North Carolina

[angiegirl]

welcome Angie! you have any birds yet?

Hi Pricefamilyfarms... No I do not have any birds yet. I want some chicks really bad , but I am trying to get all my research done first. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now and not sure where to go or do next!!!

 

[PriceFamilyFarms]

I will offer two suggestions before you get your chicks...

1. Have your brooder ready and supplies purchased before you bring them home.

2. Plan to build your coop and run before they arrive. I was going to take my time building ours and then we got rain, then it rained again then got busy with family stuff and farm stuff. Needless to say, my girls were 6 weeks old before the even got to spend the night in the coop...I would go down to the basement to find them roosting on the top edge of the brooder.

 

[angiegirl]

Thanks Pricefamilyfarms !!
I have what I call a run about ready, I am just debating on coop. The run is actually an old dog lot that we are adding chicken wire on top of the original wire and trying to decide about using the old dog house as the coop, but not really sure it would work. Maybe build the coop on top of the dog .. Just don't know enough about chickens to know what wil work. Any suggestions?

 

[PriceFamilyFarms]

dog runs make good runs. You'll have to decide how many birds you plan to get first so you know how big your coop needs to be. You don't want them crowded inside as that just leads to more problems. How big is the dog house?

I have a 4x8' coop, 4' high for 8 hens. I don't use a run because I have lots of land for them to range on. More than enough room for all of them either on the floor or roosting.

 

[angiegirl]

I would like to start off with about 4-6 chicks... The dog run is about 25 to 30 ft long and about 15ft wide. Dog house is about 6ft deep, 3 ft wide and 3ft height.. So that why i am thinking about adding to the top and make top bigger and just use the actual dog house as a hang out place out of the sun.. Not sure. I don't even know where I am going to get chicks from, still researching places and reading reviews... Where did you get yours? What breeds do you have. From what I read I am leaning more toward Rhode Island Reds ...

 

[PriceFamilyFarms]

I have buff orpingtons, rhode island reds, barred rocks and silver laced polish. What area are you in? I know a few local places to get chicks in small quantities so you don't have to but 25 chicks or pay for shipping.

If the dog house stays dry and is decent shape I'd use that. Put a door on it to keep out predators at night and put a roost in there and they should be good.

 

[PoultryPam]

Hey Angiegirl,

I'm right up the road from you in Burlington. Farm Services in Graham usually has chickens. I've bought alot of Red Sex-links from them, they are good layers. They usually have chicks and some that are getting close to laying age. Also there is a place out off Boone Rd. in the northern part of the county, he has a little of everything. And then theres always Buckhorn flea market, sometimes you can find chicks there.

Pam

 

[angiegirl]

HI Pam,
You are right up the road from me. I was born and raised in Burlington.. Someone else told me about Farm services in Graham also.. I will have to go there and see what they have.
How long have you had Chickens? Are you glad you took on this adventure? Did you start off with baby chicks or did you get yours older ready to lay?

 

[PoultryPam]

Hey Angie,

I've had chickens for about 5 years now. It all started with a neighbor moving and couldn't take his chickens with him. I had always wanted some. My Grandma had chickens when I was little and I loved going with her to the hen house to collect the eggs so when this guy said he had to find homes for his chickens I said, "I'll take them!!" I don't know how old they were, they were all old enough to lay. I had 6 Black Silkies, and a hen and rooster of unknown origin. We named those two, Old Black Betty and her mate was Pretty Ricky. LOL The silkie rooster was "Little Ray Ray"
All of those originals are gone now but I've had many more since then. After that I bought 16 sex links from Farm Services, they were the sweetest things. Someone had de-beaked them which I thought was terrible but they were good pets and good layers too. My most current chicks came from Ideal Poultry. I got 7 standard Light Brahma, 7 Partridge Cochins, 10 Buff Orrpingtons and 7 Blue Cochins, they also sent 6 RIR males for warmth so in a month or so I will have Roosters to give away if anyone wants one. LOL Once you get a few you will be totally hooked. I can't imagine not having chickens now. Have fun and let us know what you get!!

Pam

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
They really do! I have a 10x30 and a 10x10 attached to each other with 3 mini coops. One for the big girls, one for the OEG's and one for the youngin's. The runs are covered with 2x4 welded wire. Nothing but a couple of mice and a black snake have gotten in.

I'm at that edge of the Piedmont and Foothills down here in Stanley (the town of, not the County of, lol)