Salutations from NC

[Maravilla]

We're ex-city folk, moved over 10 years ago away from HOAs and closer to farms... we had been considering chickens for a little down the road, since relatives in the area have had them. Circumstances accelerated our plans, so we took the plunge and ordered Americana chicks. Currently scouring this site for brooder and coop build information - everyone with experience that we've spoken with strongly recommends building your own, and this site has the widest variety of projects anywhere, with real feedback from successful chicken friends.

We've found a couple of local feed sources, as we'd seen elsewhere about how roundup and chemicals come through grains and do not break down, and more recently about the main commercial feed supplier's formula changes. Centralization / monopolization certainly has interesting impacts on supply chains, especially when we come to learn that the majority of seemingly critical things like baby formula are produced or all the pigs are processed in just one or two places, with different labels slapped on. So, we decentralize ourselves!

One question: some folks around here have told us that chickens are the "gateway drug" - once you have them, they say, you'll suddenly find yourselves with ducks or turkeys or geese, goats and pigs, etc. Does anyone else have this opinion/experience? (If so, I guess we should just start clearing some more space now?) Thanks for putting all this together, this site is incredibly important and a real blessing and treasure.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I don't think they are a gateway drug (I only have chickens) but they certainly are addictive!

 

[N F C]

Hi, I've also only had chickens (but I wouldn't rule out anything else if the timing is right ). It's nice to have you here with us!

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC!

I had chickens for six years before branching out to other critters (goats pigs, ducks), and that's only because we moved to a house with more acreage. It is much more likely you will fall prey to chicken math before anything else.

 

[janiedoe]

We're ex-city folk, moved over 10 years ago away from HOAs and closer to farms... we had been considering chickens for a little down the road, since relatives in the area have had them. Circumstances accelerated our plans, so we took the plunge and ordered Americana chicks. Currently scouring this site for brooder and coop build information - everyone with experience that we've spoken with strongly recommends building your own, and this site has the widest variety of projects anywhere, with real feedback from successful chicken friends.

We've found a couple of local feed sources, as we'd seen elsewhere about how roundup and chemicals come through grains and do not break down, and more recently about the main commercial feed supplier's formula changes. Centralization / monopolization certainly has interesting impacts on supply chains, especially when we come to learn that the majority of seemingly critical things like baby formula are produced or all the pigs are processed in just one or two places, with different labels slapped on. So, we decentralize ourselves!

One question: some folks around here have told us that chickens are the "gateway drug" - once you have them, they say, you'll suddenly find yourselves with ducks or turkeys or geese, goats and pigs, etc. Does anyone else have this opinion/experience? (If so, I guess we should just start clearing some more space now?) Thanks for putting all this together, this site is incredibly important and a real blessing and treasure.

Welcome to BYC.
I don't think you'll have to worry about getting hooked on other pets/livestock if you don't want to expand.
I love chickens. I've considered ducks but I haven't indulged because I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get them off the pond and into the coop at night. I love all animals (except rats) but I don't want the hassle or expense of livestock. Since I fall in love with every creature, I can't eat them, so there is no incentive for me to expand into other areas. So after several years, I have chickens, a couple of cats, and a couple of digs. That's it. (Of course, I have more than I need.)

 

[Sammster]

We're ex-city folk, moved over 10 years ago away from HOAs and closer to farms... we had been considering chickens for a little down the road, since relatives in the area have had them. Circumstances accelerated our plans, so we took the plunge and ordered Americana chicks. Currently scouring this site for brooder and coop build information - everyone with experience that we've spoken with strongly recommends building your own, and this site has the widest variety of projects anywhere, with real feedback from successful chicken friends.

We've found a couple of local feed sources, as we'd seen elsewhere about how roundup and chemicals come through grains and do not break down, and more recently about the main commercial feed supplier's formula changes. Centralization / monopolization certainly has interesting impacts on supply chains, especially when we come to learn that the majority of seemingly critical things like baby formula are produced or all the pigs are processed in just one or two places, with different labels slapped on. So, we decentralize ourselves!

One question: some folks around here have told us that chickens are the "gateway drug" - once you have them, they say, you'll suddenly find yourselves with ducks or turkeys or geese, goats and pigs, etc. Does anyone else have this opinion/experience? (If so, I guess we should just start clearing some more space now?) Thanks for putting all this together, this site is incredibly important and a real blessing and treasure.

Welcome! As far as chickens preluding too other farm animals ~ that depends on your space and your personality

 

[Blue Raptor]

We're ex-city folk, moved over 10 years ago away from HOAs and closer to farms... we had been considering chickens for a little down the road, since relatives in the area have had them. Circumstances accelerated our plans, so we took the plunge and ordered Americana chicks. Currently scouring this site for brooder and coop build information - everyone with experience that we've spoken with strongly recommends building your own, and this site has the widest variety of projects anywhere, with real feedback from successful chicken friends.

We've found a couple of local feed sources, as we'd seen elsewhere about how roundup and chemicals come through grains and do not break down, and more recently about the main commercial feed supplier's formula changes. Centralization / monopolization certainly has interesting impacts on supply chains, especially when we come to learn that the majority of seemingly critical things like baby formula are produced or all the pigs are processed in just one or two places, with different labels slapped on. So, we decentralize ourselves!

One question: some folks around here have told us that chickens are the "gateway drug" - once you have them, they say, you'll suddenly find yourselves with ducks or turkeys or geese, goats and pigs, etc. Does anyone else have this opinion/experience? (If so, I guess we should just start clearing some more space now?) Thanks for putting all this together, this site is incredibly important and a real blessing and treasure.

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[fuzzi]

We're ex-city folk, moved over 10 years ago away from HOAs and closer to farms... we had been considering chickens for a little down the road, since relatives in the area have had them. Circumstances accelerated our plans, so we took the plunge and ordered Americana chicks. Currently scouring this site for brooder and coop build information - everyone with experience that we've spoken with strongly recommends building your own, and this site has the widest variety of projects anywhere, with real feedback from successful chicken friends.

We've found a couple of local feed sources, as we'd seen elsewhere about how roundup and chemicals come through grains and do not break down, and more recently about the main commercial feed supplier's formula changes. Centralization / monopolization certainly has interesting impacts on supply chains, especially when we come to learn that the majority of seemingly critical things like baby formula are produced or all the pigs are processed in just one or two places, with different labels slapped on. So, we decentralize ourselves!

One question: some folks around here have told us that chickens are the "gateway drug" - once you have them, they say, you'll suddenly find yourselves with ducks or turkeys or geese, goats and pigs, etc. Does anyone else have this opinion/experience? (If so, I guess we should just start clearing some more space now?) Thanks for putting all this together, this site is incredibly important and a real blessing and treasure.

Welcome to BYC, glad to have you here!

I'm in eastern NC, whereabouts are you located?

 

[theoldchick]

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet y'all and welcome to BYC. Congratulations on your country home.

Chickens tend to lead to more chickens, or occasionally, other types of birds. Only will folks branch into other livestock if that's what they want. You don't have to buy into those "Just say no" DARE warnings about chickens!

In case it's helpful,
Here are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, and have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. I suppose you have some sort of winter where you are: Winter chicken care

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.