Newbie Annette

[AskButler]

Hi
I'm new to hens, coops and roosters. I'm so very excited and ready to start NOW Due to my own disabilities, my hubby has concerns on my ability to fully care for the birds. We also currently have two housecats and three dogs. We both take care of them.
I've privately thought to myself i wanted to raise chickens but I also incorrectly thought all chickens had to be culled before each Winter. I don't have the stomach for that so I'll purchase layers.
NOW I'm ready to start.
Please keep us in your prayers.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Annette, and welcome to activity on BYC! Nice to meet you.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

You have definitely come to the right place for all the fun and learning! Some breeds will continue to lay into their 6th year. And you do not need a rooster for hens to lay, roosters breed with hens to make fertile eggs and chicks. So if you are only looking for eggs and pets, I would skip the rooster, they can be hard in the hens and more work than they are worth.

Ask as many questions as needed. Welcome to our community!

 

[BullChick]

I know that chickens were butchered in the fall in the olden days. I saw the sense in that. It’s nice that we can easily keep them around now.
I know you can take care of a flock. Regardless of any disability, it’s easily doable. If you are really that unsure, I do have a solution. Coturnix quail! They are small and quiet. Their eggs taste like chicken eggs, and you can have them caged inside. The space needed is debatable, but it’s safe to say that a guinea pig cage is big enough for you to keep a small flock, and have enough eggs for two.
Amazon has scissors for cutting the eggs open. I recommend them if you get quail.

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC. You might want to start out with 2 or 3 chickens and see if it works out for you. Prayers sent.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to activity here at BYC. Good luck in establishing and maintaining your flock. We are here to help if problems arise.

 

[nuthatched]

Welcome! if you don't have chickens already, Murray McMurray is a good hatchery (free shipping to boot) or looking through your local Craigslist is a good start.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens, the pulse beat of the chicken community.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue

Best wishes

Pork Pie