Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[TillyPeeps]

Oh no! That’s no good. Patton township is tough. We’re in Benner township and have close to 50 acres. Good luck and reach out if you need anything or a close chicken friend!

50 acres! I wanted a house with 5 acres, but hubby wouldn't allow me to have it because he don't want to live with pigs, goats, cows, and donkeysCan you tell that he's a bird person? He never say no to these chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
It's sure nice to have a chicken friend close We will move on June. Don't know when I will have the coop & run done yet. I can do all the drawings and designs on computer, but building them is a different story.

 

[TillyPeeps]

Hi All,

New to BYC and first time chicken owner but have lived in PA all my life. Just moved to a small farm in Berks County in December and am excited to start my chicken flock. Got 12 chicks 3 weeks ago and they've already grown so much!! Just wanted to say hi!!

from Centre county! I had 6 chickens but losing them when moving to NY. Now I'm moving back to PA.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Hi All,

New to BYC and first time chicken owner but have lived in PA all my life. Just moved to a small farm in Berks County in December and am excited to start my chicken flock. Got 12 chicks 3 weeks ago and they've already grown so much!! Just wanted to say hi!!

Welcome from Cambria county! What kind of chicks did you get? What can we talk you in to? Lol. I know I have a surplus of extra chicks that are probably the same size as yours

 

[fisherlady]

So we just signed a contract to buy a house at Port Matilda. Unfortunately, it's still in Patton Township, so only 4 chickens allowed. At least that's how many we have to start with. I think we need to build the coop and run and get them inspected before we can have chickens. I'll let Dennis know when we ready for chickens. I guess wouldn't be this year, since I will have to build the coop and run myself with limited help of hubby. I'm not handy at all! Have to figure out a simple plan to make a 30 square feet coop and 40 square feet run. this size limitation are ridiculous. Especially consider that we have over 1 acre round. My original plan is to buy a shed and frame a section for coop, and then add a run to attach to it.

I would elevate the coop about 20" on posts, then put hardware cloth around base so the entire basement becomes an extension of the run. Then put skirting and landscaping around it for inspection so it isn't obvious. After inspection some of the skirting can be removed for access from the run and cross ventilation. Keep the side skirting pieces though because you will probably want to put them back on in the winter for a wind break.

 

[ajm515]

Welcome from Cambria county! What kind of chicks did you get? What can we talk you in to? Lol. I know I have a surplus of extra chicks that are probably the same size as yours

I got 3 ISA Browns (pullets, 2+ weeks), 3 Amberlinks (pullets, 2+ weeks), 2 Silver-laced Wyandottes (straight run, 2+ weeks), 2 Brahmas (straight run, ~ 3-4 weeks), & 2 New Hampshire Reds (straight run, ~5 weeks). Hopefully the straight runs turn out more hens than roos but took a gamble since I wanted some different breeds. Should have just waited another week and went back for a different pullet run that came in but just too exciting getting chicks for the first time. Maybe if I get too many roos and get rid of some I'd consider getting more hens but have to wait and see what they are first.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Hi All,

New to BYC and first time chicken owner but have lived in PA all my life. Just moved to a small farm in Berks County in December and am excited to start my chicken flock. Got 12 chicks 3 weeks ago and they've already grown so much!! Just wanted to say hi!!

Hello back at you! & Welcome.
How lucky for you to get the farm! Lots of room to play and expand you flock(s). You will have NO problem getting "help" with getting chickens, dicks, turkeys ..heck you may even get talked into getting a few goats,..a donkey, a cow & a partridge in a pear tree

Welcome from Cambria county! What kind of chicks did you get? What can we talk you in to? Lol. I know I have a surplus of extra chicks that are probably the same size as yours

SEE?...I TOLD you ...plenty of help here for you @ajm515

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I would elevate the coop about 20" on posts, then put hardware cloth around base so the entire basement becomes an extension of the run. Then put skirting and landscaping around it for inspection so it isn't obvious. After inspection some of the skirting can be removed for access from the run and cross ventilation. Keep the side skirting pieces though because you will probably want to put them back on in the winter for a wind break.

great idea!! camouflage....& extra room w/ ventilation is always good.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

My chicken flock is starting to look small. I think it's the smallest it's been in a few years now. I sold off my brahmas yesterday and all the Marans a couple weeks ago. Pretty much all I have left are a few Seramas, the silkies, the ameraucanas, and English orpingtons. My turkey flock though has almost doubled in size this year lol

 

[HeartoftheMatterFarm]

I have been busy. Welcome to all the new people.
I got 12 buff Orpington chicks on Friday. I was not going to hatch any eggs out this year but 1 of my hens that is a good mom went broody so I gave her has 3 eggs. Not only did I loss a baby goat last week on the same day one of our cats got killed by something. We have 2 cats that are pregnant. I need to get them fixed after the have kittens. Not sure when they will have babies.

 

[HeartoftheMatterFarm]

So far the 2 rows of sugar peas are doing good. They are starting to come up. And my 6 rows of onions are coming up too. Can't wait to plant more in the garden.