Buff Orpington laying question...

[dreamcatcher12]

Cool I was hoping they get bigger... when I purchased them from tractor supply they told me they would be large egg layers... When I seen small eggs I started to doubt them cause they said they would be all girls too and I have a rooster which I really didnt want but he is my favorite since I first layed eyes on him.... poor thing now ill have to separate him from the hens...

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Why do you have to separate him?

 

[Peeps61]

Yes, I ended up with a surprise rooster too. I bought two Easter Egger chicks from the feed store and paid the "pullet" price for them. One was a wonderful, blue egg laying hen, and the other was a hard headed rooster. He taught me a lot though, and I was sorry to lose him to a predator.

Why do you feel you need to separate your rooster from your hens? Fertile eggs are OK to eat as long as you collect them daily and refrigerate them.

 

[dreamcatcher12]

Well sounds silly but I don't want to crack open any surprises if ya know what I mean.... I would like to get use to the chickens and tending to them before I start any chances of baby chicks... wish I knew if he was at that stage that he might try to mess with one I do know that he likes or I should say hangs more with one then the other and crows when she walks out of his sight it's so cute...

 

[BayBay Peepers]

If you collect daily there's no real surprise. Nothing develops until they sit on them for a day. He'd probably be awfully lonely with no other chickens with him.

 

[Peeps61]

If you collect the eggs daily, you don't need to worry about that. The egg must be incubated at at least 100 degrees for over 24 hours before develoment even starts. I had my rooster for a year and never had a problem with any fertile eggs developing, even if we were out of town and I had to collect two or even three days after they were laid. Refrigeration stops any chance of development. Even leaving them on the counter would be OK.

 

[dreamcatcher12]

I just dont want to take the chance and he will still be with them just no alone time with them... lol I'll put chicken wire up to section a nice size area so that way they can still see each other and sit with each other and when im out there they can mingle when I let them be out in the yard.... to be honest the hens are so much bigger then him I don't even think he can manage to get up there if I knew how to put a pic I would ya'll could probably tell me what kind they are too.... I was so excited when I was getting them that I totally forgot what they were

 

[BayBay Peepers]

If you ever get a chance to post pictures please do. He may surprise you and it only takes about 3 seconds and the job is done. It's just mother nature, he was meant to do such things.

 

[Phionex Boy]

pics of what

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I just dont want to take the chance and he will still be with them just no alone time with them... lol I'll put chicken wire up to section a nice size area so that way they can still see each other and sit with each other and when im out there they can mingle when I let them be out in the yard.... to be honest the hens are so much bigger then him I don't even think he can manage to get up there if I knew how to put a pic I would ya'll could probably tell me what kind they are too.... I was so excited when I was getting them that I totally forgot what they were

Chickens.