[DelaWhere]

I think you would be making a very wise choice.

Portable hutches work great and their design is limited only by your imagination like some of these:

Fancy or plain, the chickens don't seem to mind.

I get my chickens from Ridgway Hatchery I bought my first from them in the '50's and their family run hatchery has always been very good as far as I am concerned. As an example, this last order I received a call that Mrs. Ridgway canceled that shipment and they would go out in 3 days - she inspected the chicks and was not satisfied with them so she was not going to ship them. Received them from the next batch and they were great - 100 Buff Orpingtons - Lost "0".

There are quite a few other good hatcheries out there but I can only relate my experience with Ridgway Hatchery

[snippy_about_it]

Those are creative. Out here they let the chickens and roosters run loose, though if I learn a little about it I expect they put them in a hatch at night maybe.

I live around many poultry farms, huge in fact. Because of that we have lots of flies in the spring and summer.

[nw_arizona_granny]

LOL, Delawhere, I approve your chicken post and think that I would love to have the first A frame one.

I like the chain link, easy to move, but to high off the ground and the babies will get out from the bottom.

I have ordered from Ridgeway and was happy, LOL, I would be happier ordering from Sandhill Preservation in Ohio, as they have the rare breeds.

I don’t know where Snippy lives, but here in Arizona and esp. in the really hotter parts of Arizona, I was warned to stick with the crossbred Bantie or Game Cock backgrounds, if possible as the big fat chicken drops dead in the heat.

Polish Crested are beautiful and did well for me here.

A Bantie hen is always a good choice, lots of eggs, good setters and excellent bug eaters.

The Guinea Hen is the best bug eater.

A bantie will make a nest on the ground or use the boxes if in a house.

I would love to have a few for eggs and bugs.