help with novice chicken keeper here :)

[Andiwiddow]

i am just building my chicken coop and would love some hints and tips along the way please and i was wondering what is the best chicken to get as a novice ?.

thanks guys
andy

[ChrisMath88]

I'd go with hybrids to start with, I've got 4 chickens a light Sussex, bluebelle, and two auracana's (pure breeds) they are all great but the auracana's were a pain when I first got them very flighty and still won't let you catch them to check them with out a fight, whereas the other two bounce over and although not happy to be handled are a lot easier to get hold of and in general but not always are less likely to go broody than the pure breeds. One of my auracanas was a pain last summer with broodyness

[Andiwiddow]

thanks so much helped me make my mine up lol and if i had a 6ft by 6ft coop and a 6ft by 6ft run how many chickens could i have ?.

[ChrisMath88]

I've got a 3mtr x 3mtr enclosed run and then they have access to the decent sized garden when I'm in. I probably wouldn't keep more than 5 in mine so maybe you start small and go with 3?

[kathyd]

Chickens do need a bit of space each, otherwise they'll get irritable and bored, and may squabble, so I'd go fewer as Chris says. Don't forget to think about the floor of the run - they'll turn it to mud in seconds, so you may want to cover it with something unless you can move it around regularly. Disease and parasites will build up in soggy ground if it's over-used... They'll also need shelter from the weather - sun and rain and wind. Enjoy your birds