RustyPocket
Well-known member
Hello everybunny.
Growing up in the suburban countryside and having all sorts of animals come and go through the family, my childhood dream was to move to a city where dogs and cats would be only animals I come in contact with. But seems like my family's farmer-genes started showing up. It was about a year ago I started thinking about getting 2-3 chickens, just for fun, but that's when rabbits came in the picture and I had to put chick dreams on hold.
I am pretty much settled with what I want to do with my rabbits, I sort of got used to owning them and I feel like I'm ready to start fulfilling my dream of owning chicken. I am thinking about two hens and a rooster. Now, I basically have no idea of how the things work, so I hope someone could offer me a little help ?
-What breed to get? My first reason for having chicken would be hobby, then eggs. Also, I would prefer them to be not large, especially rooster. Seems like there are Japanese Silkies, Antwerpens, Croatians, Wyandottes, Rhode Islands, Chabos, Australorps, Brahmas and few local breeds avaliable. I would like to stick to one breed so I can simply sell them if I can't keep them anymore.
-How to house them? They can either be housed inside, along with my grandma's egg hens, in cages, or outside (the idea I prefer). Now, would a DIY coop work? Also, how big considering a specific breed? The climate is not really extreme where I live, but it goes from some 35°C (rarely it even higher) in Summer and below -10°C some Winter nights.
-What to feed them? My grandma feeds her hens with grounden corn-commercial feed mix, but I'd like something cheaper and more natural.
Sorry for so many things need explanation for, but I'm really new to this and would like to prepare myself. Than you in advance for your help and have a nice weekend.
Growing up in the suburban countryside and having all sorts of animals come and go through the family, my childhood dream was to move to a city where dogs and cats would be only animals I come in contact with. But seems like my family's farmer-genes started showing up. It was about a year ago I started thinking about getting 2-3 chickens, just for fun, but that's when rabbits came in the picture and I had to put chick dreams on hold.
I am pretty much settled with what I want to do with my rabbits, I sort of got used to owning them and I feel like I'm ready to start fulfilling my dream of owning chicken. I am thinking about two hens and a rooster. Now, I basically have no idea of how the things work, so I hope someone could offer me a little help ?
-What breed to get? My first reason for having chicken would be hobby, then eggs. Also, I would prefer them to be not large, especially rooster. Seems like there are Japanese Silkies, Antwerpens, Croatians, Wyandottes, Rhode Islands, Chabos, Australorps, Brahmas and few local breeds avaliable. I would like to stick to one breed so I can simply sell them if I can't keep them anymore.
-How to house them? They can either be housed inside, along with my grandma's egg hens, in cages, or outside (the idea I prefer). Now, would a DIY coop work? Also, how big considering a specific breed? The climate is not really extreme where I live, but it goes from some 35°C (rarely it even higher) in Summer and below -10°C some Winter nights.
-What to feed them? My grandma feeds her hens with grounden corn-commercial feed mix, but I'd like something cheaper and more natural.
Sorry for so many things need explanation for, but I'm really new to this and would like to prepare myself. Than you in advance for your help and have a nice weekend.