My husband and I finally have a contract on a house after searching for more than a year! We have a fenced in back yard, and our city allows us four chickens for the size yard we have (1/3 acre). We won’t move in until July, which feels a little late in the year to start our flock, so we will probably wait until next spring. Where do we begin? Should we start by picking breeds, then getting the coop for what we want? Are some hens more social than others or is a flock of four going to make a difference in breed selection? Any other resources on where to start would be much appreciated!
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When choosing a breed, keep your climate in mind. People tend to be more concerned about keeping chickens in the cold but, in my experience, it's the heat that kills them and it's much harder to keep them cool than it is to keep them warm. I live in a northern climate and have never lost a chicken to cold but have lost a few to the heat. There are a lot of pretty, interesting breeds, but the main goal should be making sure they'll survive in your climate. I'm limited to breeds that can tolerate both extreme cold and extreme heat.
Another thing to keep in mind is that different breeds have different life expectancies. Barred Rocks can live to be 10-12, while Isa Browns rarely make it past 3-4. Personally, I get chickens who have longer life spans. Our 9 year old Barred Rock isn't as productive as she used to be, but she still lays 2-3 (small) eggs a week. It makes me feel good to have given her a long, healthy life. But, if you're out to get as many eggs as possible, you'd want a breed like an Isa Red. They'll lay almost every day, even through the winter, up to the day they die, between the age of 2 and 4.