I'm going to place an order for more chicks so that they will be mostly grown before winter. Keeping in mind that I live in Iowa, what would you suggest to go with the birds I already have? I'm looking for egg layers, will only butcher an occasional surprise roo. I'm not interested in small birds and egg color isn't a big deal. Although maybe some white eggs since I only have brown layers. Coop and run space is not an issue, feuding chickens is.
I have 12 Buff Orpingtons, 11 of which I'm fairly certain are roo's. They will be going to camp at the end of June. I plan on keeping one for breeding the BO pullets I plan on ordering.
I have 20 red star pullets, along with a misc roo that was thrown in with them. (Whitish gray with greenish blue legs? The man said it will grow a neat beard?)
So, what breeds would you suggest that can make it through an IA winter, plus get along with the chickens I already have?
More newbie questions..... No laughing!!! Well, as long as you still answer my questions laugh all you want
If roo's breed hens of different types, are the chicks mutts? I have read that a few specific crosses make certain breeds, but in general if I throw several types in together will I end up with a bunch of mutts? Is this a bad thing if?
Does a hen have to be bred on a daily basis to make each egg fertile? So if a hen goes broody, how do you know she is sitting on fertile eggs? Do you have to candle each one?
I think that's all for now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, this site has been very helpful to me in my raising chickens endeavor!
I have 12 Buff Orpingtons, 11 of which I'm fairly certain are roo's. They will be going to camp at the end of June. I plan on keeping one for breeding the BO pullets I plan on ordering.
I have 20 red star pullets, along with a misc roo that was thrown in with them. (Whitish gray with greenish blue legs? The man said it will grow a neat beard?)
So, what breeds would you suggest that can make it through an IA winter, plus get along with the chickens I already have?
More newbie questions..... No laughing!!! Well, as long as you still answer my questions laugh all you want

If roo's breed hens of different types, are the chicks mutts? I have read that a few specific crosses make certain breeds, but in general if I throw several types in together will I end up with a bunch of mutts? Is this a bad thing if?
Does a hen have to be bred on a daily basis to make each egg fertile? So if a hen goes broody, how do you know she is sitting on fertile eggs? Do you have to candle each one?
I think that's all for now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, this site has been very helpful to me in my raising chickens endeavor!