Pulling the trigger

[Arelwood]

Yes, the silver-laced pattern makes for the prettiest hens ever!

Mine hasn't been in distress, but I can't say that she's thrived during the summer (she lays poor-quality eggs with lots of calcium deposits so I wasn't going to breed her anyway).

The silver laced are stunning. But OMG have you seen the blue laced reds? I freaking love them! I may get one and just monitor how she does in summer.

 

[3KillerBs]

The silver laced are stunning. But OMG have you seen the blue laced reds? I freaking love them! I may get one and just monitor how she does in summer.

Purely as a matter of personal taste, I'm not a fan of red chickens in any form.

Fortunately, there are enough chicken breeds in the world for everyone to find something they like to look at.

 

[Arelwood]

Purely as a matter of personal taste, I'm not a fan of red chickens in any form.

Fortunately, there are enough chicken breeds in the world for everyone to find something they like to look at.

Haha, reds are my favorite. Probably cause I'm a redhead myself. But yes! So many kinds!

 

[NatJ]

I have some known predators in the area and trouble makers. I am not sure if an all open construction would be safe enough.

If you use 1/2" hardware cloth and secure it properly, it will keep out most predators.
Even if you build a coop with solid walls, you will need openings for ventilation, and the usual advice is to cover those with 1/2" hardware cloth.

To secure the hardware cloth, you can use screws with large washers. Or you can sandwich the hardware cloth between two boards, with screws going through both boards and passing through the hardware cloth on the way. The large staples you put in with a hammer might work. Staples from a staple gun will not secure it well enough.

The hexagonal mesh sold as "chicken wire" is not strong enough to keep out most predators, so you are wise to distrust that!

Of course if your area has bears you might need to do something more. But a sturdy wood frame, with hardware cloth over it, secured well, is enough to deal with almost any other predator.

Maybe I can make a summer house and a winter house (and hopefully not stuff garden tools in the latter....) It can get wicked cold here, too. 'arctic vortex' is not good here! And we did have snow this year. Right when my plum tree and peach tree were blooming.

Yes, a sturdy building for winter and a lighter portable one for summer can work well.
You can also use the "winter" building to raise new chicks in the summer, while the older hens are in the "summer" pen.

Once chickens are adults, cold is not usually much of a problem. You need to be sure they have liquid water to drink, and have a place to be out of the wind, but that's about it. For short stretches of cold weather, just carrying fresh water several times a day can be enough. For long stretches of cold weather, it's nice to have a heated waterer so you don't have to keep carrying it out.

One trick I find helpful at many seasons: put some chicken food in a dish and add water, so it turns into a wet mush. Chickens seem to love it, and it helps them get enough liquid as well. You can change the water temperature according to the season, so it's a cool treat during the summer and a warm treat during the winter.

 

[Alagirl]

they carry Isa brown here, California tan (not sexed) Am-someting easter eggers, and a white kind, Rhode Island red....also not sexed.
Ok, I think I have enough cardboard to make a pen, and the remnants of a travel playpen (we had for the dogs, but they got too spoiled fast) to support the cardboard. I should have some space in the shed, it's shaded and I might need some light to go with the heating option. And I think I have a good idea how to construct the coop now
But keep the info coming

 

[Chookmama72]

Oh my, it has been 6 years since I first dropped in, and much has happened and no chickens in my life.

Until now.
SO, for various reasons, I have decided to get a small flock this year. And boy, do I have questions. It looked all so simple and then I read the one star reviews!

I gather that more than 6 chicks for a family of three (who don't eat eggs every day) are plenty but there are so many different kinds!
So I looked at coops, and thought I buy one. small/medium size, but then I read the reviews. They were quite scary plus the store does not have those in anymore anyhow. Well, it is just after Easter.
Then I looked at the starter kits, a lamp, feeder, waterer. The reviews were not great, but gosh, if I buy the components extra the price doubles! Does anybody have first hand experience with the tractor Supply Starter package?

