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Post by ohiodreamer on Nov 24, 2017 19:40:25 GMT
Chickens have been in the plans for a bit, now. But we have kept putting them off till we felt more confident that we would have the time to give them the care they need. We bought a small coop from a neighbor who bought chicken, fell in love with them and needed a larger coop, lol. It should hold 6-7 comfortably.
As a chicken newbie I don't want to get in too deep. I'm thinking 3 hens and 1 roo (for hen protection....not so much for chicks). I'm leaning towards the Australorp breed......sound like a good place for a beginner??? Goal is to give them an oversized run and then let them out into the yard about an hour before dark each day to explore. "Small lot" only 1.3 acres so we don't want them bothering the neighbors gardens (or ours).
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Post by mzgarden on Nov 25, 2017 0:13:58 GMT
Ahhh, chickens - the gateway animal, lol. I'll be interested to see what people think of Australorps. If I were suggesting a breed for new to chicken people, based on our experience, I'd suggest a Golden Comet. We've had lots of breeds and I really really wanted Australorps because of their lovely coloring and then didn't like them once we had them, lol. For us, they were not particularly friendly but they were a healthy breed and layed plenty of eggs. We find the Comets to be friendly, curious and a calm breed, healthy and lay nice eggs. We generally have multiple breeds running around because I like all the differences. Just my 2 cents, hope others will chime in as well.
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Post by Use Less on Nov 25, 2017 1:20:44 GMT
The hardest thing for me was keeping predators, all kinds, from getting at the chickens  |
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 25, 2017 12:53:08 GMT
ohiodreamer, I bet once you get them and get comfortable with them, you'll need to sell the coop for bigger chicken digs, just like your neighbor!!  I have a 4x8 coop with 17 chickens (one is a roo) right now. Their pen is roughly 40x60. They all get along great. As for breeds, I don't know much on Astralorps, though I do have an un-ID'd hen who looks like she could be an Astralorp, She is one of my friendliest hens, even being the flock matriarch and protector under the rooster. I trip on the poor whiny girl 24/7 when I am in their pen, as she is always underfoot. lol. My all time favorite breed is the Speckled Sussex. Beautiful to look at, great at foraging, and all mine have always been super friendly- my friendliest of some 10+ breeds I have had. As for 3 hens and a roo, you may find that the roo overbreeds your hens with so few. But you won't know for sure until you have them all living together- and you can always add some more hens in, right?! Good luck, and have fun! I love chicken tv!
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Post by Skandi on Nov 25, 2017 15:36:02 GMT
I really don't think the breed matters too much, pick what you like the look of and if it's eggs you're after something that lays decent eggs. Personally I wouldn't bother with a cockerel. it's just going to eat and eat and molest the girls. We have 7 chickens at the moment, four we hatched (was 5 but one was a roo) and three older girls, we'll be dropping back down to 4 since 7 is way to many for 2 people, Get as many chickens as you want eggs, I see those are good layers so you should get around 2.5 a day from them, can you eat that many? Or do you eat more?
Our last cockerel did protect the girls he jumped out in front of the fox instead, the neighbor found him in pieces on their lawn. However from a financial point, it would have been better to lose a hen rather than to keep him, since the hen would have been giving eggs and he just ate and made a noise. We have a Muscovy drake who protects our girl ducks, but he doesn't range far.
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Post by ohiodreamer on Nov 25, 2017 18:32:24 GMT
mzgarden, One of the reasons I wanted the Australorp was because I read how friendly they are. Maybe if I "love on them" every day from chick-hood they will stay friendly. But then again, I like my space too. Don't want chicken shadows! Rather, just have them happy to see me and not attempting to draw blood when I'm with them is the goal.. Predators are in issue here. The coop & run will be under the cover of trees, so that should help with the hawk issue. We are leaning towards burring 6" or so of the fencing below grade. That's where we plan to start, at least. LOL...we've been warned that chickens are a gateway livestock. That's one reason I want to start with such a small flock.....so we can add without being cramped. I'm thinking with the way the coop is built we might be able to give it an addition in a year or so (Shhh, don't tell DH). Although, I do have other "chicken plans" to curb that need to collect more egg layers. After a year of experience I'd like to build a nice large chicken tractor and get meat birds. I figure after 10 or so weeks of moving that around the yard, we will have happy soil and I'll be very happy to move those chickens to "freezer camp" so I can have a break from moving the tractor  Therefor my little egg laying flock will still be a little egg laying flock. Eggs, I have an outlet for selling them if I get too many to use. Same place we sell our honey and beeswax products 
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Post by Melissa on Nov 25, 2017 19:40:50 GMT
One of my favorite chickens is Plymouth Barred Rock. They are great foragers, can handle the cold, and are good layers.
