Should I Raise/Keep chickens?

[WiseSquirrel]

Considering raising chickens. I currently do not have any but miss the taste of fresh chicken eggs and maybe the experience of going out to the coop to gather them as a child. I have concerns but am still interested. We have mountain lions, bobcats, huge raccoons, deer, snakes, domesticated cats and random dogs but tons of trees and fresh air and wild birds. Our property is open, so easy access. Are there breeds that do well full time in a coop? Is it fair to do this? Temperatures range from 40 degrees (sometimes a little lower) to 110. I especially like the idea of getting good enough at it to try for the fading breeds to help bring them back, but baby steps ;P Any opinions?

And if you can't tell - total noob. Found this site doing research on chickens and how to get started, etc. Love it so far!! Looking forward to meeting the BYC crowd.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

Here are some links to useful resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - “How to...” guides
• Great go-to resource - Learning Centre
• Good starting point for browsing the site - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue
• Excellent sources of local information - U.S. States

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

Unless you provide a predator proof coop and run, your flock will just be bait. Good luck!

 

[hispoptart]

Hello and welcome! Lots of people raise chickens with predator's in the area. Do some reading and learn how to make your coop and run secure. This is an amazing site with amazing people. Glad you joined.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Well OF COURSE you should keep chickens!
Many chickens are kept inside a secure run.
With the predators you have, I strongly recommend building something similar to what I built. It was designed to withstand the local momma bear. My very first line of defense in my setup is an electronet fence powered with a 10,000 volt charger. Next is a solid building with large attached run with a solid roof and secured with 1/2" hardware cloth.
It works quite well and I have a happy bunch of chickens to show for it... the eggs are nice too.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
We are glad you joined this flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops.

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[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the pulse beat of the chicken community. Dobie Lover has a safe setup for her chickens. My best advice would be to follow hers.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! You should definitely have chickens. By keeping them in the coop, I think you mean the coop and run. They definitely need outdoor time and plenty of space to run around. With predators to worry about, just make sure they are safe. Dobielover's coop and run are a great example of what you need.

 

[Matilda Belle]

I live in an area with a lot of predators. Some people choose to free range, but I choose to have mine in a run. My run is quite large and is protected from all types of predators (flying, climbing, digging, etc.). I lock my chickens inside the coop every night. I have not lost a chicken yet. If you do decide to build a run, make sure it is a minimum of 10 square feet per bird (more is better).