Newbie looking for advice before taking the "leap"...

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Eggcessive]

You are very smart to learn about chickens and coops before getting them. There is a Learning Center at the top of the page that is full of information about everything chicken. You especially need to read the baby chicks section before getting them, so you know what supplies to get and how to care for them. Build your own coop or hire someone to do it--much less expensive, and you can do it as you need. Be sure and put window for lots of ventilation--yes, even in winter. You can always cover them partially with plastic if needed, but in summer they will heat up. Make a coop and a run for your chickens, then you can let them out in the yard to free range just before sunset, and they will go back in on their own at dusk, and your grass will be saved. Get you chickens from a reputable source--feedstore, hatchery, or a local breeder of good reputation, so you don't end up with sick chickens to ruin your experience. Buy sexed chicks so you don't end up with roosters. Buy at least 5 so in case one dies, you won't be short on chicks--it is hard to add chickens later without issues. Townline has a breed called ISA Browns, and they are egg laying machines and very friendly calm and inquisitive chickens. Otherwise I would get some different breeds and colors, maybe an Easter Egger for blue green eggs. Meyer hatchery in northern Ohio has an excellent website for looking at what each breed looks like, their temperament, how many eggs they lay, and they also will sell as few as 3 chicks. They will also let you drive up and get them. Online sites such as MyPetChicken buy many of theirs from Meyer, so you cut out the middleman.

 

[newchic2013]

Thank you all for your help! How are the "easter eggers" temperments? Are they good eating eggs as well? I was thinking going with 3 to start. Is that a reasonable number to easily maintain? I already have 2 kids, 2 dogs (both goldendoodles 1 is a standard at 50# and does chase birds and one is a mini at 12# and will likely run the first time she's pecked), 2 cats (indoor only) and lots of fish so I really dont want to be swimming in chicken poop. is 3 super doable? I've checked out all the forums you've mentioned and went to a local elevator and looked around and got ideas for pricing and such. I still clearly have a lot of reading to do.