Starting soon in Kankakee, IL

[Bear815]

Hello y'all, I Am Just Starting Out.... Hopefully Getting M First Chicks At The Kankakee Swap This coming Sunday. Have Brooder All Set Up In The House & Putting The Finishin Touches On The Coop In The Yard. I Have Spoken With The Zoning Committee & Notified My Neighbors.... I Think I Am Ready To Go. The Family & I Are very Excited And Just Wanted To IntroducE Myself. The Site Has Already Been Very Helpful But I Look Forward To Future Assistance.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck getting your new flock started this coming weekend!

 

[drumstick diva]

Hope all goes great for you. By all means WELCOME TO BACKYARD CHICKENS. Do you know what breeds you would like?

I have fond memories of Kankakee, used to go to the Dog show every July , starting when I was 12. My dog, got second out of two entries. When I hit 20 actually had dogs that did win big. But I'll always remember that first show. Our family used to take a ride every Sunday and usually went to Kankakee - I would imagine where my house and kennel would be someday- it was such a beautiful area.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Congratulations on your impending chicks such an exciting time for you and your family. Sounds like you are all good to go with your brooder and coop. If you have not already drop by the learning centre for some super articles on getting started with this new chicken adventure. Here is the link https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Wishing you and your family the very best of luck with your new venture and hope you enjoy BYC, I am sure you will everyone here to help with any questions you may have and very friendly

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. It's always so exciting getting those first chicks. Definitely check out our Learning Center at the link that Yorkshire coop left with you. There is loads of information there that will keep you from making beginners' mistakes. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your chicks.

 

[Bear815]

Depends on what I find, I guess. I hear Orpis or Sussex are great layers & great pets. I like the barred rocks too & would love an easter egger. Since I can't have a rooster, though, I might just stick with sex links to be safe because from what I understand, sexing a chick is not easy.

 

[Michael OShay]

Depends on what I find, I guess. I hear Orpis or Sussex are great layers & great pets. I like the barred rocks too & would love an easter egger. Since I can't have a rooster, though, I might just stick with sex links to be safe because from what I understand, sexing a chick is not easy.

I've had all of those in my flock and they are all good choices. I love Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex. They are both good layers of large, brown eggs and very friendly and gentle birds. My children made lap pets of both breeds. Both Black and Red Sex Links are definitely egg laying machines. I've raised both varieties for years and they have been my best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 eggs per hen per year. I actually prefer the Black Sex Links to the Reds as my Blacks have been friendlier, have laid slightly better in really cold winter weather, and have tended to have a longer laying life than my Reds, but you can't go wrong either way. Whatever breeds you decide to get, good luck with your flock.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

 

[Bear815]

So.... Maybe it was too early, I don't know, but we didn't really find any sexed chicks at the swap & the local farm store won't have any for a couple weeks. It worked out though, since we want some diversity & a colorful egg basket anyways. I ended up ordering from Meyer (I've read a lot of good reviews) & they are to be hatched & shipped May 4ish. So excited! A Buff Orpington, an Australorp, an Easter Egger, a Delaware, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, & a "Meal Maker". They assured me that the MM would be an egg layer, but no hints to which breed. Fingers crossed that they all make the trip safely & extra excited to find out what #6 will be.