Ton of questions! Newbie... please help

[ab2401]

Ok bare with me here.


#1: Bedding? I know pine shavings are good but what else will work....anything around the yard?

#2: I know all breeds of chickens are different but generally how often do hens lay eggs?

#3: Generally how long does it take them to hatch?

#4: Say I have a male and some females.... do I need to remove the male to get eggs that we can eat?

If not how to I keep them from hatching so I can eat them?
I know I cant wait that long to decide to eat them....but is there a "routine" difference between eggs you can eat and eggs you hatch?

#5: When I start to go for chicks I'm going to go the hen raising route (I think) Do I need special chick food or does mommy take care of them?

#6: At any point will mommy and daddy hurt their babies?

I had a lot more when I started.... but I guess I forgot

 

[rooster-red]

#1: Bedding? I know pine shavings are good but what else will work....anything around the yard?
Pine shavings work best for me, never user cedar, its toxic. Straw can also be used.

#2: I know all breeds of chickens are different but generally how often do hens lay eggs?
anywhere from 1 a week to almost everyday, depending on breed.

#3: Generally how long does it take them to hatch?
Chickens take 21 days to hatch.

#4: Say I have a male and some females.... do I need to remove the male to get eggs that we can eat?
No, fertile and nonfertile eggs taste the same.

If not how to I keep them from hatching so I can eat them?
Gather them frequently and store them in a cool place.

I know I cant wait that long to decide to eat them....but is there a "routine" difference between eggs you can eat and eggs you hatch?
Store egg you want to hatch at 50 degrees with the big end pointed up.

#5: When I start to go for chicks I'm going to go the hen raising route (I think) Do I need special chick food or does mommy take care of them?
You need chick starter feed and some grit.

#6: At any point will mommy and daddy hurt their babies?
That depends on the individual chicken.

 

[msrma7670]

1.) Just depends cheaper is better!
2.) two eggs every three days on average.
3.) 21 days for normal chicks full size
4.) Nope just eat them before they hatch in some cultures a egg with an embryo in it
has aphrodesiac qualities.

Let me know if you try it!! It does not really matter
tastes like an egg to me either way.

5.) Allow nature to run its coarse.
6.) DO you have kids? It all depends they will somtimes.

7.) If you remeber them just ask at your local BYC forum.

 

[ab2401]

Store egg you want to hatch at 50 degrees with the big end pointed up.

So even the ones I want to hatch I need to pull out....and I guess put them in the fridge or something? I mean 50 degrees is kinda cold.

Nope just eat them before they hatch in some cultures a egg with an embryo in it
has aphrodesiac qualities. big_smile Let me know if you try it!! It does not really matter
tastes like an egg to me either way

Funny you should say that... a few weeks ago we had some store bought eggs.... was making omelets.... cracked one open and blood came out..... yeah kinda threw me off of eggs for a bit....so I dont know if I will be eating baby dead chickens.

HAHA

DO you have kids? It all depends they will somtimes.

Yes and would never hurt her.... just you know.... some animals will.... like lions, beta fish and a few others so I didnt know if chickens where the same way.

If you remeber them just ask at your local BYC forum.

oops, did I post in the wrong place?
I'm sorry.... I find this place a little confusing at times. I will get it soon​

 

[lovinthechickens]

Quote:
So even the ones I want to hatch I need to pull out....and I guess put them in the fridge or something? I mean 50 degrees is kinda cold.

no, no, no! dont kill em!
put the ones you want to eat in the fridge, but put the fertile ones you want to hatch in an incubator.(100 degrees or close to that)

look in BYC'c home info section ;]

 

[ab2401]

HAHA I didnt know if that sounded right, but hey! what do I know? I'm new to this.


Well I dont have them money for a incubator so I'm just going to let the hens take car of them. I live in AL and its already hitting 90* so I'm pretty sure by the time I get chickens and they lay eggs it will be pretty close to 100* if not 100*


How do you tell which ones are fertile?

 

[lovinthechickens]

hummmmmm.... i can only tell if they are fertile if the egg is cracked open

im sure someone will know

 

[msrma7670]

In the past we have had to move around. WE had two roosters in the same pen with hen sitting on egs we moved one roo out the eggs hatched and the rooster kept pecking at the babys and moma did not like that so we had to move them again. all worked out needles to say it was more my fault than anybodys so you just gotta think things thru a bit.

Your posting place is fine I just meant if you remebered your questions just ask there are also several really good books out there that will help ya long way I like the chicken handbook and raising chicken most cover the same type of material just some go into better depth abouy certain issues.