The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl. Our strain has the narrow, clean barring so desirable in appearance. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety. Whatever you call them, you can't beat them for steady, reliable chickens. Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/barred_rocks.html |
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Post by mzgarden on Nov 25, 2017 20:47:06 GMT
ohiodreamer, I'll be interested to hear what you decide (and pictures are always fun). One thing more organized people than me do (lol) - each year they buy a single breed of chicks and that way they always know how old each chicken is. So for example, say year 1 you buy 6 Australorps, and year 2 you get 4 Barred rock (nice birds as Melissa says), and in year 3, you get 4 Aracauna/Easter Eggers. When your egg production starts dropping off it's likely your Australorps because they're the oldest and you can put them all in the freezer as stew birds. Easiest way I know of to figure out who is still laying and who has aged beyond egg production.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 25, 2017 21:27:14 GMT
I really like the Black Australorp hens... Roosters? Not so much. I know everybody's roos are different but the worst ones I have had were/are the Black Australorps. And yeah, like someone else said - that few hens to one roo wouldn't be very good... And hey, in my past experience - I order all pullets and STILL end up with some roos. So you may get one whether you want him or not! I also like the Barred Rocks. My plan is to get some Barred Rock and Black Australorp pullets sometime next year. I've had both of these breeds in a previous flock and have some now as well. Mine have nice even temperments but are not overly friendly. I do have one sweet Black Australorp girl that likes to come up to me and "talk" . I have found if you want friendly - handle them a lot. My friendliest birds - roos and hens - have been ones we had to handle within the first year or so due to such issues as an impacted crop and bumblefoot. Guess I'll stop rambling for now - good luck in your endeavors! They are so addictive indeed! ~Mari |
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Post by Melissa on Nov 25, 2017 22:14:31 GMT
Every mean rooster I have ever had was a Rhode Island Red. They just would not leave a person alone.
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Post by Woodpecker on Nov 26, 2017 13:00:37 GMT
My daughter had two golden comets and one New Hampshire Red. The two comets, Louise and Maybel died 3 years ago. Before that They picked on Loretta relentlessly. We didn't care for them as much as The NewHampshire Red, Loretta. Loretta's been alone for 5 years. She now follows me around when outside and if not dust bathing, always comes up to me on the deck. She's has a wonderful, sweet personality. That's all I know about chickens. Oh, she'll be 8 in March.
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 26, 2017 13:31:53 GMT
Melissa, I've hear Rhode Island Reds, hen and rooster, are not the nicest birds out there. Especially for new chicken people. I don't know personally, as that is one breed I never had. Woodpecker, Your daughter's NHR sounds lovely though. mzgarden, That's a really easy way to do it! I have all sorts of breeds and honestly don't butcher out older hens often enough. We did just butcher our first bird, a newly made excess rooster when a friend gave me a lovely young Speckled Sussex rooster. He is very welcome into my home flock breeding program for eggs. Part of the reason we have never butchered hens is because we never had great luck with the broody hen hatching enough. Only had 3 max per clutch. The first one was 3 boys, then a singlet baby the next year, this spring 3 that look like pullets, then a singlet in late Sept that I can't ID yet. I'm hoping the SS rooster will have better luck with fertilizing the hens. Barred Rocks are good little chickens, but they are probably my least favorite, honestly. Just not as much fun to look at, and they don't have the personalities my others do, and also seem to be my aggressors in the flock most of the time.
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tractorgrl
Junior Member
Hello from the Quiet Corner of CT
Posts: 61
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Post by tractorgrl on Nov 26, 2017 18:56:40 GMT
Australorp hens are nice birds and would be a great breed to start out with.
I really like a mixed flock. Right now we have RI Red, NH Red, Barred Rock, Jersey Giant, White/Brown Leghorn, and Easter Egger hens and a Black Ameraucana roo. I really like all of these breeds, but find the leghorns to be flightly and not the most friendly. Their egg laying can't be beat though. I also love orpingtons and think they're a friendly, beginner breed.
Our roo is great, he's not people-friendly but not mean, mostly just keeps his distance. He recently lost all his tail feathers saving the flock from a loose dog that got into our yard. Didn't lose a single hen.
We have a lot of space so we free-range and take our chances, with less space, an oversized run sounds like a good plan.
Good luck, have fun, I suspect you'll be addicted before long!
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Post by ohiodreamer on Nov 26, 2017 18:59:59 GMT
Okay, maybe I'll skip a roo, get an extra hen, and buy a roll of chicken wire instead and put a lid on my run.... I could always add a roo later if I need one, usually someone in the area has an extra that needs a home.... Melissa, REALLY!!??, when I finally make up my mind you give me another option that looks AWESOME! Yep, don't even have chickens yet and see how this could get out of hand. I now want some of this and some of that, lol....oh my, this could get expensive. And we really don't need THAT many eggs! LOL |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 26, 2017 19:31:55 GMT
Okay, maybe I'll skip a roo, get an extra hen, and buy a roll of chicken wire instead and put a lid on my run.... I could always add a roo later if I need one, usually someone in the area has an extra that needs a home.... Melissa , REALLY!!??, when I finally make up my mind you give me another option that looks AWESOME! Yep, don't even have chickens yet and see how this could get out of hand. I now want some of this and some of that, lol....oh my, this could get expensive. And we really don't need THAT many eggs! LOLOnce upon a time I had the most innocent of intentions... I had dreamed of having chickens and read Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens front to back - I don't know how many times... Then, ten years later - in 2009 I started out with a mixed flock (Barred Rocks, White Rocks, Buff Orps, Black Australorps, and Silver Wyandottes) in an 8x12 coop my DH built for me. Now, after building 3 more coops of various sizes, DH tells me on a regular basis - "I'm not building any more coops!" I wish you so much luck and happiness when you get your birds... Guess you can tell I'm a bonafide chicken nut! |
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Post by ohiodreamer on Nov 27, 2017 13:01:59 GMT
Ever have one of those wake up at 2 am thoughts?? Middle of the night I realized I didn't have to get 4 matching hens, lol. I'm sure you all knew that already....just took, me time to come to that conclusion So I think I'll try 4 different breeds...sounds like more fun (and prettier) |
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Post by Melissa on Nov 27, 2017 13:28:44 GMT
ohiodreamer, Sometimes I just order one of those mystery mixtures. It is fun to see what you get. I like Meyer Hatchery which is in Polk, Ohio.
