When is the best time ...?

[Craig Cowan]

Ok, I know I am planning way early, but am thinking of have my friend who has a beautiful Roo, bring him over in the spring.
I live in N.E. ( New York), what month - generally would be best to begin the chick process.
Thanks to all.
Craig

 

[DobieLover]

Ok, I know I am planning way early, but am thinking of have my friend who has a beautiful Roo, bring him over in the spring.
I live in N.E. ( New York), what month - generally would be best to begin the chick process.
Thanks to all.
Craig

Are you going to incubate the eggs? If so, late April is a great time to hatch chicks in NY.
Is this a rooster (over a year old with experience) or a cockerel?
Will you be quarantining him to protect your flock?
Your flock will not necessarily just accept him and allow him to mate if they are hens and he is young.

 

[Aapomp831]

You can’t just bring in a random rooster and expect them to breed. New chickens need to be integrated slowly, especially a rooster. Chances are your hens will not just accept him - they’ll probably beat him up as soon as he comes near their resources. Your friend would have to allow you to adopt the rooster for several weeks, with a proper integration and introduction period to avoid injury.
Also, do you have an incubator? It’s impossible to predict whether a hen will go broody.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Do you already have a hen that normally goes broody with your eggs now? Not all hens go broody. If you don’t have a reliable hen, I would purchase an incubator.
What would be your ratio of hens to the rooster? Just wondering about if all the eggs would be fertilized when you start the chick process. I agree that April is a great month to start the incubation process.

 

[aart]

Ages of all birds is important.
Adding an adult cock to adults hens is probably the easiest integration.

As far as the best time for hatching chicks, as early as possible so they are laying by the time the light starts leaving in fall. Getting the fertile eggs before they freeze can be an issue, but I like to hatch end of March or early April.

 

[Craig Cowan]

Wow, you all are terrific.
I‘ll try to answer all the questions.
8 of my Hens will be 20 weeks at beginning of Nov.
My 2 Buff Orpingtons are approx. 36 weeks.
The Roo is almost 8 months old.
Don’t have a Broody as of yet, but I guess that could change.
I‘ll have to look into small incubator. Can only keep 6-8 chicks.
I have 10 hens total 8 + 2 Orps.
The younger consist of two Wyandottes, 4 Barred Rocks, &
2 sex links- ????
I am planning on the Roo being quarantined for a week or so, the he’ll stay for another 10 days or so. Will that work ??
Hope I got everything. Would like to start in late March if winter is not too bad.
Any other advice is greatly appreciated
Best Regards
Craig

 

[CluckerFamily]

You may want to look into an incubator or at least keep your eyes on one to see if it goes on sale this winter. It may be a good idea to have just in case a hen doesn't go broody in March.