hey so i am planning to get 6 chicks i am thinking about getting a nankin bantam, lakenvelder, leghorn, amber white, and a sexlink. first of all is there any difference between the color of sexlink that effects how many eggs they lay? also any info on the breeds i listed? are there any concerns about chicken ownership i should be aware about? i have never had a chicken before and i need to know what broody means and what to do during molts. thanks!
Welcome to BYC! Chickens are great. I've kept them for about eight years or so. There was a very steep learning curve for me, and early on I lost a lot to predators. Your questions about the different breeds can be answered by searching the forums. There is information on just about everything! As far as "broody", that is what we call a hen who wants to sit on a nest and hatch eggs. Normally, she will lay an egg and leave it. When she goes broody, she won't leave and will try to hatch the eggs. Some breeds go broody a lot, and some hardly at all. You can select your breeds and individuals for that quality, or lack of it, depending on your needs. As far as molt, a lot of folks here talk about changing feed rations during the molt, but I never have. I will research it more now that I have heard of it, and consider changing for this year's molt.
Welcome to BYC Have a look around the Learning Center, there are articles on broody hens, raising chicks, picking breeds etc. Here's an interesting thread on molting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/580915/for-the-new-folks-that-havent-experienced-a-molt-yet and for the breeds, there is more info on them in the Breeds section. Enjoy!
Sex links terminology is a cross of chicken that when hatches can be sexed by markings of the chicks. The males and females look different. But if you breed them further that will not be the case of the offspring. It will not affect the egg laying. I had some and they were great layers. If you want some that will breed true then check out green fire farms Cream Leg Bars or Rhodebars. They also can be identified at hatching - the males sport white dots on the heads and the females don't. Welcome to the forum - Glad you can join us! Caroline from Florida