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Post by shellymay on Nov 27, 2017 15:22:10 GMT
ohiodreamer, If and when your ready I sell ALL those breeds, LOL If you are ever in KY around Feb 2018 look me up as I will have all those breeds ready to go and they will all be 4 months of age come Feb........
Friendly chickens no matter the breed is based on how raised, I raise all mine indoors see shelly mays chicken thread.....when you raise all the breeds and colors together from little chicks it helps them get along with other chickens better, If you go and get ONE hen from this guy over there and then another from over there and ect sometimes they don't get along with the different colors because they weren't raised together, if someone comes to my place and buys the Black Australorps and brings them home to their flock of Barred Rocks the Barred will pick on them because yes they are different, LOL or take a all dark chicken flock and suddenly add a white chicken into it, sometimes not fun to watch your hard earned money get picked to death by your other girls, but if you purchase them all as babies up front that will work and they will all get along.......
Once chicks are old enough, the way to a chickens heart is through their stomachs, LOL sound familiar just like men. They love treats and it can be as cheap as a slice of bread pulled apart into small pieces, anything really! this makes the chickens want to come to you when you show up at coop, they will follow you around for MORE treats as you will always have the ones that want to jump up in your lap or even on your back if your bent over, LOL. Chickens are great and they are entertaining and calm a person down if your stressed, they are fairly easy to raise and pretty cheap to feed and they reward you with a egg, doesn't get any better then that. I agree with everyone on the no roo for such few, might wait until your HOOKED and expand and increase your numbers before getting a roo....same things apply with them, buy from someone who has raised it and buy young so you don't get suckered into buying someone else mean roo because they are trying to rid of it because a lot of folks won't admit he is mean....
Adult chickens will attack and pick on babies if you buy some now and think your going to add babies in a year or so, you will have to keep them separated in their own space until babies are big enough to fend for themselves, the adults will also keep them from food and water containers, such wanted to tell you this now so you will have that info upfront....GOOD LUCK and you will enjoy them and they are VERY VERY addicting |
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Post by Daniel on Nov 27, 2017 15:36:00 GMT
Ever have one of those wake up at 2 am thoughts?? Middle of the night I realized I didn't have to get 4 matching hens, lol. I'm sure you all knew that already....just took, me time to come to that conclusion So I think I'll try 4 different breeds...sounds like more fun (and prettier) Checkout this website if you want just a few different hens. www.mypetchicken.com/default.aspx |
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Post by ohiodreamer on Nov 27, 2017 20:18:02 GMT
Melissa,I know Meyer, they are close enough to pick up from.....and of course stop at Lehman's on the way past, lol. But I think they have a 12 chick minimum....I'm not ready for baptism by fire shellymay, OH MY, what a tease you are!! I'd love to come to KY and get them from you!!.....not sure if the 4-5 hours trip to The River, plus how ever far you are from The River crossing in Feb is a good idea for me, lol. I'll run it by DH (sort of did already, he's thinking it's not a bad idea!)....maybe we could celebrate our 25th a few months early.....in KY!? Daniel, that is who I was considering using as they will ship as few as 4 to my local. Even Tractor Supply has a 6 chick min, which is too many for this year.
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Post by princessferf on Nov 28, 2017 14:18:02 GMT
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I want to give a shout out to Buff Orpingtons. I've found them to be super friendly, mellow and good foragers. I also think they're super pretty.
I agree about the thumbs-up for Barred Rocks. Those gals are hardy!
Never been too big a fan of Rhode Island Reds (or the hybrids). They lay great but then fall off fast. Plus, not that friendly.
As for roosters, you really don't need them. Plus, I like to keep at least a 7-1 hen-rooster ratio in my coop. My birds free range daily and our roosters are great at keeping an eye on their ladies.
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Post by ohiodreamer on Feb 15, 2018 12:53:04 GMT
Quick update, I've looked online to order chicks. Oh my Goodness....the shipping costs!!! Needless to say I am now "stocking" Tractor Supply. Noticed yesterday that the have just set up the chick pens Better warn DH, it is time to make that tote into a baby chick coral! My guess is in another week or two there will be some "odd sounds" coming out of the mudroom, lol. The cats and dogs will either be thrilled or scared! |
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