Farm Chicken Help. What type of Chicken to buy?

[imaginative]

I am buying a new flock this weekend- maybe even tonight and I thought that I could get some advice from the experience here.

I just sold my 1 1/2 year old flock of Buff Orpingtons, I sold 3 this Spring ($45!) because it seemed 6 full growns were just too much for the city lot that I have.
Then one of my remaining 3 died Monday after eating a day old dead mouse and it seemed that 2 wasnt worth maintaining; I knew someone looking for 2 more for her flock so I sold them Tuesday.

So now I have cleaned out the coop and run and am ready to start a new chicken adventure. Someone locally is selling 3 to 4 month old pullets and I am going to be checking out her farm and chickens. She has Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red, and Golden Comets for sale. I will be most likely buying 4 or 5.

I live in NE Ohio and the Winters can get chilly- but the coop is fairly tight and generally does not get into the single digits. At least too often nor for too long. The high end of the temperature spectrum is maybe low 90's. My Buffs seemed fine in both Winter and Summer.

The free-range time is generally about an hour every evening just before sunset- I wish I could leave them out but- heh- its not the right place.

I'm mainly looking for egg production and a quieter breed. Right now Im leaning toward the Rhode Island Reds but I would love to hear from anyone who has any input that I could use.

And I will definitely post some pics after they get moved in.

Thanks.

 

[Nuthatch]

Well, for me a home flock is about more than production: I like variety so I can easily tell them apart, I like rosecombs or hardy birds because of my winters, and they need to be healthy and clean.

Why not get one or two different kinds which spreads the risk. I would like Comets sometime, but the reds are good choices. Take a look and see which look better there.

Nothing beats Buff Orpingtons for temperament. They are so sweet!

 

[Pass Go]

My vote is for tasty chickens!!

Wish I could have a flock of my own.

I'm not sure I've ever had a fresh egg. Hum... I need to make that a goal.

 

[imaginative]

Why not get one or two different kinds which spreads the risk. I would like Comets sometime, but the reds are good choices. Take a look and see which look better there.

You know, I never thought to mix the flock...hmmm... I may very well do that. Is there a particular combo that should or should not go together? Interesting.

 

[NINER]

Reds are LOUD hens, imho. Ours will gripe for ever at a mower or fuss if she's laying or wanting scratch.

Buffs are quiet and sweet. Faithful heavy layers. But another good breed is a Brhama (spelling)...lovely, singsongy quiet chirp. Peaceable, but capable of putting up with bullies if needed unlike some Orpingtons. They don't lay as heavily, but they aren't lazy layers either. The egg is medium/small round, not oblong like orpingonts.

Barred rocks are the most versitile imho, well rounded, take temps hot and cold, etc...and usually are quiet and well mannered. But ours tend to make a racket when laying from time to time.

Partridge Rocks are good too, but shy. You want a good rooster....that's your breed for a gentle giant, in my experience.

Americaunas are dramatic and cause trouble in mixed flocks with infighting, imho. That's my experience anyways. They are where the term 'bird brain' comes from, lol.....

 

[summerthyme]

No reason not to have one of each! The only thing to avoid is having ONLY one of a particular kind... in a flock of another kind. "Birds of a feather flock together" *definitely* applies to chickens- or, as I've said before "chickens are racist"! LOL!

When I had a flock of 25- 5 each of 5 different breeds- it was funny to watch them free range, each in their own little clique...

I really liked the Golden Comets... they are supposedly "non broody", but I had one hen who would fly over the fence and brood two families every summer, for about 5 years. Probably was the one exception which proves the rule, but she was great. The rest just stayed where they belonged and laid lots and lots of eggs.

Barred rocks are really good, all purpose birds which are usually fairly quiet and stand cold well. The Reds should be decent layers, can be fairly active, but not real flighty.

Mix them up and see which you like!

Summerthyme

 

[Wise Owl]

Either the Rhode Islands or the NH reds. They are both hardy breeds and sweet. I have raised the RI's and my neighbor has the NH's and they are sweet too. Plus they give large eggs to almost jumbo's earlier. Neighbor's are about a year old and giving extra large eggs already.

I loved my RI reds. They were all pretty much pets. But if you wanted meat, they are nice and large and will give you a decent meal out of one.

Make sure you have room tho. Look at the adults to see the size of them. RI's are a bit bigger than the NH's.
My Rhodie's laid for 6 years or so pretty much steady as long as they had enough light in the winter time.

