Beginner's Suggestions?

[Arielle]

I've read many posts here on BYC and often see Buff orpingtons and faverelles listed as having gentle personalities. you might "search" those breeds.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Thank you all so much for all of your pointers. I did order the book from the library, and I am just waiting for it to get here so I can start doing some more reading. I think my husband is hiding from me in his "man cave" because I keep telling him hey guess what's cool about this breed or hey did you know that?

Poor guy...I'm sure he'll get bitten by the bug as soon as he sees the cute little ones!!

We officially started working on the coop today and he laughed at me because I was WAY TOO giddy!!

Thank you for the pointers regarding the roos. I was thinking that one would NEED a roo for the girls to lay eggs, but that's not the case?

I am still pleasantly overwhelmed by all the information out there but I am determined to learn as much as I can while the coop is being built!!

Afterall, it is better to have raised and experienced a loss than to not have raised at all... :lol

 

[Mrs. K]

No need for a roo. The hen ovulates (just like all animals) only they do it nearly everyday. Without a roo, they are not fertilized and will not grow into a chick, even if kept warm.

A roo will not get a hen to go broody, which means that she decides that now is the best time to raise a clutch ( a group of eggs). She will take eggs at this point. If you don't have a roo, and you want chicks, you need to get or buy some fertilized eggs. She gets in a trance like, a bit grouchy and won't get out of the nest. At all other times, hens jump out of the nest, with the attitude, whew, got rid of that, I am not taking care of it, I am out of here.

This is kind of the neat part. Fertilized eggs can sit at room temperature for several days, up to 10, and then get place in a incubator or under a broody hen, and only then will they start to develop.

You also don't need to keep your eggs in the fridge. They stay very fresh at room temp for many days.

Welcome on board, you are going to love this hobby. Mrsk