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Cheaky Chick

Cheaky Chick

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5 Years
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Aug 6, 2014
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I'm from central lower Michigan and brand new to BYC.

By this time next year (May 2016) I will have a coop & run constructed. I'm looking for pointers on both.

Also, the breeds I'm looking at are Sussex or Orpington. Any opinions or preferences? Should I have a rooster, or not?

Thanks for lending a hand!
 
hi
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glad you could join i personally like and raise australorps and i do have roosters but i would check with your local laws and maybe your neighbors to make sure a roo is right for you also check out the learning center https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center for more info
 
If you don't intend to sell fertile eggs for hatching or hatch them yourself, you don't need a rooster period! The hens will lay just as many eggs without one but, they will ne non-fertile. If you ever want to hatch chicks (any breed) you can buy fertile eggs and either put them in an incubator (complicated), under a broody hen. She will hatch them and raise them like her own.- you get to watch
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Buff Orpington hens tend to go broody ( you can't MAKE a hen go broody) As do cochin and silkie hens. Some people have a couple for just that reason. You want have to deal with roosters overbreeding/ damaging your hens and stressing them out.

Of course when you hatch eggs you will probably get some males and should figure out what you will do about them - ahead of time.
 
For my run I built a paneltised system out of treated 2x4s. I built 4 panels 6' x 11' 5" with 2" x 4" welded wire fence (6' high) for the walls. I assembled them inside corner to inside comer and attached them to each other with reused commercial door hinges that way to relocate the run so to add on to it all I have to do is pop the pins. I end up with a 12' x12' square cage. And the top panels are 6' x 12' that way they sit Nicely on top of the walls. I attach them with the same hinges.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Definitely check out these links. They should help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

Buff orpingtons are my favorite breed. I love them!! They are super friendly, affectionate and are great layers. Sussex chickens are also great! Very curious and friendly.

Having a rooster can be fun. They are protecters for the flock and good alarm clocks! The hens will lay fertile eggs. But roosters can also be rowdy, mean and sometimes aggressive. But that all depends on breed and how they were raised. I would recommend getting one.
 

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