Author Topic: Gonna get some chickens (I think) (Read 5542 times)

lilhill · « **on:** November 27, 2008, 11:52:23 AM »

With the sucky economy and no end in the immediate future in sight, dh and I decided to get some chickens. We already have the garden each spring, and the ND milk goats, so with the chickens, I'm having to do research to see what we want. Luckily, our son has raised game chickens for sale for several years and can help us with the maintenance part, but I don't know what kind I want. They will have to be for the eggs and occasionally meat, so any suggestions on the breed?

GoatTech · « **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2008, 12:27:30 PM »

I would go through the catalogs to pick your favorate. Rhode Island Red typically do well for meat and eggs and so do the buff ophingtons(sp). Those
salmon
favoralles have a nice breast to them even though they have feathered legs and 5 toes,..LOL!

Rushtawin · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2008, 02:23:03 PM »

Buff orpingtons generally bring the best returns, unless you want colored eggs.

doublebowgoats · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2008, 06:56:28 PM »

I vote for Buff Orpingtons, too. They're great. But so are the Black Plymouth Rock. I had a black rock that laid an egg almost every day for 3 years.

lilhill · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2008, 08:46:02 PM »

Also I need docile chickens, not the ones that are mean as the dickens.

Chaty · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2008, 10:38:28 PM »

Well I have all different kinds and Aracanas are very friendly and so are Golden Comets and lay big eggs also. I have Buffs, Golden COmets, Domineques (Domineckers) Rhode Island reds, and Barred Rocks...so and some mixed breeds. If you get them young enough you can make them tame...most of mine are tame and follow me to the feed room in the mornings when I let them out of the coop...Randy said it looks like Willard or the Pied Piper when I head that way as they all follow me...

GoatTech · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2008, 12:31:58 AM »

Hmm, I can tell you about the mean ones! LOL!!
Had a real mean Silkie that was hand raised by me. He was my sweet little baby(held him all the time) until he flocked my head one day,..the brat, turned on me. He used to have the run of my barn area until he pulled that stunt. All the silkies I had were brats.
Those leghorns(white eggs, no breast) are mean and flighty.
Those black things I have now were suppose to be friendly from what I was told, but running towards me with the intent to peck or a "cooing" warning sound isn't what I call being friendly.

I can't wait to get the eggs they plan to guard.

My Salmon Favorolles are real gentle and sweet and are known for that. They are scared, but real gentle and do not run with fear, or lurch their heads at me when I go to pet. The Buffs and white orpingtons I had back when were gentle enough. My Rhode Islands were nice enough. I had Black austalops that were nice and easy to deal with. The domineckers and Brahmas were "okay" but I had to keep an eye on some of them.

lilhill · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2008, 11:13:10 AM »

Sounds like I have my work cut out for me in determining which breed to get. It's been years and years since I've had chickens and I'm having to relearn all about them and their personalities. One of my favorites way back when was a silkie, and she was a real sweetheart until a racoon had her for a late night snack. :=( I can't wait to see what I end up with. The coop and pen has to be built first.

ThunderhillOldAccount · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2008, 12:26:54 PM »

Sandie, there's a hatchery in Dodge City.....about 3 miles from me. They have oodles of different breeds.
I notice that Welsummers lay those big dark eggs. Have heard that the Barred Rock, RIR, Buff Orpingtons are good dual purpose for meat AND eggs.
So Far we have bought a couple of Ameracanas and Buff Orpingtons but we have lots of eggs in the incubator now and you are welcome to have some of them when they hatch.
Silkies, Frizzles, Apenzeller Spitzhauban, and Micah wants Black Copper Marans because they evidently lay golden eggs (do an eBay search and look at the prices of those Eggs)

lilhill · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2008, 02:17:47 PM »

Thanks, Robin. I was hoping I could find some already old enough to start laying. But I'm definitely going to be looking into the Ameracanas. We use to have a couple of Araucanas and I loved not having to dye the eggs at Easter. The Barred Rock, Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons also sound interesting so I'll be looking at those. I think we'll just start off with just one breed at first.

lilhill · « **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2008, 07:55:50 PM »

Quote from: Thunderhill on November 28, 2008, 12:26:54 PM

Micah wants Black Copper Marans because they evidently lay golden eggs (do an eBay search and look at the prices of those Eggs)

How many DOZEN is he going to get????? Yikes!!! The caviar of chicken eggs. Now, the chocolate colored eggs sure are tempting though.

ThunderhillOldAccount · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2008, 12:02:10 PM »

He can get ONE dozen...no more. I've already ordered them directly from the Ron Presley lines..but there is a waiting list...so he won't get them til next year. I also got a better price than those on eBay

lilhill · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2008, 10:37:56 AM »

Quote from: Thunderhill on November 28, 2008, 12:26:54 PM

So Far we have bought a couple of Ameracanas and Buff Orpingtons but we have lots of eggs in the incubator now and you are welcome to have some of them when they hatch.

