Very new and wanting to raise chickens in the mtns, CA

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Hi, welcome to BYC! I used to live in the mountains too, for about six years. I lived just outside Angelus Oaks, at about 5500 feet. I didn't have chickens then. I had horses and dogs. Bears were a real problem, as well as buku raccoons. I have also seen bobcats, mountainlions and ringtail cats. First thing to worry about rather than what breed, of chicken is how to predator proof your run.
 
Thank you all so much for your warm welcome and great links. I will definitely check out the links and get raising chickens for dummies books. At this time I am waiting for the book Chicken coops for dummies so I can get started on my coop. I am actually in Tehachapi and want to get maybe 4 month old pullets for eggs as I don't have the money to start with chicks. Is this ok? I have been trying to read so much and learn.
 
This time of year, getting started chicks is smart. Also, I have read that clean legged birds do better than feather legged breeds. Tehachapi doesn't get insanely cold in winter, so you don't have to worry as much about frostbite if your birds are dry, with good ventilation and draft free. In severely cold places (New England, Montana, the Dakotas, Alaska etc... people prefer to get breeds with rose combs or pea combs to prevent frostbite. PM sent about available younger birds.
 
well if u dont have a brooder for young chicks then it is best for u to get pullets that r about to lay or full grown hens and have a nice lil coop ready for the winter this is my first winter with my chickens but ppl on here have been giving me tips on how to keep my chickens warm and happy https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=576003 here's my post with the tips incase u want to read up on it good luck on ur choice and hope u enjoy them
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My Saints came from Tehachapi
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Sure, you can even look at your local feed stores and see if anyone is advertising any. OR, put up a wanted ad on BYC. I like EE's for egg color variety and brown egg layers...makes for a pretty egg basket.
 
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from Modesto

There are so many ways to find chickens. Right now a lot of us are sliming out our flocks till next season.

There was a suggestion to look here on BYC and that was a good one.

I've bought chicks from My Pet Chicken in the past, but all of the birds I have now have come from breeders. I have to say that MPC is very nice to deal with. If you go with a hatchery I think you would like them.

If you haven't gotten your coop up, make sure you get it done before you bring home birds. Some of us .......ahhh hhmmmmm..... didn't do that in the beginning. Thing is while you are building you can also be researching what breed or breeds you want. I have eggs in all colors and that's always fun. You never know what you'll get some days.

Here's alink to the California thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=565482&p=1

This thread is to help more of us in the state get to know eachother. We're so spread out and we've all been kind of segragated, so hopefully we'll all be able to share info and meet in some way. I thought it would be a good way to find out what everyone is breeding and where.

The first post has links to all the areas and regions of the state, so make sure you drop by and say hello and also look around in your area.

Whatever you decide to get, I know that you'll be happy, BUT....I know it's just the 2 of you, but you might want to build the coop bigger than you intended. There's this thing called Chicken Math.
 
Welcome!

I live in the mountains in N. Ca. Definately coop comes before the chickens like wolftracks said. I made that mistake the first time and had chickens free ranging and living on my back porch.. Then when the coop was finally built they were impossible to confine. Also a very strong preditor proof coop is needed. Chicken wire isn't adequate either. I've had dog, fox, cayotes, hawks, bear and more get birds and get into my coops. First year I started up too fast and lost a lot of birds. Everyone in the area got wiped out last year too. I have EE's and I love them. The pea combs make them a bit more weather hardy too, although it only snows here a few times a year.

Good luck with you new chicken venture!
 
enjoyin' my chickens :

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from SE Ga. Second good luck with 6 chickens. I mean once people have them they get "addicted". 6 become 12 which turns into 20 and so on and so on.

so true i was just wanting 12 hens and a rooster well now i have 4 roosters and 26 hens and TONS of babies lol​
 
The shipping crate is a really great idea. I'm going to check into that also. Thank you.
And the petchicken.com site was so much fun and so helpful. I love getting such wonderful tips.
 

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