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Mom's suggestion is great but how do you feel about it ?if you think this is the hobby for you there is nothing to hold you back ,having a backyard coop helps you get started straight away,getting answers to your question is helpful but will not give you all the knowledge you need,you will have to read up on the subject,books & the internet are great sources to collect information,visit a friend or neighbor who has poultry to get hands on experience.

Check that your coop is safe & draft free & can be locked up for the night,if your birds can free range it is great failing which the coop will need an secure fenced run,start your birds at any age group from chicks to layers ,chicks need more experience in caring for them.I like point of lay for beginners ,nothing like fresh eggs to keep the interest building up.

If you are interested in raising them then do some research. The poster who mentioned Backyardchickens.com is right. There are 1,000's of members and some are around your age. Ask questions and do your research. I would not buy chicks before spring. Baby chicks need the heat and if you are having the chicks shipped then they don't have as good of a chance of survival as they do in the spring. Plus the selection is not as good because some hatcheries are not shipping this late in the year.

You could buy grown chickens from craigslist. But even then you should figure out what you are getting into. I have three pens of chickens and it takes work to keep their coop clean and them feed and waterer. It this weather i have been going out early and giving breaking the ice on the water bowls.

Another good resource is Storey's guide to raising chickens.

Get 2-4 hens and a rooster(make sure they are nice, we have a psycho rooster and an evil hen) Build a chicken run off of the chicken coop if don't already have one and just keep them fed and throw weeds in there for them every day and collect the eggs until your hen starts setting(hatching her eggs)

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!

you put them in your hands and put them above your head...thats how you raise a chicken

in all honesty, there are many sites online about raising poultry..if you are in the US i suggest you contact someone in 4H

hello

when u feed chopped onions they wont get sick frequently this is the tec followed in the indian villages

Uummm sounds fun?

pretty much i know is checking there eggs,try googling