I finally just bought a house with 1.6 acres of great soil in an agricultural district. My plan is to have a large garden, a flock of chickens and some milking goats.
I plan on selling fruits, veggies and eggs roadside, and possibly have a goat share program for goats milk.
This is a first time venture for me, but one that I have dreamed about for a long time and a venture that I am very much looking forward to!!!
I will be building a coop for the chickens and an enclosure for the goats, but do not know where to start from or how to begin.
How many chickens will I need to have enough to sell eggs, and what size coop will I need, and what is the best coop layout and where can I find plans for the coop??
I live in Western New York, 20 miles from Niagara Falls, NY, so it gets cold here in the winter, should I insulate the coop?? Should I/do I need to heat the coop, if so what is an economical way to provide heat and what temperature do I need inside the coop??
What is a good breed of chicken for egg production, brown eggs, possibly blue eggs??
What do chickens naturally eat in the wild?? I would prefer to feed as natural a diet as is possible.
Those are just a few of the questions that I can think to ask right now.
Any recommendations on one or two or three or four really good, comprehensive books on raising chickens would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
I plan on selling fruits, veggies and eggs roadside, and possibly have a goat share program for goats milk.
This is a first time venture for me, but one that I have dreamed about for a long time and a venture that I am very much looking forward to!!!
I will be building a coop for the chickens and an enclosure for the goats, but do not know where to start from or how to begin.
How many chickens will I need to have enough to sell eggs, and what size coop will I need, and what is the best coop layout and where can I find plans for the coop??
I live in Western New York, 20 miles from Niagara Falls, NY, so it gets cold here in the winter, should I insulate the coop?? Should I/do I need to heat the coop, if so what is an economical way to provide heat and what temperature do I need inside the coop??
What is a good breed of chicken for egg production, brown eggs, possibly blue eggs??
What do chickens naturally eat in the wild?? I would prefer to feed as natural a diet as is possible.
Those are just a few of the questions that I can think to ask right now.
Any recommendations on one or two or three or four really good, comprehensive books on raising chickens would be GREATLY appreciated!!!