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As a newbie also you have come to the right place. I spent a good year reading and working on my coop before I got my chickens and the people here are the best chicken people with information. One of the things I've learned is
if you need help, pictures are important

with a good description.
 
Hiya, madlewis6! :welcome

Are you planning on getting your hens as chicks? I did, and because I snuggled and held them every day, my grown up girls crowd at the run's gate in hopes of a treat. I havn't tried getting chickens when they're hens yet... Anyway, I hope that you get a great flock! :jumpy
 
Thank you and I was thinking of doing both. I would like to get at least a couple that are laying already and then incorporate the chicks. Don't know how well that works? This is gonna be for me and my kiddos. They are wanting to do show. I just want healthy hens that lay eggs. :-) That and something to help guide my kids through the process of caring for and learning the what where and how's to raise show animals.
 
I have a small back yard with neighbors on both side. So looking for a quiet flock that can handle a bit of noises. I also have dogs one that might want to play with them. Which I do not want... So any suggestions on the best way to built a coop and what is best to keep other animals out?
 
I live in the city area with neighbors on around. My back yard is about 1/4 an acre and the chicken law here is six chickens, no roosters and the coop must be 20 feet from the house and neighbors home. I put my coop under the trees for afternoon shade and it is somewhat dry during the rainy season. One of the things to keep in mind is ventilation and ease of cleaning. The coop section on BYC helped me out to get an idea of what would work for me and it took me a few months to build my coop. (I am still working on it.) I got my chickens back in April from the 4-H though the feed store and so far it is working out great. There is advice on dogs and predator proofing your coop, just keep looking and reading the top info tabs. I still love to look at the coops that are built. Good luck and have fun
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Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You will definitely want to stop by our learning center for lots of good articles on getting started, raising the chicks, building the coop, and keeping your adult flock happy, healthy and safe from predators...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Enjoy all your poultry adventures and welcome to our flock!
 
madlewis6 said:
Wanting to get some hens for laying. Have no experience so here to learn and get all the info I can get. :-)
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Welcome to BYC! If laying is your sole objective, the best layers (under ideal conditions) are White Leghorns. In 1979, a White Leghorn set the world laying record with 371 eggs in 365 days. However Leghorns are high strung and flighty (mine screamed bloody murder whenever I handled them), and In areas with cold, dark winters, Sex Link hens, which are hybrids, will outlay them and they are friendlier and calmer birds. If you don't want hybrids (as they won't breed true), the best standard, brown egg layers are Black Australorps. They are very hardy, calm and gentle, and excellent layers. Until it was broken in 1979, a Black Australorp held the world's laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days. Mine have never had that kind of production (and likely never will), but I have had a few of my Black Australorps exceed 300 eggs in a year. I would suggest researching these breeds before purchasing them, and a good place to start is BYC's "Breeds" icon at the top of the page. If you want a quick reference in which you can check out a breed's laying rate, MyPetChicken has a good chart at http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx Also Murray McMurray Hatcheries has an excellent "chick selector" in the upper right hand corner of their website at http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html Just be sure if you use it to click on "show more characteristics." Whatever breeds or hybrids you end up getting, good luck with your flock of layers.
 
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Breeds that are docile and good with children include cochins, Silkies, Buff Orpingtons. A lot of breeds also come in Bantam (small size) like cochins - which may be easier for your children to handle.
 

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