Are second-year pullets a good way to start?
Pullets that have already laid eggs for a year are usually a poor choice. Egg production normally decreases each year so you will be starting out with hens that will not produce as many eggs. The quality of the egg may also be lower and it’s possible that they could begin molting and stop laying altogether. Moving chickens from one location to another can often distress the birds, causing them to molt. Molting is when birds lose their old feathers and have new ones take their place. Now that we have ruled out second-year pullets we have four other main options: We can hatch eggs under a broody hen or in an incubator, or buy day-old chicks or started pullets. If you are new to raising chickens you probably don’t have a broody hen or an incubator yet. Backyard chicken raising beginners should usually stick with buying live birds because hatching your own eggs requires a lot more work and expertise Should you buy live hens or hatch your own? Buying live birds has many advantages. If you d
