New to dyi chickens and coops!

[mariaG]

Hello everyone...I'm Maria and lived on a working farm growing up and want to get back into it on a much smaller scale...what to start with chickens first because they are interesting to watch and eggs are one of my husband's favorite eats...
But not sure how to start...going to build coop first,but how big should it be?, then...
Should I hatch chicks or buy hens already laying? And where should I buy them?
Just thought I could get some insight from the experts

 

[N F C]

Hi Maria,

Your questions should be pretty well covered by articles in the Learning Center:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

A lot about raising chickens has to do with what works best for you. Coop size is dictated by things like how many chickens do you want, how much do you want to spend building it (or having it built), how much land are you willing to put toward it, etc. Whether you hatch chicks, buy chicks or buy pullets...again, it depends on what works for you. There are quite a few places to get chickens; online hatcheries, swap meets, feed stores, other members on BYC.

Maybe once you see some of the Learning Center articles, it will help you narrow down what it is you want.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[drumstick diva]

Nice to meet you Maria, Welcome to Backyard chickens. Rule of thumb is to allow 4-5 sq. feet per bird inside the coop (excluding roosts and nest boxes) . Allow 10 sq.feet per bird in the outside run. A run cover is generally a very good idea. Wire ones will keep flock inside, and raptors outside. A solid top can provide some shade/ and protection from rain, sleet, snow .

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. X2 on the coop dimensions that drumstick diva gave you. I personally prefer purchasing chicks to older pullets for the following three reasons. First, chicks are much more readily available at a much cheaper price. Second, there is a much larger breeds selection of chicks available. Third, you can easily tame the chicks by giving them treats and holding them as they grow up. Older pullets can be very skittish and difficult to tame depending on how they were raised. X2 on NorthFlChick; if you haven't done so already, definitely check out our Learning Center. There is lots of useful information there. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Cheers.

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC Maria. I'd suggest making the coop a lot bigger than the flock you originally plan for, because chicken maths is a chronic condition that we all suffer from

.

Good luck with your plans

CT

 

[NickyKnack]

Hello!

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to join the BYC family. I look forward to seeing you around BYC.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!