Hello everyone :) Outdoorlover

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Outdoorlover

Outdoorlover

Chirping
Mar 9, 2017
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MI
Hello all, I'm from Oakland County MI, I've been reading this Forum for over two weeks and so I decided to join :)

I live on 4 acres and I'm looking to start a small flock of chicken (5-6) to have as pets and of course for the fresh egg

I need help selecting the breeds (every time I think I found the right one, I read something that changes my mind), I also need to find a breeder(s) that is willing to fill small orders.
So far I'm still firm on English Orpingtons, but I would like the really fluffy kind (with long feathers that hide the legs), and I don't know where to go find them. I don't know all the different colors they come in, but I'm sure I would like: 1 black, 1 golden laced and 1 chocolate or Buff...I'm having mixed feelings about the Cochin, Polish, and Wyandotte, due to reviews I read but I'm still considering the breeds I just need to learn more about them.

Overall I would like my 5-6 chicken to be a bit more fancier than average :)
I would like my flock to be made up of really distinctive chickens, but temperament is the first and most important thing, I was attacked by a rooster when I was a toddler and along with the visible scars I carry a strong phobia of chickens (lol until last night I couldn't even hold a new born chick)

I'm also contemplating hatching my own eggs! The only issue with that, would be to find all the different eggs at the same time, since I'm told you must hatch at least 6 eggs at a time.

I have a lot of questions and I'm not sure where to post what yet, so please bare with me while I'm learning my way around this board :)
 
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Welcome to BYC!

You chose some beautiful breeds! English Orps are stunning. The thing about hatching eggs (you don't have to hatch 6, but ideally I would set at least 3 eggs at a time so the chance of having a lone chick is less likely), is that you will get cockerels. Do you want/can you have a rooster?

It's great to have you with us! I look forward to seeing you around.
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Greetings from Kansas, Outdoorlover, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Pleased you joined our community! It's really hard to go wrong wth just about any breed and on BYC you will find proponents and detractors of every breed out there. Have you researched the Breeds section:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
In terms of small order hatcheries, I believe MyPetChicken will do orders as small as 3 chicks. Other hatcheries may as well. You can explore that here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16/chicken-breeders-hatcheries
And if you'd like to chat with fellow MI poultry peeps, find your state thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread
Also, in terms of your adverse childhood poultry experience, most chickens will be quite docile with a little slow movement, quiet voice, and TLC. Best wishes and thanks for joining BYC!!
wee.gif
 
eggbert420 said:
Hello and welcome to BYC.
Click to expand...
Thank you! :)

TheKindaFarmGal said:
Welcome to BYC!

You chose some beautiful breeds! English Orps are stunning. The thing about hatching eggs (you don't have to hatch 6, but ideally I would set at least 3 eggs at a time so the chance of having a lone chick is less likely), is that you will get cockerels. Do you want/can you have a rooster?

It's great to have you with us! I look forward to seeing you around.
smile.png
Click to expand...
Thank you for the welcome, it's good to be here! :)

No I absolutely cannot have a rooster! But I know of a place that takes unwanted poultry
A question about Hatching eggs: can you start with say 3, and add more to the incubator a week later?

redsoxs said:
Greetings from Kansas, Outdoorlover, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Pleased you joined our community! It's really hard to go wrong wth just about any breed and on BYC you will find proponents and detractors of every breed out there. Have you researched the Breeds section:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
In terms of small order hatcheries, I believe MyPetChicken will do orders as small as 3 chicks. Other hatcheries may as well. You can explore that here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16/chicken-breeders-hatcheries
And if you'd like to chat with fellow MI poultry peeps, find your state thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread
Also, in terms of your adverse childhood poultry experience, most chickens will be quite docile with a little slow movement, quiet voice, and TLC. Best wishes and thanks for joining BYC!!
wee.gif
Click to expand...

Thank you for the welcome! :)
...... and for pointing me in the right direction...I much appreciate those links
N F C said:
welcome-byc.gif


Best of luck with all your plans!
Click to expand...
Thank you! :)
 
No, then you would have a staggered hatch which really complicates things. Don't add eggs on different days unless you have another bator or a broody backup.

And I don't recommend incubating if you can't have roosters. You WILL get them, and you WILL get attached esp since you want them to be pets as well as for eggs. Incubating is very rewarding, and if you have your heart set on it, go for it! Just beware that at least half will likely be male.
 
Welcome to BYC! This is THE place to be for anything and everything poultry related...
Whether you're looking for help, info, insight, poultry breeders, ideas, or just friends, you've come to the right place!

Anyway, great to have ya here!

Make it a great day!

smile.png

~MW
 

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