New to BYC thinking about chickens...

[TwoCrows]

Enjoy all your poultry adventures and it is great to have you aboard!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[Molly Sunshine]

Thanks! We are thinking march or april we will be getting some chickies

 

[gander007]

 

[sunflour]

Hi the hubby and I are thinking of getting a few (2-4) hens for eggs and were wondering what breeds and recommended coop/run size. We veryhave recently moved to a small town and havethe a 100x150 lot and were thinking 10x10 or 10x20threads with supervisedthem yard time.. Thinking of having the compost in with them, idk if that changes requirements as it would add some vertical space. Also just fyi, i have never done forums or threads and idk quite how they work. I am looking through tutorials but tips are helpful!

Re: space, it seems that every source mentions what they would do different includes more space than expected…they really do get larger than I expected. Should have listened to all the great advice of experienced flock masters! One of my books suggested marking off a mock up of the space you plan to build, place 5 gallon buckets to represent full grown pullets inside and see what you think. My coop/run looked large, but once we added the chicken ramp, feeder, waterer, it shrunk. Planning to double their run this spring.

Re: 2-4 hens, experts in the texts describing poultry behavior report that the ideal flock is a minimum of 4 to be Happy Hens…and HH lay more eggs! I have 3 BR and 3 BO's.. since they all started laying we have had only 1 day in 7 months without an egg, 1 day with 6 eggs…and average 3-4 eggs daily even on cold, snow, sleet days without supplemental lights.

Re: which breeds. The other posts listing sites to help select are excellent. Also there are lists of breed personality tendencies, egg production averages that can help you select. I wanted pets who lay and went with the ones reported to be friendly, easy to tend, not flighty, and can live happily in confinement. Also, bought mine from a source that sexes the chicks - 90% accurate, and we luckily selected 6 who turned out to be all pullets.