For someone new

[Daddyo775]

bringing chckens into thier lives would it be better to have full grown egg laying hens to start with, then once feeling more comfortable get day old baby chicks?

 

[bluemusefarm]

We started with day-old chicks, then bought 4 laying hens about 2 months later. The adults are rewarding right away: you get eggs and much less maintenance (you're not CONSTANTLY changing water and food and brooder bedding). But the chicks are SO CUTE! I could go either way.

It sure is rewarding, though, to have raised 9 baby chicks beginning in March, and now watch as they start laying their first eggs. Good luck!

 

[mnferalkitty]

Its kind of late in the season to get day olds but there should be plenty of pullets that are about ready to lay available check craigslist and remember some people don't always tell the truth about how old thier adult birds are and sell newbies old old chickens. Just be careful

 

[Daddyo775]

We started with day-old chicks, then bought 4 laying hens about 2 months later. The adults are rewarding right away: you get eggs and much less maintenance (you're not CONSTANTLY changing water and food and brooder bedding). But the chicks are SO CUTE! I could go either way.

It sure is rewarding, though, to have raised 9 baby chicks beginning in March, and now watch as they start laying their first eggs. Good luck!

Its kind of late in the season to get day olds but there should be plenty of pullets that are about ready to lay available check craigslist and remember some people don't always tell the truth about how old thier adult birds are and sell newbies old old chickens. Just be careful

I agree with you both.....i find out on thursday from my local authority on wether or not i can have chickens.....I already have my eye on some free building materials...and if approved i can start right away. Craigs list has many, many listings on pullets some for free!!! many for $10 or so

 

[jdywntr]

chicks can be fragile. I think the answer depends on if you want the work of day olds or the rewards of eggs right away. 2 months ago, we were given 3 weeks notice for my husband's transfer. Not knowing where we were going to live I had to sell my chickens and ducks. We ended up renting 5 acres and I have since gotten a number of birds. I opted for started pullets (4 months old) and a 6 month old roo. I also got two 1.5 year old hens so I could literally have eggs right away. I have birds for eggs and meat and didn't want to have to wait for day olds to grow to lay, hatch and then wait for those to grow to butcher.
I also, this morning, picked up 30 jersey giant chicks. These I am going to let free range in the pasture and be a little more on their own, though with shelter at night.

so, I would decide what is more important to you and how much time you have available.
Day olds are a bit of work but they also allow you the time to build a coop since you don't need it right away. Also, if you have children, decide how you will discuss any losses that happen.

Started hens will give you eggs quickly. You will need a coop immediately. You will not have the opportunity to bond with babies (mine started following me around after a few days) I have been platantly lied to by people that thought I didn't know what I was talking about. I am no expert but I have the basics down. That is not to say you can't find wonderful started birds, I did but it took some looking.

Wow, this is a lot longer than I thought it would be. Good luck in your chicken adventure. And:

 

[Redangler]

I have had my chicks for 5 days now and definitely recommend the young route. We wanted to have our grow up with us and they certainly have become part of our family. Even our dog seems to like them!

 

[write2caroline]

It all depends on you and your schedule. If you have time do the babies. If you don't - get pullets and fall in love with chicken keeping. Eventually, you will raise chicks because of that crazy thing we call chicken math.....you will discover that later......

lol
Caroline

 

[richsbabycakes]

It all depends on you and your schedule. If you have time do the babies. If you don't - get pullets and fall in love with chicken keeping. Eventually, you will raise chicks because of that crazy thing we call chicken math.....you will discover that later......

lol
Caroline

I've only had chickens for just over a month but I started with 5 and now I have 10. I'm dying for my hens to go broody so I can try to hatch some eggs under them. Chicken math is making me crazy!!

 

[OurLittlebitRanch]

bringing chckens into thier lives would it be better to have full grown egg laying hens to start with, then once feeling more comfortable get day old baby chicks?

Check Craigslist for pullets that are feathered out. Sometimes getting day old chicks can be hard. The temp has to be just right, the bedding, food and water BUT it is usually more fund to raise them from when they are little (especially if you have kids).

This is what we do (our hobby that has turned into a full the job!). We order a bunch of chicks from the hatchery, anywhere from 50 -150 at a time, and we raise them until they are about 4 to 6 weeks old. When they are this age they don't usually need to consistent temperature (provided by the heat lamps) and they are much easier to take care of.
6 weeks is a good age. They are usually past that delicate stage and you have a better chance of all of them surviving that you do with the day olds. ALSO, if you are buying hens you will probably want hens that are right around a year old. As they get older they slow down on their production. We never keep hens much longer than 2 and a 1/2 to three years of age.

Good luck and have FUN

 

[Daddyo775]

I can't believe it's been nearly a year to the day. I was walking to the borough hall to meet with the borough engineer on acquiring chickens. I had decided to walk being I live so close to the borough hall, When I was struck from behind by a car. I'm not going to give the gory details I spent a very long time in the hospital three weeks in a coma,because of some teenager texting while driving. The only thing I have to say is please don't do it everybody does it but please don't!!!!