Wt behind the ears and looking for info

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TempleGal

TempleGal

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Having discovered to my sheer delight that I can have chickens in my yard, I am looking to learn about what it takes on a daily basis to upkeep a handful of chickens... probably about 3 -5.(I think?)
I am a "city" girl... never did any gardening , canning, anything that falls under "self sufficiency" type stuff. All my food comes from the local grocery store but I'd really like to change that.
I live in a small town in west Georgia. I've never owned chickens or really been around chickens... so I guess I need a Raising chickens for Dummies kind of thing... lol.
 
Welcome from Middle Georgia! So glad you have joined us.

I wanted my own flock for a few years and made the plunge 2 years ago. Got mine as 3 days old chicks and they are now 2 year old happy hens. I bought every magazine and book I came across and found BYC. There is wealth of information and help from members on this site.
I own 3 of the Dummies books on raising chickens, chicken health and gardening with free-ranging chickens and did find them quite helpful.

IMO you should evaluate your predator population to decide what type coop and protection they will need. Consider sand in the coop and run - easy to sift, no smell. Elect to get yours as baby chicks, a part of the experience I would hate to have missed. Find a source that offers sexed pullets to lower the risk of decisions about what to do with a roo . With 4-5 you really only need layers.

Personally, I never used to dig in the dirt or leave a paved walkway, but now love gardening, composting, and my small backyard flock. IMO they are really no more trouble than having a cat or dog ( had read that in a magazine and found it to be true.

A typical week for me - Mine live in an all-in-one coop/run protected from all. I keep 2 feeders and 2 water founts. One in use and one washed and ready. I leave the feeder hanging in the run and refill as needed during the week. Wash the water fount with a hose and refill every afternoon. Sift the coop sand once a week. Keep a sifter by the sand bedded nests and sift as needed when I collect eggs every after noon. As needed, rake and sift areas of the run weekly. I wash both the fount and feeder ( plastic ones ) in my dishwasher on air dry weekly. I just pour my bucket of poop on a compost pile.

I think anyone can do this if I could. I hope you do get your own. They are so fascinating little creatures, each with their own personality and fun to love and watch.

Good luck with all.

Feel free to ask questions, we're here to help.
 
Hello and
welcome-byc.gif


Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
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Thank you, SunFlour, that was quite helpful! I have found a local fellow that builds coops so that part is covered. Knowing the day to day work load is invaluable to me!! I have found a local fellow who builds coops . Now I need to figure out which breed(s) I want and where to get them I think my coop guy said he could help me with that. I want chickens for the eggs only. I don't think I can kill one for dinner - I'm too squeamish for that!
Let the adventures and fun begin ....
smile.png


Thank all of you for the welcome. I have been delving into the learning center a bit and have also found that BYC offers a book called... "Raising Chickens for Dummies" !!! Love it. Ordering one today.
 
Last edited:
TempleGal said:
Thank you, SunFlour, that was quite helpful! I have found a local fellow that builds coops so that part is covered. Knowing the day to day work load is invaluable to me!! I have found a local fellow who builds coops . Now I need to figure out which breed(s) I want and where to get them I think my coop guy said he could help me with that. I want chickens for the eggs only. I don't think I can kill one for dinner - I'm too squeamish for that!
Let the adventures and fun begin ....
smile.png


Thank all of you for the welcome. I have been delving into the learning center a bit and have also found that BYC offers a book called... "Raising Chickens for Dummies" !!! Love it. Ordering one today.
Click to expand...
bun.gif
That must mean you're gonna make the plunge! I know you will love having your own flock. I know what you mean about couldn't kill one of my Pet Layers! I guess your weather could be close to ours, I am just North of Macon….hot,humid. I have Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons, love them all. But the Buffs do go broody and when we don't have a roo or plan to hatch those hormonal gals are a pain. IMO, pick the ones that appeal to you. Find out what breeds the local fellow can help locate - ask if they are professionally sexed. I got mine from a local small pet/farm animal supply store that gets hatchery chicks every spring - got 6 thinking some may be roos- but all turned out to be girls. Unless you are in North Ga, the main issue is the heat here, and most breed descriptions don't list that info. You can try posting on the Yo Georgian forum with your general location and see if you can get further advice on breeds. Around here we have luck with BR, BO, Astrolorp, Amercana, Dominique, Welsummer, RIR, Sexlinked and many more.

Feel free to PM me for any specifics.

Good luck with all.
 

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