We just may take you up on your kind offer, Robin. Let us know when you have some available. Thanks!

chickenlady · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2008, 03:02:35 AM »

Check out www.mypetchicken.com for all kinds of info on chickens. They will help you decide what kind of chicken to raise. If you are looking for dual purpose, docile chickens look into golden sexlinks or sometimes called golden stars not the black ones though, the black ones tend to be a little more aggresive when it comes to collecting eggs. In my opionion I would advise not to get white leghorns, my experience is that they are nasty and mean. Happy hunting!

lilhill · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2008, 10:10:45 AM »

I had heard that about the white leghorns and my dh's family had some when he was a young man. Didn't like them at all! Thanks. I took their little quiz and the Orp's were on the list of what I wanted.

ThunderhillOldAccount · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2008, 11:11:03 AM »

I'll letcha know when they hatch

pygmygoatsrule · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2008, 05:51:19 PM »

We have about 50 chickens of over 12 diff kinds. everything from bantys silkies, to my big boy A Light Brahma. I think that if you don't mind waiting a little longer for the eggs and meat the brahmas are wonderful they are so calm and quiet and they are suppose to lay many eggs, not as many as a production breed like a sexlink or a leghorn but still a good number of large eggs. And I can say they are good looking meet birds we only butchered one last fall because I decided to keep the other rooster.I just have the light rooster and a dark hen right now, got them in a ornamental collection. I got mine from mcmurray but If I get more this spring I will go with people who breed them just because I want show quality.
My best layers are my mix breed hens though. The Easter eggers (hatchery araucauna's) are the worst layers mine are almost 7 months old and only one of 8 is even laying yet.

I will post a couple pics of my diff breeds. first one is Zippy-doo the dark brahma
2nd is Anakin the light brahma and last is natalie the favorelle I think they are nice as well but mine are not very big I wouldnt think of them as a meat breed. I like the feathered feet because it gets cold here and I think it helps keep there feet warm

Good luck I love our chickens they are alot of fun!
Melissa

lilhill · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2008, 11:17:14 PM »

Nice chickens. I think we're going to start out with the Buffs.

Rushtawin · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2008, 01:09:10 AM »

Smart choice. I think the golden laced wyandottes are super pretty.

Suthrn · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:47:28 PM »

There is a breed called Production Reds... they are excellent layers and good meat, but do not set eggs at all.. so I usually get those and keep a few silkies to hatch my next years babies. I love cochins also and they set well.
Linda

Rushtawin · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:53:03 PM »

I have production reds as my first chickens, but am working on getting some of the pretty wyandottes a few hatches from now at the farm.

Kris in CA · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2009, 06:01:58 PM »

I agree with everyone, RIR’s are good, Buff Orps are even better, the Barred Rock are the best.
Right now I have 1 RIR, 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Blue egg layers (not Americanas, but some generic ones), 4 New Hampshire’s. That makes 10. A good number for my family. All very friendly birds.

Just be careful getting a Rooster, I have a Buff Orp Rooster that I have to be armed with a fly swatter every time I go out there. The guys just a little too protective of his flock. But he’s a beauty, after this spring’s egg hatching he’s gonna be cannon fodder.

I agree, those Wyandottes are very pretty birds.

Kris

GoatTech · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:22:08 PM »

Kris

I had a rooster like that and had to carry a broom!
My rooster now is nice so far, but the other day when I went to get my eggs, he was guarding them for the hens!!
I just took my hand and gently moved his butt over out of the way and told him, "Don't try it pal!!"
Our little flock is new, so he may get weird on me, so I'm waiting patiently to find out if he's going to start having issues. I hate to have to have him ate!!

Kris in CA · « **Reply #23 on:** January 30, 2009, 05:08:33 PM »

My Roosters name is WAM, short for Whack a Mole.

Kris

GoatTech · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2009, 10:49:18 PM »

Chaty · « **Reply #25 on:** February 01, 2009, 11:09:54 AM »

lilhill · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2009, 12:57:06 PM »

SweetGumMinis · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2009, 02:50:44 PM »

I'm partial to production reds or RIRs utlity breed. They aren't aggressive like some say RIRs are. Like sex-links etc. I have Marans right now but its time to kill the rooster. He's too aggressive. So I'm thinking of culling him and getting more pullets/hens to make a new layer flock. I sold all my layers over the winter.

lilhill · « **Reply #28 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:21:31 AM »

Well, this weekend I'll finally have chickens moving into their new chicken house! Everybody knows I wanted Buff Orpingtons and I looked around here, but nobody had them and it was starting to look like I was going to have to order baby chicks from a hatchery. I really did not want to start out with babies! Then, voila', got an email from Robin saying she had 4 Buff hens (7 months old) and 1 roo (5 months old) and did I want them. She's coming up this weekend to bring my two doelings and picking up her buckling and bringing the chickens with her. It's going to be like Christmas around here with the new chickens and babies!

Little Farmer Debi · « **Reply #29 on:** March 24, 2009, 12:24:56 PM »

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Author Topic: Gonna get some chickens (I think) (Read 5542 times)