Zionsville, Indiana - Hello!

[Zionsville]

Hi,

We have 1/2 acre, and are almost finished building raised bed gardens. The coop will be next. We know next to nothing about chickens, but plan on changing that with the great knowledge and experience you all share. Looking forward to learning from you all.

Items of Interest:
-Easy access coops, size, design, & materials
-Cold-hardy breeds that are good layers
-Minimizing feed costs while providing excellent feed
-Keeping winter water thawed without electricity at coop
-DYI feeders & waterers, design & materials
-Pitfalls to avoid for newbies
-Eggs only / no meat / no Roo
-Would enjoy chatting with & meeting local chicken-keeping folks
-10,000 other things I'm forgetting or don't know yet!

Thanks,
Zionsville

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hi and welcome!!!!! Where in Indiana is Zionsville? (Going to feel really silly if it turns out to be right nearby - I admittedly am not as familiar with locations here as I should be - even after living here for 10 years)

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Be sure to check out the Learning Cente:r Learning Center Articles It should help you find answers to some of your "items of interest".

Good luck with your future flock!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

So glad you could join our community! Definitely stop by our learning center. Many of your questions can be answered there.

Some nice breeds to consider are Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps. Wyandottes, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Silkies...all great breeds for pets and eggs. Hardy too.

Here is a nice thread on things I wished I had known before I got chickens that you might look through...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...sh-you-had-known-before-you-got-your-chickens

And here is another thread on winterizing tips for newbies...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/822765/winter-is-coming-checklists-tips-advice-for-a-newbie

Great to have you aboard! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Welcome to our flock!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

-Easy access coops, size, design, & materials-Our coop section is a great place to start looking for coop designs and building materials.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

-Cold-hardy breeds that are good layers-Buff orpingtons, wyandottes, speckled sussex, black australorps, RIRs and Barred rocks would be your best bet. They are all cold hardy and lay well. Buff orps and black australorps are especailly docile and affectionate. Barred rocks and speckled sussex are super curious! RIRs and wyandottes can be a bit more aggressive.

-Minimizing feed costs while providing excellent feed-Table scraps, greens and scratch all help reduce the cost of the layer feed. Here's a great article to check out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...e-tips-and-tricks-for-reducing-your-feed-cost

-Keeping winter water thawed without electricity at coop-There is really one way to do that without using electricity: Refill and check the water every hour.

-DYI feeders & waterers, design & materials-Here's another good link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16177/diy-self-sufficiency

Good luck and glad you joined!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some nice links from other posters, you might like to check out your state thread for neighbors https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730582/indiana-bycers-here/9670

 

[Zionsville]

Zionsville is about 20 miles NW of downtown Indianapolis. I feel the same way, after living here for three years. Where are you?

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. Since egg production and feed efficiency is your main focus and you do not plan on breeding them (on roosters), I would recommend Black Sex Links (Black Stars). They are cold hardy, friendly, feed efficient, egg laying machines that will continue to lay right through the coldest weather. I've raised them for years (along with dozens of other breeds and hybrids) and they have consistently been my best layers, frequently churning out over 300 eggs per hen per year. They are hybrids and will not breed true, but they are readily available at any large hatchery in pullet orders as commercial laying hatcheries use them for producing brown eggs, so it is easy to resupply your stock of hens when their rate of lay starts declining. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in finishing your flock and getting your hens.

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

You've been given some great advice by other posters. Good luck with your future flock!

 

[LIChickens]

Welcome to BYC!

You will find a lot of good information here. Keep on asking questions and you will get many good answers.

You may also want to read the FAQ below.