Yes, I am a new member here, and a new chicken mother. This last winter a neighbor had to give up her three hens, for reasons unrelated to them, and I got them, their coop, food, feeders, waterers, etc. Great way to start a new hobby.
I'd been wanting chickens for a while, so I was casually doing research online about them, and in due course discovered BackYardChickens.com. I wouldn't say I was totally prepared when I got my girls, but I'm sure I started off better than I would have had I not had access to the wonderful advice here!
I now have 2 beautiful hens (lost one to a predator of some sort, feathers everywhere but no hen
). Princess (Leia Organa Solo) is a Black Australorp, and Amelia (Earhart) is a Barred Plymouth Rock. I'm sure you can guess from the name which was my first beastie to decide she didn't want to stay inside her daytime accommodations! I learned how to clip wings here... and learned from HER that flying was not the issue... she was JUMPING onto her coop and from there over the fence. But she had her name by then, so...
My lovely pitbull, Brownie, is unsure why he isn't allowed to play with them, and he will still occasionally charge them if they are near the fence when he goes out, but they just stand there looking at him until he remembers that he isn't allowed to play with them and wanders off. I wouldn't let them share a yard, but he doesn't harass them fortunately. My two guinea pigs haven't met the chickens, and likely never will, LOL.
I am currently in the process of building a proper run and coop for my girls. They have a cute little coop that is OK, but lacks some of the things I want. And eventually I'd like more than 2 and their current coop is really tiny. I am building something on the lines of a Carolina coop, with big door that includes a screen door, and a drop down door for easy cleaning. They are in an area that is pretty well protected from the wind, so even though Michigan gets cold, they are getting LOTS of ventilation. Their run will be fully predator safe, so they can have 24 hour access, then they will have an area they can free range that they will have access to most days.
I thinks that's about it. I look forward to learning a lot here, and maybe sharing some of the things I learn from my ladies!
I'd been wanting chickens for a while, so I was casually doing research online about them, and in due course discovered BackYardChickens.com. I wouldn't say I was totally prepared when I got my girls, but I'm sure I started off better than I would have had I not had access to the wonderful advice here!
I now have 2 beautiful hens (lost one to a predator of some sort, feathers everywhere but no hen
). Princess (Leia Organa Solo) is a Black Australorp, and Amelia (Earhart) is a Barred Plymouth Rock. I'm sure you can guess from the name which was my first beastie to decide she didn't want to stay inside her daytime accommodations! I learned how to clip wings here... and learned from HER that flying was not the issue... she was JUMPING onto her coop and from there over the fence. But she had her name by then, so...My lovely pitbull, Brownie, is unsure why he isn't allowed to play with them, and he will still occasionally charge them if they are near the fence when he goes out, but they just stand there looking at him until he remembers that he isn't allowed to play with them and wanders off. I wouldn't let them share a yard, but he doesn't harass them fortunately. My two guinea pigs haven't met the chickens, and likely never will, LOL.
I am currently in the process of building a proper run and coop for my girls. They have a cute little coop that is OK, but lacks some of the things I want. And eventually I'd like more than 2 and their current coop is really tiny. I am building something on the lines of a Carolina coop, with big door that includes a screen door, and a drop down door for easy cleaning. They are in an area that is pretty well protected from the wind, so even though Michigan gets cold, they are getting LOTS of ventilation. Their run will be fully predator safe, so they can have 24 hour access, then they will have an area they can free range that they will have access to most days.
I thinks that's about it. I look forward to learning a lot here, and maybe sharing some of the things I learn from my ladies!
Glad you could join! Sorry about your one chicken! 
