I'm a total newbie and want to breed my hens!

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Thanks again so much for the info!

I can keep my two hens out at my friends' farm for a while to socialize them with the rooster after he's quarantined (I would probably get my own roo and either find a home if possible or slaughter him if need be after the breeding). Or I could raise a male chick and once he starts crowing, I could move him along with the two girls out there until he's ready to breed. I think those are the only two options. Sound feasible at all? Anyone?

But maybe Fred is right and I should just get some hatching eggs shipped and borrow my friends' incubator, which they offered. Was really hoping to breed my gals though because they have great personalities, very intelligent (I have seen them solve simple problems that none of our laying hens can), and of course I just love them and it would be so cool to raise their offspring.

Well, if you cannot have roosters, raising up one for them will probably get you in trouble since he will most likely be crowing before he's even fertile. And it's hard to know how a rooster will behave around new hens. My first rooster was a gentleman with us and with the ladies, but the first face to face meeting resulted in a bleeding comb for him and him having to lay down the law to some uppity women who were a bit miffed that their space was being invaded by a rooster (after 5 weeks of quarantine, of course). I considered him very docile, but he rose to the challenge when his authority was questioned.

Quarantine, then an adjoining pen before the actual introduction, is a good idea, yes, but you'll also have to decide what to do if he shows symptoms of illness while in quarantine, especially if he doesn't belong to you. Usually, you would euthanize a bird who showed symptoms of contagious respiratory illness during that time, but if he belongs to another person, you can't do that, unless they agree with it.

There is no perfect formula for doing what you propose to do, which is breed chickens in a place where you cannot have a rooster.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Or maybe artificial insemination?

 

[Lazarus718]

I'm brand new to raising chickens as well but I couldn't imagine trying to do it without having a coop for them. Sorry, I know you didn't want the discussion to head in that direction but eventually you are going to have some predators discover their little resort area and they will find a way to get to them. Even though I'm inexperienced with raising these birds I do know that a common mistake is to not secure the ground of the coop and to use materials like chicken wire because they have chicken in the name. Half inch by half inch hardware cloth is the only way to go. I'd revisit the chicken coop and focus on securing that before worrying about breeding. There are a ton of different things you can do to spruce the place up (pun intended). Cut some of those branches off of that old pine tree and use those in your coop and run. Then let the girls out when you are home and in the yard with them. It'll keep them dry in those sleety Seattle winters and you can even toss a light bulb in there if you want to keep them laying. I think you are putting the cart before the horse with the breeding thing right now. Don't be in such a rush with it is my advice, get to learn the animal a little better and maybe after a bit you'll have more disposable income to drop on the artificial insemination thing.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Yep, he has three 10-month-old hens already who made it through the winter up in the tree just fine. Because of our proximity to the Pacific Ocean, it gets below freezing here only a few times a year, and not very far below freezing when it does. There is lots of rain but it never comes down hard in the winter, only a slow drizzle, and they roost under big, lush branches which protect them from precipitation to some extent (I trust them to pick the most comfortable spot). Occasionally there is strong wind which is actually my biggest concern but birds know pretty darn well how to handle themselves in trees. If we do get a long cold spell, we actually have a coop for them if need be, they just prefer the tree, which is why eventually we gave up on trying to force them into the coop at night.

I'm brand new to raising chickens as well but one of my largest concerns was with winter weather. The coop I will be building for mine is going to be very insulated against the cold temps and winds we face at 5,000 feet in the winter. Are your girls going to be able to brave the weather up in that pine tree all night in the winter? I'd be more concerned about getting them through to next spring without a coop than I would be about breeding them at this point. I know you all get some nasty, freezing sleet up there and cold, wet birds will probably not meet with much success. I read that your boyfriend has his birds up there as well, did they get through the seasons already?

