Utah!

[Shmeal]

Hi all,
I'm brand new to BYC and to keeping chickens. My daughter and I brought home 4 chickies from IFA last Friday. I've tossed around the idea of getting chickens for about two years and finally just jumped in. It helps that my cute daughter persuaded me to do it sooner than later (she is 21 - so I really should be over her "persuasiveness"). I don't have a coop yet, and am looking at KSL classifieds to see if I can find a decent one. IFA had one that I glanced at briefly. Does anyone know if the quality of their coops will hold up through the harsh weather we have here? Or can someone recommend where I can purchase a coop for four hens?

Also, I'm not sure where to locate the coop and run. I'm leaning towards having the coop situated on the north side of the garage and then have the run open to a south-eastern exposure. I feel like keeping the coop shaded from the hot southern and west sun will be more beneficial to the birds in the long run. My hubby is afraid that will be too cold for them in the winter.

 

[sundancenbare]

Hi all,
I'm brand new to BYC and to keeping chickens. My daughter and I brought home 4 chickies from IFA last Friday. I've tossed around the idea of getting chickens for about two years and finally just jumped in. It helps that my cute daughter persuaded me to do it sooner than later (she is 21 - so I really should be over her "persuasiveness"). I don't have a coop yet, and am looking at KSL classifieds to see if I can find a decent one. IFA had one that I glanced at briefly. Does anyone know if the quality of their coops will hold up through the harsh weather we have here? Or can someone recommend where I can purchase a coop for four hens?

Also, I'm not sure where to locate the coop and run. I'm leaning towards having the coop situated on the north side of the garage and then have the run open to a south-eastern exposure. I feel like keeping the coop shaded from the hot southern and west sun will be more beneficial to the birds in the long run. My hubby is afraid that will be too cold for them in the winter.

Welcome. What part of utah do you live in? You could get a moveable coop and put it on the north in Summer and South in Winter. Keep watching KSL. There are several nice coop makers on there, All cooped up has beautiful coopsl There is a lady in Draper that makes coops they are very reasonable. you need a 4 x4 coop and about 6 or so feet of run for 4 adult chickens. Depends on what breeds you picked. You may want to get a couple of older pullets so you can have eggs sooner than later. I bought chicks last year and kicked myself because they take 6 / 8 months to lay. I then bought 4 adult chickens for eggs. My health has failed recently so have cut down drastically but am keeping a few egg hens and some ornimentals to just watch. here is the link for the lady in Draper http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=24421737&cat=113&lpid=&search=&ad_cid=31

 

[sundancenbare]

Welcome. What part of utah do you live in? You could get a moveable coop and put it on the north in Summer and South in Winter. Keep watching KSL. There are several nice coop makers on there, All cooped up has beautiful coopsl There is a lady in Draper that makes coops they are very reasonable. you need a 4 x4 coop and about 6 or so feet of run for 4 adult chickens. Depends on what breeds you picked. You may want to get a couple of older pullets so you can have eggs sooner than later. I bought chicks last year and kicked myself because they take 6 / 8 months to lay. I then bought 4 adult chickens for eggs. My health has failed recently so have cut down drastically but am keeping a few egg hens and some ornimentals to just watch. here is the link for the lady in Draper http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=24421737&cat=113&lpid=&search=&ad_cid=31

Here is the coop on wheels http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=24868679&cat=113&lpid=4&search=&ad_cid=8

 

[Sphinx]

Welcome Shmeal! What part of the state are you in? I will say that I noticed my hens having a tougher time in the summer heat than the winter cold, so I'd be inclined to think north as well. It's hard to say without seeing your yard though. Sundance has good advice on coops- I have to admit I just made my husband make mine.

 

[PancakeShiners]

IFA has good coops. I have one of the custom made ones.

A bit exhausted, but excited. I added Sundance's blue Sizzle roo to my Wheeler flock today. My small Brahma hens don't like him I discovered. He's in with Ruby, Mozart, and Lilifey, all of which are getting along fine (though all three of the hens seem a little scared of the smaller chicken.)

I also added another egg to the coop. I'm considering raising a couple Brahma chicks. I feel I can sex them easily after awhile, and I love Brahmas so much...

Been fussing over what chicks to order next year. Can't decide on that. I'm in an obsessive fowl mood. xD I should have gone to that show in March... I checked out Welp hatchery. Haven't forgotten that gorgeous EE chick I saw at Cal Ranch in Logan, light bluish with an orange face and a white belly. So pretty. I think it came from Welp hatchery so I'm tempted somewhat...

If I ever find the energy, I need to put one or two of my Brahmas up on KSL. Kalahari and maybe Sahara. Might also still sell my Leghorn or my Delaware when they start laying. But these trips to the farm right after school usually wear me out.

 

[Shmeal]

Welcome. What part of utah do you live in? You could get a moveable coop and put it on the north in Summer and South in Winter. Keep watching KSL. here is the link for the lady in Draper

Welcome Shmeal! What part of the state are you in? I will say that I noticed my hens having a tougher time in the summer heat than the winter cold, so I'd be inclined to think north as well. It's hard to say without seeing your yard though. Sundance has good advice on coops- I have to admit I just made my husband make mine.

