1st Time Chicken Owner

[HuntressKate]

My name is Katelynn. My husband and I just moved to NW Indiana from West Michigan. We have a 11 year old daughter. Three dogs (Siberian Husky, Plott-Walker cross, and a Plott Hound), two cats (domestic shorthaira), and 9 Sapphire Splash chickens (purchased 9/25/23).
We are an outdoorsy family. We enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping. We are coffee drinking, card playing, church going kind of folks. If I'm not home fulfilling my housewife duties, you'll find me at out at a dog show.
I joined Backyard Chickens because we're first time chicken owners and are eager to learn but also to do right by our animals. So, what better way to make that happen then to join a community that wpuld help us do just that.
I went to my local Rural King and lightly research the different chick breeds they had. We chose the Sapphire Splash because we wanted a flock that was going to be very friendly and docile. However, we failed at making sure we went with a breed my daughter could also show. Showing chickens has been something she'd talked about before we got the chickens. I know she can show them in 4H but she really wanted to do the big time shows. Besides her not being able to show them outside of 4H, I couldn't be tickled more. We are so grateful for the temperament of this breed. They're all very friendly and sociable. One in particular likes to be pet and held. We got them as chicks in the fall because the idea was they'd be producing eggs by spring. We have yet to see an egg but we know that winter time many slow or even shut down production. We hope to build them a bigger coop in the spring. Right now they're in a prefab coop from Rural King that they've outgrown.
My first question to this group would be, what are you're must haves for a coop? Or what would your dream coop look like?
Attached are pictures of our SS flock growing up. Will post a current picture soon.
I look forward to chatting about chickens!

 

[N F C]

Good morning, thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures! You can get all your coop questions answered here: Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance

 

[BobStuart]

Beautiful babies. If you have any other questions do not hesitate to ask.

 

[BobStuart]

My name is Katelynn. My husband and I just moved to NW Indiana from West Michigan. We have a 11 year old daughter. Three dogs (Siberian Husky, Plott-Walker cross, and a Plott Hound), two cats (domestic shorthaira), and 9 Sapphire Splash chickens (purchased 9/25/23).
We are an outdoorsy family. We enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping. We are coffee drinking, card playing, church going kind of folks. If I'm not home fulfilling my housewife duties, you'll find me at out at a dog show.
I joined Backyard Chickens because we're first time chicken owners and are eager to learn but also to do right by our animals. So, what better way to make that happen then to join a community that wpuld help us do just that.
I went to my local Rural King and lightly research the different chick breeds they had. We chose the Sapphire Splash because we wanted a flock that was going to be very friendly and docile. However, we failed at making sure we went with a breed my daughter could also show. Showing chickens has been something she'd talked about before we got the chickens. I know she can show them in 4H but she really wanted to do the big time shows. Besides her not being able to show them outside of 4H, I couldn't be tickled more. We are so grateful for the temperament of this breed. They're all very friendly and sociable. One in particular likes to be pet and held. We got them as chicks in the fall because the idea was they'd be producing eggs by spring. We have yet to see an egg but we know that winter time many slow or even shut down production. We hope to build them a bigger coop in the spring. Right now they're in a prefab coop from Rural King that they've outgrown.
My first question to this group would be, what are you're must haves for a coop? Or what would your dream coop look like?
Attached are pictures of our SS flock growing up. Will post a current picture soon.
I look forward to chatting about chickens!

Just fence an area for them and add a little house for them

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on getting your first chickens; love that your daughter pulls up a chair inside the run!

I added two Sapphire Splashes to my flocks last spring. I know that there are no guarantees with hybrids, but I was terribly disappointed that they didn't have beautiful shades of gray-blue feathers like my Sapphire Gems or Sapphire Olive Egger. Cora and Alice are completely white. I was even more disappointed when they didn't start laying in August like the four other pullets their age.

HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised when Cora and Alice started laying nice, big eggs in November! Both girls are regularly producing four or five times a week. They laid even during last week's blizzard, so, your girls may yet surprise you!

Welcome to BYC, and best wishes with your girls!

 

[janiedoe]

Good morning. Welcome to BYC. I'd suggest researching
Walkin coops with poop boards and covered secure runs. Make the coop and run much bigger than you think you'll need. Eventually you'll want to add more chicks to your flock, so a built-in brooder will be a plus.

 

[RoyalChick]

Welcome to BYC. Love the picture of your daughter inside the coop!
Yes. They need more space.
It is worth doing a lot of research in the forum @N F C linked. I spent weeks designing mine and am always thankful I took that time.
Don’t forget to take into account your weather. Snow, wind, heat etc.
And ask questions - we all love to share our experiences.

 

[Jenbirdee]

nice to meet you!!

 

[theoldchick]

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Katelynn, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Walkin coops with poop boards and covered secure runs. Make the coop and run much bigger than you think you'll need. Eventually you'll want to add more chicks to your flock, so a built-in brooder will be a plus.

This:

With secured covered run attached:

With this under the nest boxes: