Wondering what to do

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Good luck in establishing your coop and flock.

 

[NatJ]

Hello new member here. I have just started learning about raising chickens. I haven't bought any yet. I don't know if I should since it's getting closer to fall or wait until spring again. If I wait I will have time to get my coop ready any time to think on what kind of breeds to get

I think it is usually best to have the coop before you get the chickens.

That way if the coop takes longer than you expect to build or buy, you don't have chicks getting big and smelly and crowded and unhappy inside your house.

Once you have the coop, it is often possible to brood the chicks in the coop so they never live inside your house. Or you can have them in your house as long as you enjoy having them inside, then move them out to the coop at any point.

I don't know whether it is better for you to get chicks in the fall or the spring. That would depend partly on your climate, and how long it takes to get the coop ready.

General guidelines for coops:
4 square feet of floor space per chicken inside the coop
1 linear foot of perch space per chicken
1 nestbox for each 3 or 4 hens (they don't all lay eggs at the same time of day, so sharing is not a problem.)
1 square foot of ventilation (covered with hardware cloth to keep out predators, but letting in fresh air all day and all night at all seasons)

Plus at least 10 square feet of floor space per chicken in the run

The coop is where the chickens sleep and lay eggs, and where they stay during bad weather. The run is a fenced outdoor area that the chickens can enjoy in good weather.

Those are approximate guidelines, that work for many people and many chickens in many climates. Some chickens in some situations can get by with a little less space. Some chickens demand more space.

Most prefab chicken coops claim to hold many more chickens than these guidelines suggest, but that causes problems. Chickens that are too crowded will often fight or pick at each other, and can cause injuries and even kill each other. A too-small coop also needs cleaning more often, which is no fun for the person. Leaving it dirty is bad for the chickens' health and also tends to stink enough that people don't like it.

Extra space is always fine. If you want to build a great big coop and a giant run for just a few chickens, that will make the chickens happy and will not cause any problems (except the cost and labor of building it.)

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Hello new member here. I have just started learning about raising chickens. I haven't bought any yet. I don't know if I should since it's getting closer to fall or wait until spring again. If I wait I will have time to get my coop ready any time to think on what kind of breeds to get

Welcome! And definitely get your coop fully functional and predator proof before ordering chicks. They grow surprisingly fast! If you don't have electricity in your coop, you'll need a protected and secured brooder box or area to house the chicks with an electric heat lamp or plate for the first 5 weeks or so.

Breeds are fun to explore because there really aren't any "best" breeds. I usually keep a handful of breeds about for various reasons and often try a new breed every year or two. Start with a couple of the more popular breeds (they're usually cheaper also!) that are conditioned for your area. You'll likely discover a favorite (or three!) very quickly.

Best wishes to you and again, welcome to BYC!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

Too many people get chicks and don't realize how fast they want them out of their house! It's great you're thinking ahead! If you haven't built one yet, great tips above! You can find some coop ideas in our Coop Forum.

 

[N F C]

Hi, definitely get your coop built first. You'll have all winter to figure out what breed(s) you want to start with and once you do get chicks, you can enjoy them without the pressure of having to build in a hurry. Best wishes, thanks for joining!