My name is Melissa and I live in Newport News, VA. My daughter and I want to raise some chickens and I came across this website a few years ago when I first decided to try it. I want to learn everything I can so we can safely raise some.
Welcome to BYC! It's good to have you here with us. It's a great place to learn what you will need to know for now and later on down the road if needed!
Hi Melissa, there's always something new to learn it seems so make yourself at home. Check out the Learning Center (under the Articles tab), use the search feature and ask questions. Everyone is here to help each other.
Hi and welcome! How smart you are to do this kind of practical research before jumping in!
That said, as a relatively new chicken owner myself, I'd like to assure you that having chickens is fun as well as a source of cruelty free, really fresh eggs.
Check your local zoning laws. Then ask questions and follow along as the rest of us try to figure out how to be our own vets, house them well, understand their behavior, deal with predators, sort the girls from the boys, etc.
All this research will pay off when you have happy, healthy, good looking birds who make you laugh as well as feed you.