Newbie with Chicks on the way!!

[Firk07]

Greetings BYC!! I've been lurking for a little while and figured it was time to introduce myself.
I am a total newbie to chickens, and livestock in general. I live in rural northern Wisconsin, and am in the process of becoming a little more self sufficient. Chickens seemed like the next logical step! I have ordered 6 chicks from http://www.sunnysidehatchery.com/ I got 4 of their "Browns" coming and 2 Sagitta. I think the Browns are actually RIR's but I'm not sure. My bf said I can use our old wood shed for a coop and have a 50 gal tote for a brooder. All that's left to get is the feed and bedding, and I'll wait until a little closer to the chick arrival for that (April 8th).
Any "I wish I knew before I started" or "Little known facts" would be very helpful! I can wait to learn more about these feathered friends.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

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

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join to our flock. A lot of us were lurkers before joining. ) Actually "Browns" is the label under which Sunnyside markets their Red Sex Links, which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen. Not only can the resulting offspring be sexed by color from hatching, but they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. Other labels under which Red Sex Links are marketed by various hatcheries includes Brown Sex Link, Bovans Brown, Isa Brown, Shaver Brown, Babcock Brown, Lohman's Brown, Brown Shaver, Red Star, Gold Star, Cinnamon Queen, Golden Buff, Golden Comet, Hubbard's Golden Comet, Bovans Goldline, etc. You should get loads of eggs from those girls. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

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

Great info from @Michael OShay

Glad you joined!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm glad you joined our "flock".

I hope your chicks all arrive safely! I would be sure to check out the Learning Center for lots of good articles on raising chicks: Learning Center Articles

 

[Firk07]

Thanks for that great info!!! I was wondering what the browns really were. I've read almost everything in the raising chicks learning section. Now I'm just (not so) patiently waiting for the chicks to show up and put what I've learned to good use. I do wonder if the coop I plan to build will be too big. Like I said, I have 6 chicks coming and the plan for the coop will be a 8'x8' about 6' tall. I don't think it will cause an issue in warm weather, but I'm not sure if only 6 ladies will be able to keep that large of an area warm when we hit the -20* mark. I should probably make a post in the coop section.

 

[woodlandsprite]

Welcome to BYC...I'm also a newbie to chick raising....I'm having fun poking around the forums...Best of luck when your chicks arrive.....

 

[leilanio]

Welcome to the best resource for all things chicken!

I find I can literally spend hours on this site hopping around and reading how to do better for the girls.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks for that great info!!! I was wondering what the browns really were. I've read almost everything in the raising chicks learning section. Now I'm just (not so) patiently waiting for the chicks to show up and put what I've learned to good use. I do wonder if the coop I plan to build will be too big. Like I said, I have 6 chicks coming and the plan for the coop will be a 8'x8' about 6' tall. I don't think it will cause an issue in warm weather, but I'm not sure if only 6 ladies will be able to keep that large of an area warm when we hit the -20* mark. I should probably make a post in the coop section.

You're welcome.