Gettins started with chickens

My newest brainstorm is to get a few laying hens, and have them spend the winter in the garden space (already fenced 7' against the deer) and then free-range when I'd be using the garden. I'd love advice, especially, can I do this still this fall, and where can I buy chicks near Cleveland, Ohio?

I used to have chickens in the early 70's back-to-the-land hippie country living days, but I'm in the suburbs now. We do have three plus acres and a lot of space between neighbors, so I think it's ok.

First... check with your township/city for regulations for/against poultry...How do you plan to house them against the winter weather?
They need a roost, nest boxes for laying and a warm place to sleep and get out of the weather...

Are you looking for day-old chicks or something bigger? Ideal has some chicks avail around sept 17. Yes everyone I've been looking! lol! Trying to get the CF to sprinkle her dust on my DH!
Ideal's website is: http://www.ideal-poultry.com
Keep us updated!!

I would really like to get older chicks. I can't find anything online except day-old chicks. Will they be mature enough to winter over (with proper housing, of course)? And then eggs next spring? My biggest reason for getting them is to clear out the garden space. Eggs are just a side benefit.

So, if anyone would like to lend me a half dozen or so chickens from say, October until April, that would work, too! ; -)

Not linking right again, but google southern Ohio poultry association. Daylilydaddy and a few others here have recommended it.

This meet has been recommended by a few and looks like a great place for examples and advice. If you can, build them a portable coop, with nesting boxes up one wall -3 1/2 walls and a roof, possible a hinged roof. Mine sleep on top of their nesting boxes. We have a chicks coop which is (very roughly) a 4'w x 3'h piece of plywood at the back with side pieces 3'h in back, 18" in front. The front opening is about 1' square. This makes a cozy coop for about 6 adults, but would need nesting boxes and would be vastly improved if we added hinges to the roof for cleaning and accessibility. They are also subject to predation when smaller so you might consider bird netting. Most predators see it and stay away.

There are plenty of great ideas floating around this forum...

This message was edited Sep 2, 2008 12:17 PM

It is a wonderful idea, but remember, they are chickens.. when they are hungry for greenery.. they cannot read labels.. so they do not know the difference between a $200. Hosta or the weed left to you by a gift-given bird.


I forgot to add... ask me how I know??

This message was edited Sep 2, 2008 2:04 PM

I've been building mine very light-weight movable tractors out of PVC pipes, zip-ties and chicken wire. It has worked well in confining them to certain areas of the lawn that I want "mown". Right now I am building another one to keep my raised bed winter veggies safe FROM the chickens. The cages won't protect chickens from predators--except hawks or owls--but they do keep them confined to where I want them. Which is something.

look on the chicken chat thread. dustyds is in you area, and found a bunch of buckeyes for 5 dollars each, you could get the info from her. that is a steal! and the best chickens for the situation you descrbie. they will house well in the winter, with little or no pecking, can handle the cold with their pea combs, and are the best free rangers next spring!

tf