bannerbean Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Hey Everyone, Total newbie here so apologies in advance if I ask really dumb questions! Husband and I have recently moved and would like to keep some free range chickens. We are researching on housing, feed etc but have a couple of questions hope you can help with!!! Now I have a small phobia of birds (I don't like it when they flap!) but hubby is fine so thought about getting some chicks and hand rearing them, 1 so that they get used to us, and 2 and probably most importantly, I get used to them! Breeds - searching has lead me to the buff orpington as I have read that they are one of the friendliest breeds. However if we are hand rearing, would breed make a difference to temperament? Are there any other 'friendly' breeds out there? Are there breeds that 'flap' less? Sorry ... hehe Chicks - Not looking into hatching eggs as Hubby isn't keen on having cockerels. From what I have found out so far, you are unable to sex them until a certain age (how old is this?). As we would like to hand rear, would buying 'know the sex' age chicks be too old? Also, there places that you can buy chicks from and know for certain that they are girlies? Sorry if they seem like really basic and stupid questions for you, but want to make sure all questions are asked and we don't rush into anything and regret it. Many thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Hi and welcome! My first thought is that if you get chicks you will need to keep them indoors under heat until they are 7/8 weeks old (if summer) or 10/12 weeks old (if winter/spring) Some breeds are easier to sex than others, some are autosexing or sex linked so you can tell on hatching if they are girls or boys, others you can tell within a cople of weeks and others can be 20 weeks before you know! Buying at age 8 weeks would cut out the heat stage and get you the right sex (of most breeds) so is a consideration, they will still be quite small at this age Have you considered Silkies? they dont have a proper feather structure as such so their wings dont do the wooshing sound or look so solid when they flap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 welcome to the forum, well the Buff Orpington is a great choice of chook, I have two orps myself (although not buff) I got my girls at about 12 weeks which by that time the breeder was able to tell me whether they were girls or boys. I personally would not get chicks and rear them because as a first time owner you will not have the knowledge that would be needed in doing this, that is not meant as an insult, more to help you. and some chicks do not survive and this could be very upsetting etc. Should you get birds and want them young, I would suggest about 12 weeks old where they are young enough to still chirp like chicks but big enough to be a little more hardy. It does concern me about your fear of birds though as all chickens flap, when the wind blows and spooks them, when they have a scuffle etc... its not all the time but I would be lying if I said they didn't. Could you maybe visit one of us near you a few times to see if the fear got easier each time? before you made your decision? just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Hi, would it be possible to visit someone with chickens just so you can see their setup, and see how you feel around the chickens with their potential to flap about? Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 An Omlet chicken party may be worth considering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannerbean Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 Thanks for the advice so far! And wont take it as an insult - don't worry! All advice and tips etc are really helpful to us in these early stages! A friend of ours has chickens and will go and have a look and see. We defo dont want to rush into anything and make mistakes or regret it! So are researching at what is best for us and more importantly the chooks! Birds in general don't scare me, its just the flapping. I can be next to them, but just poop myself when they start flapping! and then fine once they stop. I think maybe its the sound of it!?! Do they do chickens without 'noisy wings'!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