 

[NINER]

If you do a mixed flock, make sure there are two of each kind, or only one of each...don't leave a single one unpaired or they will be isolated unless grown together from chicks. Mine are mixed flock, one of each in each tractor. The orpingtons don't flock together when free ranging because they were grown in mixed but isolated flocks from chicks. I'm going to try expanding my flock in a larger permanent station. It will be interesting to see if I have any success in their integration.....

But mixed flocks are fun and I like the variety too. If you like novelty types, I really excourage the lovely Brhama....she was a beauty while she lived. We had a bout with coccidia though a year ago and lost her....keep thinking I might replace her.

 

[bluetick]

My vote would have been for orpingtons. They are winter hardy and generally calm birds. They are supposed to be dual purpose - egg and meat chickens.

The only chickens I have ever had were buff orpingtons, so I am prejudiced! In fact, I am starting over in my new location and just hatched eight orpington chicks from eggs mailed to me. These are the black/blue/splash color variety.

There is a huge poultry show held in Ohio each fall with thousands of birds entered. If interested, I can provide more info.

 

[jehu]

Absolutely mix it up...


I love Wyandottes. Beautiful, good mothers, gentle, good layers, very cold hardy, and large sized for eating as well.

Keeping 2 or three pure breeds, will give you hybrid vigor in the mixed off-spring resulting in bigger, healthier, better laying chickens for the first generation.

 

[Sozo]

If all you want is eggs, go with the golden comets.

Personally, out of the choices you gave, I would prefer the Barred Rocks for versatility. (good for meat or eggs, well tempered, and handle the weather well)

We're raising Buff Orpington, Light Brahma, and Silkie.

 

[allmycats]

Wish I could tell you exactly the names of my girls... but I am afraid that I am not quite sure as I just got #6 of them and their coup 2 weeks ago from someone moving out of state. All I can say is they have been a complete joy to me. They lay white, green, brown and Lt.brown eggs daily for me. They have become so used to me now, and know that I am the bringer of the treats, and they literally run to me just as soon as I walk out the porch door. Infact when they are not free ranging around in my backyard they are either laying, or hanging out on my porch waiting for me to come out. They are approx 1 yr old, get along with my 2 dogs, are up at dawn ready to come out, and just as soon as the sun sets they are ready for bed. Just love it!! I'm a wanna be farm girl but a city girl right now... so I figure I will just bring some of the farm to my backyard. JUst wish they layed purple eggs... as that is my favorite color LOL. Just scrambled up #2 eggs and they were fantastic. I am feeding them all organic feed and scratch, and they love fresh corn, lettuce, granola, and will sit on my lap for their treats. I have named only 3 of them so far.... Big Momma ( because she is the leader of the pack)
Sweetie ( she is so sweet), and Red Bud ( because some have picked on her , and her BUM is red)... others will be named soon. I have never spent so much enjoyable time in my backyard as since I got these girls.... so anyone thinking about this new hobby for themselves I give a thumbs up on this one.When the SHTF... I will have perfect protien from my girls. NOw I have to stock up on their feed. Oh well... never ending stocking up.

ALLMYCATS

 

[imaginative]

Thanks for all the advice.

I think a mixed flock would be something that would work out well.

Right now a mix of the Rhode Island Red and the Golden Comets look like something to consider. They are both terrific layers and cold hardy.

I'm somewhat of a 'stealth' chicken rancher (!) as I have nearby neighbors. Do you think these types of hens would be fairly quiet? Would get along?

I reading that the RIR's will lay 300 eggs/yr each and the Comets will lay nearly that many. That translates to 1500 eggs/yr from 5 hens or slighty more than 10 dzn per month.

Im looking forward to the next flock.

 

[ArmyOfFive]

I love my production & RI reds & my barred rocks (of those you listed). Both are good for eggs AND meat. I'm in zone 4/5 if that tells you their hardiness

 

[Old Gray Mare]

Imaginative it depends on what you want them for. If you just want something that will grow fast, put on weight and be ready to put in the freezer in a few weeks and not to breed and lay eggs MHO is go with Rocks. They are cheap to buy. Don't put food in front of them 24/7 or they may eat themselves to death. Their legs are deformed due to a genetic mutation due to hybridization. After a certain point in time they get so fat they can't hardly move.

If you want a homestead chicken that is gentle, good with kids, makes nice brown eggs, can forage up at least some of its feed and has hens that might surprise you with a clutch of freshly hatched chicks now and then MHO is go with Buff Orppingtons.

Stay away from the chickens that lay the "Easter Eggs" my experience is that they are mean. Starting out no one needs to be worried about being spured by a rooster or remembering to bring a broom to the coop for protection.

