New to chickens

[Outta Here]

Hello,
My name is Laurie and I am new to keeping chickens. I live in a rural area and I have neighbors all around that have chickens and some of them let them free range. Of course no one claims the free range ones so I got a coop and with the help of some neighbors I caught a couple of chicks (there must be about 40 roaming around). I am keeping them in the coop for about a week and then I will let them free range too. I ordered a coop that I thought would be big enough for 4 chickens but it is much smaller than I thought it would be. I'm already working on ideas for another coop so when they get bigger I can move them out and catch some more babies for the smaller coop. I have no idea what variety they are and we are really just wanting them for their eggs and to keep the bugs down that keep eating my garden.

Welcome to the forum--ain't chickens grand?? I hate to offer a caution right off the bat, but I am a wee bit concerned about the idea that free range chickens are free to anyone. Free range cattle are most certainly not, nor any other livestock that is allowed to legally roam free (in open range zoning). In fact, keeping them in your barn or pen would be theft, even if they wandered in on their own.
Most free range chickens will return to their owner's coop at night. I guess if I were you, I would put up a sign in your neighborhood and call all your neighbors to ask whether they are missing the couple of chicks you have locked in your coop. If nobody claims them, wonderful! You have the beginning of a flock! If their owner doesn't want to give them to you, there are wonderful mail-order hatcheries online, and usually Tractor Supply has chicks for sale all summer.
I wish you well with your adventure in chicken raising!

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Hi! welcome to BYC!

 

[Ruby Rogue]