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

I'm brand new to raising chickens as well but I couldn't imagine trying to do it without having a coop for them. Sorry, I know you didn't want the discussion to head in that direction but eventually you are going to have some predators discover their little resort area and they will find a way to get to them. Even though I'm inexperienced with raising these birds I do know that a common mistake is to not secure the ground of the coop and to use materials like chicken wire because they have chicken in the name. Half inch by half inch hardware cloth is the only way to go. I'd revisit the chicken coop and focus on securing that before worrying about breeding. There are a ton of different things you can do to spruce the place up (pun intended). Cut some of those branches off of that old pine tree and use those in your coop and run. Then let the girls out when you are home and in the yard with them. It'll keep them dry in those sleety Seattle winters and you can even toss a light bulb in there if you want to keep them laying. I think you are putting the cart before the horse with the breeding thing right now. Don't be in such a rush with it is my advice, get to learn the animal a little better and maybe after a bit you'll have more disposable income to drop on the artificial insemination thing.

I appreciate your concern. I admit it's highly unorthodox, but we really like raising our hens this way. We are in an extremely urban environment, just north of Seattle's University District. There are no large birds of prey here, no foxes, no coyotes, no bobcats. Just raccoons and so far either they can't detect our hens or can't get as far out on the branch as our hens roost (they stay far enough out that I don't even think a small house cat could reach them). I accept the fact that one day I may regret this decision, but I guess we have a fetish of sorts for keeping all our animals as close to their natural state as possible. (Granted, a chicken is not a natural animal, but rather domesticated, but it's not like we can keep a flock of jungle fowl in our backyard). This is what our hens have decided to do. Really, we tried for a couple of months to use the coop and they just kept going in the tree earlier and earlier in the day and higher than we could climb (and it was already winter) and it became a race we could not win, and we're not inclined to coop them up against their will. If you could see how beautiful and content they look in their tree, perhaps you'd agree.

P.S. It sleets in Seattle maybe twice a year.

 

[Lazarus718]

I appreciate your concern. I admit it's highly unorthodox, but we really like raising our hens this way. We are in an extremely urban environment, just north of Seattle's University District. There are no large birds of prey here, no foxes, no coyotes, no bobcats. Just raccoons and so far either they can't detect our hens or can't get as far out on the branch as our hens roost (they stay far enough out that I don't even think a small house cat could reach them). I accept the fact that one day I may regret this decision, but I guess we have a fetish of sorts for keeping all our animals as close to their natural state as possible. (Granted, a chicken is not a natural animal, but rather domesticated, but it's not like we can keep a flock of jungle fowl in our backyard). This is what our hens have decided to do. Really, we tried for a couple of months to use the coop and they just kept going in the tree earlier and earlier in the day and higher than we could climb (and it was already winter) and it became a race we could not win, and we're not inclined to coop them up against their will. If you could see how beautiful and content they look in their tree, perhaps you'd agree.

P.S. It sleets in Seattle maybe twice a year.

I guess when I was up there a few years back I caught one of the two sleets, that was enough for me! Been in a over a foot of snow in ten below and I was not as cold and miserable as I was in that sleet! I think it's cool that your chickens get to live in a natural state like that and I'm not going to tell you that you are wrong for having things that way. If they get snatched by a raccoon like the other than that is natural as well. What I will say is that there are members on here that have had entire flocks wiped out by those coons overnight. They are smart animals and if they are prowling your neighborhood I do think they will come across the fresh kabobs in the pine tree eventually. It sounds like you are prepared for that and that is not worth sacrificing their freedom and you are the only one that can decide how your flock is going to live. I just wanted to make the point that your coop could be much safer than it was if you wanted to make it be with relatively cheap fixes when compared to rearing and raising a whole other group after a tragedy like a predator attack. It is too bad that we all like to sleep the day away in the cities nowadays, used to be if you heard that dumb rooster crow you were about a minute away from a butt whoopin'. Would be nice to have a roo to sound the alarm for you, but then there is always that city ordinance that doesn't allow you to discharge a firearm in your backyard either....

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Thanks for letting me try it my own way first. I'm glad that you appreciate the natural beauty of their tree-home even if it might be increased risk from predators. Remember, there is a difference between a raccoon detecting a kabob and his being light enough to get way out on the skinny part of the branch to snatch it! At least, that is what seems to be the case so far in our little corner of the planet, and I hope the trend continues. One thing is certain, there are many, many easier ways for a raccoon to get a meal in our neighborhood packed with college students and cheap restaurants!

And the coop is secure now should we ever have use for it again. It was designed and built by a previous tenant, but my boyfriend secured it properly after we realized there was a way for raccoons to reach in. Unfortunately we had to lose three pullets in the process.

