Questions from a newbie about hens and egg production

[new to this in TN]

I just got my first chickens this past spring-- 2 GLW roosters, 1 GLW hen, 2 buff Orp. hens, and 2 Araucana hens. We just got our first couple of eggs from the GLW hen in the past 2 days (yea!!). I would like to be able to collect eggs, but I would also like to have some chicks.... how does this work??? At what point will the hen start sitting on the eggs? She layed them in two different nesting boxes... do I need to gather them in one spot? Will she wait until there are several before planting herself on them? Do the eggs not need to be kept warm in the meantime? With two roosters on site (unintentionally!), is it pretty safe to assume the eggs will be fertilized? Is there a book that covers all of a beginner's questions that you guys can recommend?

Thanks!!!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

First off,

You might check out the Learning Center (top of page). It's a great place to starts. There is also a Chickens for Dummies book I believe...but also a lot of other good chicken books out there.

As far as a hen setting on her eggs...she will decide when to go broody and you will know it. She will refuse to leave the nest, get all puffed up and such. You can't make a hen go broody, either. It has to do with breed, hormones etc.

I would say just keep collecting your eggs for a while and watch your girls for changes in behavior that indicate broodiness. Others here can give you more info after that happens.

Have fun and congrats on your first eggs!!

 

[Angiebubs]

Hi and welcome!

Im new to all of this too, however, I found a book I highly recommend (recommended to me on BYS as well) "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens". Lots of great basic yet in depth information, I found the best price for it on amazon.com
From what I have heard/read, if the hens are young it may take awhile for them to mature enough to lay (depending on individual birds) and yes, they will push the eggs to the side until they have "enough" them sit on them all when ready to start "incubating" them.
Thats about all I can try and help with.

 

[MANOZ]

hi there this is what i recommend its an old book,its free,i actually printed myself a pocket size book.
FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING by john h. robinson 1910 its a classic

http://books.google.com/books?id=T09DAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false



http://books.google.com/books?id=GSLZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA87&dq=trap+nest&hl=en&ei=6DVcToi0GOaesQKE3sk3&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwADgo#v=onepage&q=trap%20nest&f=false

my favorite "high egg production by individual hens,pens and flocks. written in 1922 another classic


another "productive poultry husbandry" by harry lewis 1913


http://books.google.com/books?id=70...q=related:OCLC3697356&lr=#v=onepage&q&f=false


there u go friend!! that'll keep u busy for awhile

 

[new to this in TN]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I just found one of my buff orp. hens sitting on an egg this morning.

She moved out of the nesting box after a few minutes, but eyed me warily when I went near the coop. I left it in place, to see if she goes back to it.....
Okay-- gotta keep this message short.... I have a lot of reading to do!