ahead of you.

Go for the chickens! They are more fun than we realized they would be. Ours are very friendly! The eggs are the best eggs I've eaten in my life and everyone loves them. They make great gifts and we also sell enough to make up for the cost of their feed pretty much.

We did not realize they would be entertaining however, especially in the warmer months when we can be outside enjoying them. During the winter it is a little bit more work in our climate but we moved here to be outdoors, not to stay inside the house all the time!