newbie to chickens -Need general information on rearing chickens from.

[sasbear]

Hi,

I am new to the forum and would be very grateful if someone could point me to some information relating to caring for my hen while she is roosting. She has been roosting for 3 days now and basicaly I am not sure what the go is. I really need to know everything - so if anyone out there can point me in the right direction so I can read up.

Thank you

 

[Mahonri]

Welcome to BYC...

So the hen stays on the roost or on a nest?

 

[gpamela3499]

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:

You might want to read the FAQs and also pick up Raising Chickens for Dummies. Lots of good info there. I also recommend Chickens in Your Backyard and ABC of Poultry Raising.

What do you mean by roosting? Brooding on a nest or roosting on a perch?

 

[sasbear]

Hi thanks for the welcomes - I am very new to this stuff so I will be basic...She is laying in the nesting box where she lays the eggs and has now refused to move and there are 2 underneath her.

 

[JROOSTER]

She wants to be a mom!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a roo in the flock you could just do nothing and let her be a mom. If you have a lot of other chickens you may want to move her and the nest, eggs etc. to a place of her own where nobody can bother her. I would pick up the whole next box if you can and put in a dog kennel in the coop where the others cant get to her. Now if you dont have a roo the eggs are duds and you may want to buy some chicks and put under her about the time the eggs would have hatched.

Congrats on the Broody hen hope she turns into the best mom ever.

 

[elmo]

"Roosting" is when a chicken sits on a roost, or perch, usually at night. I think what you mean is "brooding." That's when a hen sits on and incubates her eggs. Do you have a rooster around?

 

[OHhappychicks]

You will find a lot of nice and informative people here on BYC!! Don't worry, It sounds as if you have a "broody"

. That is very exciting!! But just as they have already mentioned, if you don't have a rooster, the eggs will not be fertile. But if you do want babies and no roo, take the real eggs away and replace with fake ones, like paper mache'. I've read where golf balls work also. Just as JROOSTER suggested, get some chicks for her at the time of the hatch (21 days). If you do have a roo, and don't want babies just now, you can just take her off the nest a few times each day and put her out with the others. It may take a couple of days. Also take her eggs away. Also get some good reading on the subject, like the books already been suggested. I will recommend another to add to the list. Storeys Guide to Raising chickens. I have only had chickens going on 2 yrs. now and I still refer to it often. Also, Be Careful, Very Careful

because having chickens is very, VERY ADDICTIVE!!!

Just like potatoe chips, you just can't have 1!! Have fun!!

 

[buzymom13]

from PA


I'm new too and let me tell ya BYC is the best place to get info!!! AND YES, this is VERY addictive. I started out with 6 chicks and now have 10 chicks and am getting a roo.


Be warned! LOL

 

[JillPhil]

Thanks so much for the book referral: Storey's Guide to Raising chickens. You are right - great book! We are new at raising chickens and to this forum. We have Seramas (which we love) and needed to learn a lot and quickly! Love this forum!