I guess when I was up there a few years back I caught one of the two sleets, that was enough for me! Been in a over a foot of snow in ten below and I was not as cold and miserable as I was in that sleet! I think it's cool that your chickens get to live in a natural state like that and I'm not going to tell you that you are wrong for having things that way. If they get snatched by a raccoon like the other than that is natural as well. What I will say is that there are members on here that have had entire flocks wiped out by those coons overnight. They are smart animals and if they are prowling your neighborhood I do think they will come across the fresh kabobs in the pine tree eventually. It sounds like you are prepared for that and that is not worth sacrificing their freedom and you are the only one that can decide how your flock is going to live. I just wanted to make the point that your coop could be much safer than it was if you wanted to make it be with relatively cheap fixes when compared to rearing and raising a whole other group after a tragedy like a predator attack. It is too bad that we all like to sleep the day away in the cities nowadays, used to be if you heard that dumb rooster crow you were about a minute away from a butt whoopin'. Would be nice to have a roo to sound the alarm for you, but then there is always that city ordinance that doesn't allow you to discharge a firearm in your backyard either....

 

[AinaWGSD]

I can keep my two hens out at my friends' farm for a while to socialize them with the rooster after he's quarantined (I would probably get my own roo and either find a home if possible or slaughter him if need be after the breeding). Or I could raise a male chick and once he starts crowing, I could move him along with the two girls out there until he's ready to breed. I think those are the only two options. Sound feasible at all? Anyone?

Raising a male chick and moving the whole trio out to your friend's farm once he starts crowing sounds like it may be the most feasible option. The trick with this one may be finding a male chick of an appropriate age to put in with your pullets. If you started with a day old, he would be in danger of being pecked to death by the other birds (including your two). You would want to find one the same age, or a little older, as your pullets. Then you would still want to quarantine him for at least 4 weeks. Then introductions could take another two weeks or so. And by then he may have started crowing already (leghorns are known for maturing quickly, so it's not uncommon for the cockerels to start crowing weeks or months before they are actually sexually mature. Then you have to consider how you really feel about not having your girls at home with you for 1-3+ months (depending on how early your rooster starts crowing and how long your hens take to reach laying age + a few weeks to get some of the egg laying kinks worked out and get egg size up to snuff before setting their eggs). Doing this, you're going to miss out on their first egg. I know that's one of my favorite parts of raising pullets to POL. Even though I've done it a half dozen times already, it's still a special little thrill to open up the nest box and find someone's first egg. Then there's the quarantine period after you are done breeding to make sure your hens didn't pick up any ickies from their little get away. And the time and stress of reintroducing them to the rest of the flock, during which time there could possibly be injuries and they may stop laying temporarily.

All told, it may be better to go with hatching eggs. Going this route, you could even take your time and search for eggs of the rarer leghorn varieties that are not common or available in your area. It's much easier to have eggs shipped from other parts of the country/region than to have live chicks or started birds shipped and there are far fewer risks when it comes to contagious diseases that could wipe out your flock (it doesn't eliminate the risk of contagious diseases entirely as there are a few that can be spread on hatching eggs, but it cuts them significantly and the risks are about the same as you would have buying day old chicks from a hatchery). It can be harder to hatch shipped eggs though. Some people have had as good as 100% hatch rates from shipped eggs, others have had an entire batch of shipped eggs that was so badly damaged by the post office (damage to shipped eggs isn't always visible just by looking at the egg) that none even developed let alone hatch. There are things you can do to improve your odds, but it's still a gamble. If it's your first time hatching eggs, it can be even trickier as you may not know the nuances of the incubator you are using or what incubation techniques work best for your area (although if you are borrowing an incubator from your friends hopefully they will know some of the tricks for their incubator and your climate).

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

I appreciate the response, Aina. Thank you for taking the time to bestow your wisdom upon me!

