New Chicken Mom!

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! You've come to the right place for all the chicken chat and learning you will ever need!!!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

 

[hlsmart79]

I'm excited to be here! The Spring Hatch-a-Long sounds interesting. When's the best time to leave the eggs alone? We had a few warm days here in Massachusetts, but today is FAR from it. I have found 5 eggs the past 3 days which I think would be a good amount to try and hatch, no? (I love the freckled eggs ).

I have what may sound like an odd question. Someone at work is unsure if her dad was joking years ago, but is there such a thing as your girls being "in heat?" He used to take one of theirs in sometimes telling her that was the reason .

I have a pretty safe coop, I think. It came with the house when I bought it in August and two chickens were left since I wanted them. We put chicken wire across the top after learning that owls (and other birds) could take them. I want to fix the walls and bury the wire down further because there are gaps between the bottom boards and the dirt, which I want to fill in.

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't know if "in heat," is a term that applies to chickens. As soon as they are old enough (?)they allow roosters to breed them. Otherwise they may fight them or run and hide. Hens can lay eggs without a rooster. But their eggs will not be fertile, so wouldn't produce any chicks.

 

[chrissynemetz]

If you're wanting to improve the security of your coop don't use chicken wire, predators can rip through it too easy. Use hardware cloth instead.
And.... I think her dad was joking with her about chickens being in heat.

 

[hlsmart79]

I don't know if "in heat," is a term that applies to chickens. As soon as they are old enough (?)they allow roosters to breed them. Otherwise they may fight them or run and hide. Hens can lay eggs without a rooster. But their eggs will not be fertile, so wouldn't produce any chicks.

I know a rooster isnt required. Just wasn't sure if there were any clues when a hen is 'ready.' your comment about them letting the rooster breed vs. running away, etc. answers my question .

 

[drumstick diva]

PS except sometimes they run away from a rooster because he is rough, has no experience, or is just not attractive enough for them.

 

[hlsmart79]

If you're wanting to improve the security of your coop don't use chicken wire, predators can rip through it too easy. Use hardware cloth instead.
And.... I think her dad was joking with her about chickens being in heat.

I honestly thought so, but not knowing really ANYTHING about these lil' critters, I took a chance on looking silly and asked

 

[ValerieJ]

Actually, I wonder if your friend's dad meant his hen was broody. When a hen is broody, she starts sitting on the nest and gets a little grumpy when someone tries to take her eggs away. Other than that, hens don't go into heat.

 

[Rshumpal]

PS except sometimes they run away from a rooster because he is rough, has no experience, or is just not attractive enough for them.

Don’t all girls