When I buy chicks, how long do I have to build my coop?
I looked at the available coops online and really don't like any (once I read the bad reviews). And I will need to cover the run at least with netting/wire, as I know I have at least one hawk as neighbor, along with possums, rats, squirrels and lord knows what I have not yet seen.

I am recovering from a health scare that had me wanting to buy a coop but so far so good, I am getting my strength back.

what am I not considering?
My reasons for wanting chickens:
I need the manure. the soil in my garden is lousy.
I don't like store bought eggs anymore since I had home grown ones at my mom's.
Why not have chickens. I live in Suburbia, but in the county. I won't get a rooster (I hope) Because sheep or goats are out of the question.

I am starting my victory garden this year, chickens would be a great addition (as would be sheep and goats, and maybe a couple of horses, but let's be realistic here)

I am in central Alabama, it gets hot here, but most years not terribly so. (I could put solar cells on the coop roof)
So far we have a good relationship with most neighbors, so excess eggs should not be a problem. I hope I can coax enough produce out of my plot to feed us and the chicks.


What am I not considering?

Thanks for making it through my convoluted ramble. I am a little obsessed with my 'farmstead' (1/4 acre lot with house) this year.

What part of AL? I'm in Marion, hello!

 

[3KillerBs]

they carry Isa brown here, California tan (not sexed) Am-someting easter eggers, and a white kind, Rhode Island red....also not sexed.

OK, that sounds like the Hoover Hatchery lineup -- commonly found at farmstores, especially TSC.

Hoover takes a bad rap for "low quality" birds -- but what that *usually* means isn't that they're unhealthy or unproductive, but that they're not always good representatives of their breed. Perhaps they're the wrong color, badly-marked, have the wrong comb type, etc. *Mostly* (though not always), cosmetic features.

I would advise against getting straight run (unsexed), birds because even buying just sexed pullets you have an overall 10% chance of getting an "oops" cockerel. Raising that to 50-50 is lousy odds.

Most of those breeds are various types of hybrids aimed at either providing loads of egg production or interesting colors of eggs and/or feathers.

Since you're new, I suggest that you go for several of each to learn what you like and what does well -- but be sure the white ones aren't Cornish X meatbirds.

 

[Alagirl]

What part of AL? I'm in Marion, hello!

east of Birmingham, I 20 corridor

 

[Alagirl]

OK, that sounds like the Hoover Hatchery lineup -- commonly found at farmstores, especially TSC.

Hoover takes a bad rap for "low quality" birds -- but what that *usually* means isn't that they're unhealthy or unproductive, but that they're not always good representatives of their breed. Perhaps they're the wrong color, badly-marked, have the wrong comb type, etc. *Mostly* (though not always), cosmetic features.

I would advise against getting straight run (unsexed), birds because even buying just sexed pullets you have an overall 10% chance of getting an "oops" cockerel. Raising that to 50-50 is lousy odds.

Most of those breeds are various types of hybrids aimed at either providing loads of egg production or interesting colors of eggs and/or feathers.

Since you're new, I suggest that you go for several of each to learn what you like and what does well -- but be sure the white ones aren't Cornish X meatbirds.

yes, I believe that is their source. Seems not many carry birds anymore. I am definitely going to stay away from the unsexed lot, with my luck I end up with 100% roosters.....and it wasn't Cornish meat birds but those white chickens look pretty.

 

[3KillerBs]

yes, I believe that is their source. Seems not many carry birds anymore. I am definitely going to stay away from the unsexed lot, with my luck I end up with 100% roosters.....and it wasn't Cornish meat birds but those white chickens look pretty.

If they're pure white they could be White Rocks or White Leghorns. White with little black flecks could be California White (I have one, she's all personality and gives me a 65g white egg every day). White with black collars and tails and feathered feet would be Light Brahmas.

There are so many wonderful chickens!