Hello there, I'm Lisa. I live in Binghamton, NY with my husband & our six children. My family and I are finally taking the plunge & adding chickens to our household. I've been lurking for a while & I'm eternally to all the amazing information I have viewed from everyone. I've learned so much already. I'm so excited to get started on our chicken adventure.
Welcome! Good luck on your adventure! Chickens are a joy to have and I hope you have the best experience possible. There is a ny state threadyou might consider joining and meeting folks around you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/231485/ny-chicken-lover
Welcome to BYC, Lisa! Glad you decided to join our flock. A lot of us were lurkers before joining. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. What kind of chickens are you getting?
Thanks everyone We are looking at cold weather hardy breeds. Our winters are pretty tough here. It's hard to choose because all 6 of my children have their favorites. I think we've narrowed it down to Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpington, Golden or Silver Laced Wyandotte, Easter Egger and my youngest is begging for a Silkie. Not a lot but I think perfect for us. Any advice on what breeds are better, especially with one another? We're also debating raising them from chicks or getting them local at 17 weeks. My husband is working on the area for our coop and plans have been selected. I can't wait until construction begins. We are all pretty excited. It's all anyone talks about. My husband seems to think adding chickens to our home is my way of dealing with my own empty nest since our oldest is leaving for the Navy LOL
Those are all cold hardy breeds, especially the Orpingtons and Wyandottes which are on Alaska Backyard Chickens list of 8 recommended breeds for Alaska. One other breed you might want to consider that is also on Alaska's Backyard Chicken list of recommended breeds in the Black Australorp. They are extremely hardy, both in cold and heat. I've raised them both in northern Kansas where the temperatures dropped to 30 F below zero one winter and in CA where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F once) and in both extremes, they came through like troopers. In addition, they are calm and gentle, and the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. Whatever breeds you end up getting, good luck with your flock.
Pleased to meet you. I think your youngest would love a silkie, they are generally docile and kids love them. Some even allow themselves to be dressed up and pushed in strollers. They also make good housepets - hint , hint, that way you could have your outside chickens and your inside chicken - so you won't get withdrawal symptoms. Doesn't that make sense? There is a very good thread on BYC called "people with housechickens."