IFA has good coops. I have one of the custom made ones.

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the links and also for letting me know I can trust a coop from IFA. That was very helpful information. I like the idea of getting a custom coop, and the lady in Draper has the cutest coop on sale right now. But the IFA coop seems fairly priced and it's just basically down the street so I wouldn't have to pay extra for delivery.

I'm in the foothills of North Logan. We get a pretty good wind up here coming over the mountains so I need to take that into consideration too as I site the coop. Hubby wants one on wheels so we can bring it into the garage in the winter. Hahah. I'm just pleased that he's taking an interest in our little girls. At first he said this was my hobby, but now when he calls home he asks about them (he travels a lot for work). He even has their names memorized already.

We have a Buff Orpington, a Welsummer, a Partridge Rock and an Ameraucana. We want them mostly for eggs and chose these for the variety of colors they will lay. It's so fun to watch their little personalities come out. The PR is by far the feistiest and already has a comb developing. This makes me nervous I ended up with a rooster.

 

[RedIII]

Wait... I just realized it says EXCLUDING, not INCLUDING... So go take back that dynamite!

Awwww nuts!!

Lame, Red. Sorry you got sucked into an uptight person's web. Care to link so we can giggle with you? Honestly, I don't understand how a joke about crossbreeding could be so offensive.

Madchicken, when I get the "gelled" chicks like that, I use a very soft toothbrush and brush their fluff. It makes them fluff right out.

It wasn't the funniest joke, I guess. But I did have to smile later last night, because only on a chicken board would I get yelled at for joking about crossbreeding chickens.

And I am going to remember this about the toothbrush!

Kind of like if someone/thing went after my kids I'd take them down anyway I could, I expect (heh, even if it's a pretty magpie!). Falconry is way super intense and super awesome and there are times I seriously miss it. But it is also amazingly time consuming, and with 3 kids, I just don't have that much time. Besides, I don't expect my chickens would appreciate me slapping up a hawk mews next to their coop!

Interestingly, magpies and ravens will chase down hawks and falcon and harass them for ridiculous periods, just because they can. They have their own little world, those corvidae, which is probably how they made it into so many myths and legends.

Ugh. I seem to be waxing philosophical. Way too early in the morning for that. Beg pardon!

Oh, I feel stupid right now. I just barely figured out your name. And I have been familiar with the term "corvid" for a couple of years.

Also, one of the perks of duckie rehab. You can do your school work while your duckie friend gets his exercise

His foot seems to be doing a bit better today, can't get a coban boot to stay on. Going to try bandaid next I guess.

Cyndi, I'd say your girl looks fine. And this picture made me giggle so much. I just saved a copy of it to my computer. Seriously.

 

[sundancenbare]

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the links and also for letting me know I can trust a coop from IFA. That was very helpful information. I like the idea of getting a custom coop, and the lady in Draper has the cutest coop on sale right now. But the IFA coop seems fairly priced and it's just basically down the street so I wouldn't have to pay extra for delivery.

I'm in the foothills of North Logan. We get a pretty good wind up here coming over the mountains so I need to take that into consideration too as I site the coop. Hubby wants one on wheels so we can bring it into the garage in the winter. Hahah. I'm just pleased that he's taking an interest in our little girls. At first he said this was my hobby, but now when he calls home he asks about them (he travels a lot for work). He even has their names memorized already.

We have a Buff Orpington, a Welsummer, a Partridge Rock and an Ameraucana. We want them mostly for eggs and chose these for the variety of colors they will lay. It's so fun to watch their little personalities come out. The PR is by far the feistiest and already has a comb developing. This makes me nervous I ended up with a rooster.

I think the IFA coops are bad. They are made in China and fall apart. Look online for coops like them and see the ratings. I think Cassandra meant the IFA custom coops are good and they are not the stock ones. We have lots of people here from Logan.

 

[PancakeShiners]

Yeah, the ones you get in the box are bad. The ones outside are each made by someone here in Utah I think... But, although more expensive, the price includes being put together and shipped to your house. Mine was $700, but it has a lot of good points to it and is big enough to hold many birds. :3 I can always, if I choose, build a bigger run, but the 6' one isn't too bad.

I wish I lived in Logan... XD Or anywhere I can have more chickens and roosters, but Logan is awesome. I was there just last week in a poultry judging competition. :3

Went for a walk with my EE, Mimzy. <3

 

[Cynthia12]

I have some faverolle eggs coming...they are coming with the Houdan eggs. Whenever that is.

I have some Faverolle eggs coming too! Should be here tomorrow. My little bantam lays every day! It's going on three weeks that she had laid every single day. So, I thought, I need a LF in this breed! I also have some Houdans coming..didn't know you could get eggs..guessing they are from a hatchery? Or did you find a breeder with eggs? My babies will be here on May 6th, supposed to be all girls. Also, three LF cochin. And two brown leghorns. Fun..