Hello! I've been dreaming about the chance to have some chickens of my own for years, now, but never lived any place where I could. Well, we're about to close on a house in Richmond, Indiana! I can't have a big flock there, but three laying hens would be enough to keep my family in eggs most of the year. I'm still in the daydreaming/planning stages, since I can't start building until we actually move in. I hatched an idea to build a couple of 4' x 12' raised garden beds, then build a coop and run to fit on top and switch back and forth each year. If I make the run detachable, it shouldn't be too hard to move them in the early winter months. That'd be a 4x3 coop and a 4x9 run. I plan to use cinder block for the raised bed edges, so I can plant some around the bed in the holes, too. I'm full of thoughts but so new! I need to pick a breed (thinking Sussex, Black Star, or Buff Orps), find or draw up plans for the coop, and decide what, if any, winter cover crops will go on the "chicken bed" this fall. I'd like to have everything ready for some chickens to move in come spring. I have two young boys (6 and 3) who will probably want to help but tend to be boisterous, so I need to factor that into my plans. Anyway. Hello! I'm glad to be here! I'm excited about finally having a chance to get my own chickens!
Hi; so glad you joined BYC. I find this to be a particularly nice on-line community with very helpful members. I bet you will be surprised at how gentle your boys will be with the chicks. Caring for animals teaches kids some very valuable skills. Good luck, I know you will have fun.
Thanks! My main thought is that means I need to pick a sturdy breed that takes handling well. Either that, or runs away from them without getting stressed about it.
You will love having them. Yes, it's a great thing for children to have something like this to work with. I am having fun with the sex link breed for egg production! Eggs! My red sex links have always been friendly, and talkative...they wont' be until they start laying though. I just don't handle them much, and then I just give them a pat on the back when they do start coming around, chatting away. Eggs!
Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you join us. Remember, any breeds can be mixed and matched. Don't be afraid to get one of each! Black Sex Links (aka Black Stars) are my personal favorite common breed. They are productive, friendly, beautiful, and can be sexed with 100% accuracy, so no "oopsters"! They make the perfect backyard bird. That said, there are so many great breeds available, it's crazy to limit yourself to just one!
I would suggest you go larger in coop and run size. What you mention would be adequate but, more room is always better, especially if your area tends to have weather extremes. If the birds were confined to coop due to that, they would be less likely to act out if there is more room to spread out.
