Newbie in Vermont

[pathwandering]

Hi all,
I live in a tiny house in the woods of Vermont, and am super excited to finally be able to get chickens again. (Had them growing up.) I found a used Eglu cube on craigslist, and I will be getting birds this summer. Trying to settle on breeds etc. I am really looking for eggs, birds that will eat ticks, winter hardy and have nice personalities so my daughter can enjoy them and not be afraid of them. I'm leaning towards bantams since I've heard that they will lay for longer into their lives (because I know I'll probably become to attached to kill them after their productivity declines), forage well and can fly, so I'd be more comfortable free-ranging them during the day. BUT I have a lot of questions, despite reading somewhat obsessively over several months.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You will want to start with some reading in our learning center. Lots of great articles on all the aspects of keeping poultry...

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

As for breeds, lots of nice breeds out there. Take a look at these two breeds pages. There is lots of quick info on the breeds and their attributes and hardiness...

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great links to check out. Good luck with your flock planning, and nice score on the used coop!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!

SO HAPPY YOU'VE JOINED US!!

Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great advice! Best of luck on your poultry adventures.

 

[gander007]

 

[pathwandering]

Thanks everyone!
Those were some great links - great visuals.
I think now that I'd like to try about 6 bantams - Orpingtons, Wyandotte and Plymouth Rock if I can find them. In the end it will probably come down to what can I find about the same age at the same time. Originally I had thought I would do fewer full-size but it seems like since I don't actually plan on eating the birds themselves bantams might be a better fit. Plus I'm thinking they could probably free range more safely in the woods that I live in since they can still fly? I'm sure that question has been asked many times - in my searching I've found different opinions.
But this is a great site! Happy to be here.