New to the group

[BluDaisy]

Hi! I am new to your group. We have backyard chickens. 5 in all right now. I would LOVE to have more but that will have to wait until we have a bigger place. We do try to add 1 or 2 new chicks every spring. I have learned some over the last 3 years of having them but I'm always looking for new information.
Ours are strictly egg laying pets. I have had more fun with these silly birds than I ever thought possible. There are still few things I find more amusing than to see my hens running full out across the yard.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

 

[wmillsap]

Hi I'm new too! Just got my 5 hens last Sunday. It has been a super fun week watching, feeding and learning about them. They all have a different personality. The best part is 2 of my hens are laying eggs! One is about every other day and the other has given us an egg for the last two days
Have a great day!

 

[Cynthia12]

Aren't they fun...and silly? I love it when I have them all follow me to the shed where their food is. They then stand there talking away, then when I carry their food back they all follow me back, still talking.

 

[roosterstrut]

Wow you guys are off to a great start! I have had chickens, ducks, and bantams for over 7 years. Right now I have 7 chickens. One rooster and 6 hens. I also have 6 ducks. 4 males and 2 females. The females are seperated from the males due to mating. I also have 10 bantams. 6 roosters and 3 hens (unlucky batch of eggs lol) 5 roosters are seperate and 1 too is with the three hens. My chicken coop is a 20ft long 8 or 10ft wide and 7-8 feet tall (it has a pointed roof). I have a mallard a rowen and pekin duck breed variety and I love every single duck and chicken. They are family! Hope you guys best of luck with your new flock!!!

 

[roosterstrut]

I meant 7 roosters. Lol (6+3=9)

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. You have me a bit confused. How many roosters and how many hens do you have? The reason I ask is because the recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature and their hormones kick in, too many rooster will become very hard physically on your hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. The only reason you really need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens in that regard. If you haven't done so already, definitely check out our Learning Center at https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center. There is loads of useful information there. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

 

[roosterstrut]

I have my roosters seperate. I have a sterile bantam rooster that I put in with the bantam hens.

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

You've come to a great place to start learning about chickens and the best place to start is right here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center. If you have any specific questions, don't be afraid to ask.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

 

[Michael OShay]

I have my roosters seperate. I have a sterile bantam rooster that I put in with the bantam hens.

Okay, gotcha. )