Cock-adoodle-doo

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC! Best of luck finding some eggs.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Okay, I'm all into it now.... just bought a Borotto Real24 and some brooder gear !
Now all I need are some eggs
Safely Parked in Nova Scotia Canada and looking for some Dorking Eggs ! .... anyone that can ship this-away.
Any assistance on that front will be TOTALLY appreciated !
Cheers....
Rod (Aether)

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

Good luck with your hatch! @N F C has left you with some great links to follow. And keep us posted on any new hatchlings!

 

[Grammy60]

Hello Rod and welcome to BYC Thanks for joining us

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC! pleased to meet you.

 

[sourland]

Hello, Rod, and welcome to BYC. Good luck in establishing and maintaining your flock.

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you, Rod, and welcome to BYC. Besides asking around your fellow Canadians for anyone with Dorking eggs, you can look in the BYC For Sale/Trade section. You might also break down and buy Dorking eggs shipped from one of the large hatcheries. I have had very good experiences with Meyers, but there are other hatcheries as well. When I have had eggs shipped to incubate, I was very impressed at the packing that was done to preserve them.

Here is an article that helped me the first few times I used an incubator. It's a very exciting (egg-citing) experience, but it's also kind of daunting. I really appreciated the support.

These are my favorite beginning articles that helped me as a newbie. All articles are short, have illustrations, and reviews, which are often worth looking at for the comments.

1. Intro to chicken keeping

2. Common mistakes & how to fix them

3. Ventilation (important to chicken health), with helpful links to coop designs organized by climate (because what is just right for my New England hens won't work for my brother's Arizona chickens)

3(a). Farmers Almanac on Building Coops (Includes size requirements!) Allowing plenty of space for chickens is really important because, even as chicks, they will start pecking each other or plucking their own feathers, or become unhealthy if they are overcrowded. Here is a link to Colorado State Extension's publication on space and temperature requirements for chicks as they age.

4. Predator protection for new & existing coops

5. Dealing with a muddy coop and run

6. Winter chicken care

7. BYC Lists of Chicken Ailments and Cures

To look for articles on your own:

A. Use the SEARCH button, but use the Advanced Search choice, and select ARTICLES at the top of the box. Just enter your keyword(s) and scroll through your results!

B. I find it helpful to notice the rating and reviews. All articles are by BYC members, and all the reviews/ratings are as well. The ratings help a newbie like me sort the most useful and reliable articles.

C. You can bookmark the articles or posts you think you want to refer to again using that bookmark icon at the top of articles or posts. You can find them again by clicking on your own avatar and looking at the list of bookmarks you have built up!

Notes about where to put a coop:

1. As far as you can, put a coop and run on high ground, that drains well, so you won't have so much muddy coop problems. Chickens need to be dry, dry, dry.

2. As far as you can, put a coop with the ventilation lined up with your prevailing breezes, and away from the direction of your storms. If you are not sure of these (who is these days?), check with your local National Weather Service website.

3. As far as you can, arrange for some sort of shade over your coop and run. Preferably deciduous so the girls will enjoy winter sun, but summer shade.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi Rod and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.