 

[twincougars]

I am buying a new flock this weekend- maybe even tonight and I thought that I could get some advice from the experience here.

I just sold my 1 1/2 year old flock of Buff Orpingtons, I sold 3 this Spring ($45!) because it seemed 6 full growns were just too much for the city lot that I have.
Then one of my remaining 3 died Monday after eating a day old dead mouse and it seemed that 2 wasnt worth maintaining; I knew someone looking for 2 more for her flock so I sold them Tuesday.

So now I have cleaned out the coop and run and am ready to start a new chicken adventure. Someone locally is selling 3 to 4 month old pullets and I am going to be checking out her farm and chickens. She has Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red, and Golden Comets for sale. I will be most likely buying 4 or 5.

I live in NE Ohio and the Winters can get chilly- but the coop is fairly tight and generally does not get into the single digits. At least too often nor for too long. The high end of the temperature spectrum is maybe low 90's. My Buffs seemed fine in both Winter and Summer.

The free-range time is generally about an hour every evening just before sunset- I wish I could leave them out but- heh- its not the right place.

I'm mainly looking for egg production and a quieter breed. Right now Im leaning toward the Rhode Island Reds but I would love to hear from anyone who has any input that I could use.

And I will definitely post some pics after they get moved in.

Thanks.

Barred Rocks. They are sex-linked (you can tell males from females), and will hatch their own eggs if you let them. They are general purpose...both for meat and for eggs. They are a traditional homesteading breed.

 

[imaginative]

Well Im definitely after egg production (and garden fertilizer). And Im definitely not looking for a rooster.

Even though Im a 'stealth' chicken guy- all my neighbors not only know I have them- but they come over most nights to see them. One neighbor already misses them (!) and its been what, 2 days without chickens here! But I really want the birds to be quiet. My Buffs would cluck loudly everytime they layed but were otherwise absolutely silent.

 

[joekan]

We've had Rhode Island Reds and they were just "ok" egg layers. We then bought White Leghorns, and they have been the best! Everyday, each day, whether it is very hot or cold, they give me one egg per chicken. I'll never get any other breed other than the White Leghorns.

 

[Firebird]

Austrolorps.

 

[pops88]

Austrolorps.

Ditto. I spent hours last night doing research on chicken breeds and this is my pick if my husband will build me a coop. They were cross bred from Orppingtons. They are dual purpose, good layers of large eggs, good brooders, can tolerate cold, are docile, friendly and quiet.

Australorp

 

[sssarawolf]

Good luck with the chickens .

 

[willdo]

I'd go for the mix

I purchased mine as day old chicks, and they act as a flock, haven't seen any problems with them separating from each other. They all bunch up and sleep on each other at night.

I have two Austrolorps, they are the quietest out of my mix. They are friendly and curious, not afraid or jumpy and enjoy being held. They are fast, the first ones to the gate. One of them we call Speedy, the other we call Dakota. They are hard to tell apart except for some different coloration on their beaks, one has more yellow, the other has a hew of pink.

I have two Barred Rocks, they are also quiet. The rooster is very friendly and doesn't mind being handled. His name is Brave Heart. If something is out of place, he's trying to figure it out. He hasn't been a bully with the hens so far. The research said they are the best roosters as far as temperment. He does have something wrong with one of his legs, it seems to bow out of joint almost but it doesn't seem to bother him. I am debating whether he was injured before I got him or if it is a deformity. If it is genetic, I am hoping he won't pass it on as he is my only Rooster. He should probably be culled but he has a wonderful temperment. The Barred hen we call Bossy, although she is friendly, too, she just pushes her weight around with the other hens. She isn't picking on any of them, she literally pushes her way through them or over them or pushes them off a roost to get her way. The Barred Rocks are larger than the Astrolorps and the other Rocks.

I have one White Rock, she is a little shy and afraid and the loudest. We named her Nugget because if any hen is going to get turned into a nugget, it would probably be her. When we kept her in the house before we could put them outside, she was very loud at times, most often when we were eating dinner or going to bed, lol. She will submit to handling but she is usually the one staying to the back of the pen. She is the best at catching bugs, very alert to what is going on around her. She is the alarm if something isn't just right, if she is cold, you will know it, if the water is empty, she will chirp loudly until you notice it. If I hear her, I know to go check on them.

I have one Partridge Rock, she is smaller in size to the other Rocks, and is the quietest of the Rocks. She isn't as friendly as the Barred but more friendly than the White. We call her Ruby. She gets along well with the other hens and minds her own business.

