Solitary chicken - need advice

[essexhen]

I've had Pol hen for a few years, currently we have 6 in a cube with the large electric netting, we also have a small old fashioned wooden house and run which could be useful for introductions and I think OH would let me get some fertilised eggs, so what eggs? And any tips?

 

Ps I mean maybe 6 an if they are all boys then that's ok.

[daxigirl]

I'd go for what you fancy, whether it's egg or bird colour. See if there's any shows or sales local to you and go and have a look, you see breeds you wouldn't normally come across, it's amazing the choices that are out there. That way you get an idea of what eggs you want when the time comes.

[Patricia W]

But be prepared for boys and have plans for them.

[Redwing]

Remember..

 

If you start with 12 eggs

 

a couple may not be fertile

a couple may die in incubation

A couple may not hatch

a few will be boys

 

So to get three females realistically you'll need to start with at least 12 eggs

 

Buy your eggs from a reputable source, ideally not through the post as this effects hatchability, ask the breeder what their test hatches were like (ALL breeders should check fertility routinely before selling)

 

You are looking for someone who knows their stock, not just a batch of mixed birds being fed s"Ooops, word censored!"s, they should be feeding a good quality feed (ideally breeders pellets) hatching from hens (not pullets ideally) and be keeping their breeds strictly separated to ensure purity

 

Having all cockerels in theory is ok but even good quality ones are practically worthless and rehoming them can be very difficult

 

Hatching is not a particularly easy way of getting chooks and can be quite expensive depending on how you hatch and raise them

 

Another option may be to buy guaranteed female chicks (hybrids, other sex links and autosexing birds) or guaranteed sexed growers of about 6 weeks plus