Hi everyone! Total newb, here. In April, I purchased my first chicks: two Buff Orphingtons. At 10 weeks this Saturday, I'm 90% certain one of them is a roo. Question is, if I'm right, what do I do? I don't want to keep him as I live in metro Atlanta and having a morning crow will not gain favor with the neighbors. I'm worried though how to go about getting another chick or two and introducing them to my remaining 10 week old Buff, etc. Should I get a few more new chicks? I don't want to have only one lonely chicken until next spring...
Thanks!
Hi!
Yes, you probably need more hens. This is what I'd do--I'd keep that cockerel until he was 16-18 weeks old, as long as he isn't getting too loud. At 18 weeks or so, you can get "started pullets" to go with your lonely hen. They will be the same age as your hen, about 18 weeks old. It's always easier to introduce new birds if they're all physically the same sizes. You can get them from some hatcheries, or check Craigslist for them. You could also pick up someone else's cull laying hens that are 18 months to two years old. They won't lay as well as a younger bird, but most times there's nothing wrong with them but age and they'll still lay for a few more years yet. Bonus, they'll be cheap!
Then put your cockerel on Craigslist for $5 for a week. If he doesn't move, put him on for free. Be sure to use pictures. Also, it does work best if you just don't think about what he'll be used for--many people do pick up free cockerels to grow out as meat birds, and it's far more difficult to find someone who wants a flock rooster. Since you're in a large metro area, you can also post him here in the Buy-Sell-Trade pages on BYC, and maybe someone needs a BO rooster.
One last thing about bringing in new birds--it is possible they will carry disease. Many people will tell you to quarantine, but with just one bird at stake, I think you'll find it very difficult and frustrating to do right, and if you don't do it right there's no reason to do it at all. One way to minimize disease risk when buying new birds is to be vigilant. Meet the person at their farm, not at some other place. Look at their birds. Listen for sneezes, coughs, and rattling when they breathe. Look for watery eyes and poorly kept feathers. Look at how they keep their birds. If it doesn't seem right to you, trust your gut and get out of there. Then take your car through a car wash before you get home, and do a total change of clothes and shower and disinfect your shoes before you go to see your chickens.
If you do want to bring home a couple of birds, lift them up and see how many fingers you can fit between their pin bones (by their vent). You should be able to fit three-four fingers between the bones for laying hens. Also, the vent will be moist, and the comb will be bright red and plump. Otherwise, the bird might not be laying. Also just assume they have mites and dust them with Sevin dust under the feathers and that will get rid of that right quick. Expect the new birds not to lay for a few days to a couple of weeks as they settle in.
Hope that's helpful, and welcome to BYC!
