We are bringing home our first two hens... tomorrow. We thought we were getting three, but one turned out to be a rooster, suddenly (?), and following complaints from her neighbors on Friday when he made Roo noises... (today is Sunday) the owner had to adopt him out immediately... She says that the two remaining girls (an Auracauna and a New Jersey Black) are 'easier to handle' now, and that she had noticed that the one was bullying the other two...
So... I'm guessing at this point since we don't actually have them yet.
~ How difficult will it be for my teens to handle these girls? We were hoping for friendly additions to the family.
~ Will they get used to us wanting to hug and handle them or is it too late?
~ Will the move stress them out too much that they will not want to lay eggs? Owner says they are five months old. They are not laying yet.
~ If they are in a temporary coop will changing their coop over the next week or so stress them again? We are getting the one they have been raised in, but it is rudimentary at best... and we will need to construct a more durable and varmint proof home.
~ If we want to add a few more chickens, should we do it right away so that they can adjust their pecking order all at once, or should we wait til these are settled and bring in another one or two?
I've enjoyed reading posts here on this forum for the past few days, and look forward to all the great advice and info I will find here as we begin our new adventure. I've wanted to have chickens for years... and am now at a place were it is possible! Yay!
So... I'm guessing at this point since we don't actually have them yet.
~ How difficult will it be for my teens to handle these girls? We were hoping for friendly additions to the family.
~ Will they get used to us wanting to hug and handle them or is it too late?
~ Will the move stress them out too much that they will not want to lay eggs? Owner says they are five months old. They are not laying yet.
~ If they are in a temporary coop will changing their coop over the next week or so stress them again? We are getting the one they have been raised in, but it is rudimentary at best... and we will need to construct a more durable and varmint proof home.
~ If we want to add a few more chickens, should we do it right away so that they can adjust their pecking order all at once, or should we wait til these are settled and bring in another one or two?
I've enjoyed reading posts here on this forum for the past few days, and look forward to all the great advice and info I will find here as we begin our new adventure. I've wanted to have chickens for years... and am now at a place were it is possible! Yay!