Hello! Where do I begin? :)

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teanelly

teanelly

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Hello everybody! I have so many questions that I truly don't know where to begin.

Let me start by telling you that I've never had chickens but I am a HUGE animal lover so I was thrilled when my boyfriend and I decided to move out of the city and start our own little homestead!
We won't be moving into our new home until October. We're moving to north east ohio. Hot summers and cold winters.

I want my chickens to be loved and as happy as they can be. I'm so excited!!!

First question:
Is it smart to start my chicken flock in the fall with winter just around the corner or should I wait til spring?

Second question:
What are some of the friendliest egg layers? I want my chickens to be both pets/friends and egg layers.

Third question:
Should I always buy baby chicks and raise them or will a rescued chicken produce eggs as well?

Fourth question:
Should/do I need to have a rooster? I heard they are mean but necessary. Is that true and why?

Okay, I think this is a good place to start.
Thanks!!
-tara
 
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Wow, lots of questions, but that's ok. First of all, welcome!

The answers to your questions are a lot of personal preferences, but I'll give you my opinion.

I would start in the Spring

My friendliest birds are Golden Comets, RIRs and Plymouth Barred Rocks.

I prefer starting with baby chicks. That way they grow up and get accustomed to you from day one.

You don't need a rooster unless you want to raise your own hatching.
 
welcome-byc.gif
Welcome!

Before I get to your questions here is a link to your state thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/12049/ohio-come-on-buckeyes-let-me-know-your-out-there/8230

And here is an awesome blog that can also answer a lot of questions

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/

Okay, now that that is out of the way.

1. I would wait until spring
2. My Wyandottes and Easter Eggers are my friendliest birds but most of them are pretty nice
3. A rescued chicken will not produce as well but you could always incubate hatching eggs rather than having them shipped across the country (Unless you order chicks from Meyer Hatchery)
4. A rooster is not "necessary"per se but I could not imagine my flock without one. True they are noisy, but they take good care of their girls.

Hope this helps!
 
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images


Welcome to BYC!

First, you might want to do some reading in our learning center for lots of great articles on getting started on this adventure and raising your new flock...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

You can start in the fall with already started pullets or grown birds. They will acclimate to your climate easily. Chicks, I would hold off till spring time. Chicks will bond quick with you and be more friendly than started birds, but you can still tame up grown birds with some work.

Many of the large breeds are very docile and friendly, along with being great layers and make great pets....Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, others....

Take a look at this breed page for some good quick info on the breeds and their attributes...

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

You might also want to chat with your chicken neighbors on how they deal with the hot summer and cold winters and other assorted things...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/12049/ohio-come-on-buckeyes-let-me-know-your-out-there

You do not need a rooster unless you want fertile eggs for hatching. If you are only wanting eggs and pets, skip the rooster. They can be mean and a big pain in the rump. LOL

Ex battery hens will produce but do not live very long.

Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
 
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Welcome to the site. I can't answer all your questions as I'm an newbie myself (don't even own chickens yet!) You do not need a rooster if you do not plan on raising chicks from eggs laid by your own flock. Chickens will lay eggs without a rooster. As for rescuing chickens, if you're talking about saving ex-battery hens, then you should know that they may not lay as well, if at all given they've been made to lay intensively in a short period. As for rescuing 'regular' chickens, different breeds lay better than others. Raising them from chicks would help them bond with you better, as other's have mentioned.

If you have any more questions, I'd advise checking the learning centre (that's been linked above) and posting in the appropriate part of the forum.
 
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Welcome to BYC, and congratulations on your new home.

1) If you start in the fall, do so with pullets just about to lay - ie, at point of lay. If you start in the spring do so with chicks.

2) Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, RIR - most of the heavier birds are generally mellow. Mediterranean breeds can be somewhat more flighty, but and birds raised gently with care will be a source of joy.

3) Most 'rescue' hens are burnt out production birds who have passed peak production.

4) A rooster is not necessary unless you want fertile eggs. Some roosters are aggressive, but others are a pleasure to have around. It might be good to start out without a rooster.

Search the forums, question away, plan, and you will be successful - good luck.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC!
Like everyone else said, if you are going to start with chicks it is easier to do it in the spring... if you can find started pullets they would do fine in the fall/winter without extra care.
You've gotten some good suggestions/links above on breeds, also checkout the BYC Breeds section, it has member reviews on most breeds www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
X3, Most people start with baby chicks because they are easier to find and don't have the potential problems adult birds may have. With rescues depends where they come from, most "rescue" birds are commercial birds that are past their laying prime, they may still lay some eggs but not as well as younger birds, and they tend to be more prone to health problems, they can be nice birds and they do work well for some people there are quite a few threads on them if you do a search, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/789916/just-rescued-some-more-battery-hens-pics ... be careful with birds coming from unknown places also, there are a lot of diseases that they can carry and pass to your other birds, nice article from the Learning Center on adding to your flock and quarantine https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
Like everyone else said, unless you want fertile eggs you don't need a rooster, and if you are only going to have a few chickens you probably want an extra hen for the eggs.
 
Totally agree with 2 crows, Sourland and Kelsie it would be good though if you make sure first, that you are allowed to have chickens in your new location. Check with the village hall in whatever town you are moving too.
 
Thank you so much everyone!!!! You've answered my questions and then some!!! Stoked to be here! :)
 

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