lyd119 Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 after mr fox getting Tucky and Cookie we are thinking about replacements. we have a few options here they are- 1) just get two new chickens and introduce slowly, if you think this is a good idea then what age/breed should we get? 2) have 2 fertilised eggs off my aunt and get one of ours to sit on them next spring. but, if one was broody would the other get lonely out by itself? or 3) 'borrow' my aunts cockeral for a week or so and get some fertilised eggs of our own. the only problem with this is that we could end up with more than 4 chickens and we couldn't keep any cockerals. what do you think is the best option? we don't want to put too much stress on our two remaining girls who are still very quiet and subdued! thanks for any advice guys. lydia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 If you can't deal with cockerels then I would not hatch any chicks I would get two new chickens to add to yours, you will need a separate home and run for them so it may be a good idea to wait till spring when the weather is better as two pens might be hard work over winter and the option to free range the birds together later down the line might be reduced in poor weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Option 2 & 3 sound hard work but fun and traumatic. I would go for option one as long as Tasha says you have some spare accomodation but see if you can make yourself wait till Spring. Not when that seed is planted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I'd wait till Spring as there are not so many good quality pullets available at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I'd get another couple of point of lay as well, you ALWAYS, 100% get boys when you hatch and they look cute then you end up keeping them as they're not making any noise and by the time they're crowing and treading your girls you're so attatched it's hard to find a way to deal with them. You could wait til spring but you can do it now. You could consider a coupleof ex-batts altough I think they like them to go in threes. It is harder to do intros now, mine only get to "meet" each other at the weekends at the minute as it's dark when I get home so that's prolonging intros a lot. Glad you're getting some more though! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 I'd wait till Spring as there are not so many good quality pullets available at the moment. They've still got some lovely ones at Wernlas (less the two that I got last weekend). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 If you want hybrids you can get them any time of year but in Spring POL's may be a bit hard to get hold of because the pure bred hens will only start laying feb or march so guess their offspring will not be POL until June to August time. At least that was why I went ahead rather than wait until Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
