Some help please?

[c.wilson]

*I have a few questions.*
1. what type of bedding is best for them?
2.when is a good time to move them to the "big coop"?
3. is it a good thing to hold them alot or just feed and water them and leave them alone?
4.what breed of chicken is best to hatch chicks - and please post a picture of them

 

[mistylady]

We use aspen shavings right now and will add straw this winter for more warmth.

My hens went in the coop when the coop was done! They were already laying. If I could have it done before that I would have put them in it when I took the heat light away. My babies will go in soon but they will be in cages not loose.

All of my hens are pets. I can sit down outside and they will run over and visit. A few will jump up on my leg and settle in for a talk. The new babies are spoiled too. I can open the cage and they run out to get petted. I like friendly birds and livestock. If you need to doctor them it is easier to do it.

I don't know about setting hens. I have Dominiques and they are supposed to be good setters but I don't have any experience with it. I can't get photobucket to work this morning but if you Google Dominique you can see them. I hear Buff Orpingtons are good also.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I believe the general consensus on broody hens is silkies. I have bantam hens that are very good broodies, as well as standard OEG hens that are excellent broodies as well. I have one OEG that sat on eggs for 6 weeks, before we had pity on her and bought her some chicks. She even went back to an empty nest, when all her eggs went bad.

 

[JohnL11935]

c.wilson :

*I have a few questions.*
1. what type of bedding is best for them?

Pine shavings is what I use.

2.when is a good time to move them to the "big coop"?

Depends on time of year. Now, since it is gettin cooler, I would wait until they are fully feathered (6-8 weeks, breed dependent). May require supplemental heat if you want to do it sooner.

3. is it a good thing to hold them alot or just feed and water them and leave them alone?

Depends on the individual. Are they a commodity to provide you eggs & meat or are they a pet? When mine were young I sometimes fed them out of my hand to get them used to being around me.

4.what breed of chicken is best to hatch chicks - and please post a picture of them

I hear the Orpingtons will still go broody. Google for a pic.​

 

[cmom]

c.wilson :

*I have a few questions.*
1. what type of bedding is best for them?
2.when is a good time to move them to the "big coop"?
3. is it a good thing to hold them alot or just feed and water them and leave them alone?
4.what breed of chicken is best to hatch chicks - and please post a picture of them

1. I use pine shavings.
2. I moved mine in at 4 to 5 weeks. My first chicks didn't get moved until they were 5 weeks because the coop wasn't quite ready.
3. Mine like to jump in my lap. It's up to you and if they like to be held.
4. I believe silkies make good brooders. If I hatch I buy the eggs and they go into the incubator, but there are plenty of BYC'ers who know better. A friend of mine has a Buff Orpington that's broody.

 

[LynneP]

1. what type of bedding is best for them?

We used mixed shavings, mostly pine. Avoid cedar.


2.When is a good time to move them to the "big coop"?

We had to move ours at 2 weeks when they started flying. We used a brooder lamp in there and an exercise pen blockes with cardboard to retain heat and block drafts.

3. is it a good thing to hold them a lot or just feed and water them and leave them alone?

Ours were naturally friendly and began to fly onto our chests and shoulders by 2 weeks. He held them a lot from the beginning (12 hours old) and they still regard us a living roosts.

4.what breed of chicken is best to hatch chicks - and please post a picture of them

Check home page below. I'm very pleased with ours (golden comets). RIR white x RIR red