So, my options so far:

1. Having fertile eggs shipped. Pros: it's by far the simplest and least risky, and it would give me the most breed options, which would be quite nice. Cons: Not the offspring of my beloved little babies, eggs can be damaged in shipping.
2. Getting my own mature rooster, quarantining him, and slowly introducing him to my gals in adjacent pens on my friends' farm. Pros: less time/effort and less traumatic for me to slaughter him (assuming I can't find a home) than raising a male chick or cockerel. Cons: could possibly result in trauma or injury for both the rooster and my hens, may not be feasible if my friends aren't keen on caring for extra birds during the process, would have to re-introduce my hens to our flock after breeding.
3. Getting a male chick or cockerel (and quarantining if it's the latter) and raising him up with our flock until he crows, then moving he and my two hens out to my friends' farm until he's fertile. Pros: seems like the most likely way to breed my hens without risk of major problems. And I'm not too worried about him getting pecked because if he's a chick, we'll raise him indoors until he's a cockerel and our flock has so much space (it's a monstrous backyard and remember, they don't sleep in their coop), I doubt he'd get pecked much. I just introduced two new pullets and they've barely been pecked at all and are fitting in quite nicely. Cons: Where the heck do I buy a single, sexed chick? Would probably have to go with a cockerel and quarantine him. Would also require my friends to care for extra birds during the process and re-introducing hens back to flock.
4. Artificial insemination, maybe? Haven't heard from anyone here about the feasibility of this. According to this: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5183199_steps-artificial-insemination-chickens.html, it seems like a fairly simple process if I could somehow get ahold of some semen from a suitable rooster (would he need to be quarantined first?!?). One problem is that my gals aren't terribly tame and are quite difficult to catch, much less hold down and insert something into their vent! Can anyone tell me if this might be possible, and if so, how? This option is starting to seem the most appealing if I could figure out how to do it.
   

Thanks, everyone, for your help! Keep it coming!

Raising a male chick and moving the whole trio out to your friend's farm once he starts crowing sounds like it may be the most feasible option. The trick with this one may be finding a male chick of an appropriate age to put in with your pullets. If you started with a day old, he would be in danger of being pecked to death by the other birds (including your two). You would want to find one the same age, or a little older, as your pullets. Then you would still want to quarantine him for at least 4 weeks. Then introductions could take another two weeks or so. And by then he may have started crowing already (leghorns are known for maturing quickly, so it's not uncommon for the cockerels to start crowing weeks or months before they are actually sexually mature. Then you have to consider how you really feel about not having your girls at home with you for 1-3+ months (depending on how early your rooster starts crowing and how long your hens take to reach laying age + a few weeks to get some of the egg laying kinks worked out and get egg size up to snuff before setting their eggs). Doing this, you're going to miss out on their first egg. I know that's one of my favorite parts of raising pullets to POL. Even though I've done it a half dozen times already, it's still a special little thrill to open up the nest box and find someone's first egg. Then there's the quarantine period after you are done breeding to make sure your hens didn't pick up any ickies from their little get away. And the time and stress of reintroducing them to the rest of the flock, during which time there could possibly be injuries and they may stop laying temporarily.

All told, it may be better to go with hatching eggs. Going this route, you could even take your time and search for eggs of the rarer leghorn varieties that are not common or available in your area. It's much easier to have eggs shipped from other parts of the country/region than to have live chicks or started birds shipped and there are far fewer risks when it comes to contagious diseases that could wipe out your flock (it doesn't eliminate the risk of contagious diseases entirely as there are a few that can be spread on hatching eggs, but it cuts them significantly and the risks are about the same as you would have buying day old chicks from a hatchery). It can be harder to hatch shipped eggs though. Some people have had as good as 100% hatch rates from shipped eggs, others have had an entire batch of shipped eggs that was so badly damaged by the post office (damage to shipped eggs isn't always visible just by looking at the egg) that none even developed let alone hatch. There are things you can do to improve your odds, but it's still a gamble. If it's your first time hatching eggs, it can be even trickier as you may not know the nuances of the incubator you are using or what incubation techniques work best for your area (although if you are borrowing an incubator from your friends hopefully they will know some of the tricks for their incubator and your climate).

 

[Ridgerunner]

For most of us, the easiest time to deal with a chicken that does not want to be caught is to take her off the roost at night. You can't easily do that. You might trap them and lock them in your coop until you are ready to deal with them.

You can maybe get a Havahart trap or something like that, but as a kid I'd take a cardboard box, turn it up-side-down and prop one side up with a stick. Tie a string to the stick. If you can lure one under the box with food, pull the string. Reset the trap and wait.

Another possible option. If you can lure them into the coop with food, shut the door.