I have one Golden Caspian. She is a crazy chicken, walks like a drunk and has the sweetest little chirpy chortel. She is the smallest, about half the size as the others but no one picks on her and she gets what she wants. She loves to forage, and would prefer anything green or a bug to eating feed. She loves to scratch and fly, I'd probably have to clip her wings if they weren't in a covered run. She doesn't like to be handled but will submit to it.
The other hens except for the White Rock, seem to enjoy being picked up.

I like being able to tell them apart and I've read that mixing the breeds will produce a more hardy chicken.

 

[willdo]

I'd go for the mix

dup, don't know how that happened.

 

[WalknTrot]

Congrats on getting rid of the Buff Orpingtons. I am not a fan of the ones I have now...although will probably keep them 'til old age gets them just because a couple go broody. If you want eggs, I prefer the sex-linked layers like Gold Links, Red stars, etc. They do their job and do it well. The Buffs don't lay as well and lay small eggs IMHO. And quit for a larger part of the year up North.

Out of the choices you gave, I'd take the Golden Comets or Barred Rocks.

 

[willowlady]

Ditto:

White Leghorns, and they have been the best! Everyday, each day, whether it is very hot or cold, they give me one egg per chicken. I'll never get any other breed other than the White Leghorns.

If it's just egg production, our white leghorns are most faithful, one egg per hen per day, summer or winter. The barred rocks are pretty good as soon as spring hits. Our Rhode Island Reds are real slackers, and noisy, too. I feel the stew pot a comin' for them. We have 12 hens in our backyard coop. Check out www.backyardchickens.com/ for all kinds of good info.

 

[Loon]

I have 5 golden comets and 6 rhode island reds and one lone white brahma. All hens. No roosters. They are all very quiet except for when the lay an egg. They'll crow but only for a minute or so. They are all good layers. The golden comets are bred to take cold in the winter and that's why I bought them. They do have a coop inside the barn and came through winter just fine.

The one white bird did get picked on briefly but after I put this gunk on her neck they stopped pecking at her. Right now she's gone broody and we're trying to break her of sitting on eggs. We take the eggs away and carry her far away from the barn and set her down. They are over a year old and we're getting about 9 or 10 eggs a day still.

 

[summerthyme]

One point- the Golden Comets are sex-linked hybrids. Great egg layers (and the cockerels if you buy straight run are all white). But they won't breed true.

Summerthyme

 

[bbbuddy]

I love my Barred Rocks, and they lay all winter with a bit of light in the coop, 40 watts or more.

My feed store says the Buffs take a whole lot more feed to maintain...

 

[naturallysweet]

Definately go for the mixed flock, get one of each variety. If you can, get some crossbreeds, they sometimes have the best of both varieties.

If you have all different birds, you can tell them apart easier and give them all names. If you have 5 rhode island reds, they kinda all look alike.

I only have about 200 chickens, and they are all raised together as a mixed flock, with different age ranges, different breeds and crossbreeds, (and some turkeys, ducks, guineas, and chuckars mixed in.) Most of the time, they get along fine. (The turkeys can be a bit mean at times though.)

 

[imaginative]

You guys gave me great advice. I decided to go with a mixed flock this time and did as several suggested; I got Golden Comets (3) and Barred Rocks (2).

I also met a wise ol' farmgirl who has a beautiful 80ac farm- has 70 beef cows & about 18 calves. She is doing well as a chicken breeder and has been selling quite a few chickens to city folks who are into the urban homesteading thing. It was a real pleasure to meet and talk with her.

Anyway, here is the new flock....

 

[Garryowen]

If you want egg production, Leghorns are about as good as it gets. They are thrifty on feed and produce an egg a day during their prime. Even after a couple of years they are still producing at about 80%, most of the time. Only downside is that they are pretty small birds if you want meat. We got too attached to ours to butcher them. The last ones died of old age in our chicken retirement coop.

 

[imaginative]

I only have about 200 chickens,

Only 200? Heh! What do you do with all the eggs?

This farmgirl had about the same number or so I would guess. She had one of those beautiful old barns that seemed to ramble on and on; she had a large room for each breed- each with their own outside access- it was really quite impressive (and I didnt even go upstairs).

Anyway- 200 birds- Im way jealous, very nice

 

[imaginative]

Here is a pic of my 'stealth' urban garden/chicken coop. I put the coop inside an existing 12 X 12 shed and extended the run into my garden. The I planted pole beans around the run. Even though the city's Law Dept said I could have chickens- it seemed proper to camouflage the set-up....

 

[imaginative]

I got my 1st egg from the new flock today!

So far the birds have been quiet & they seem content.

With my next flock I think I will look into the Australorp and the Leghorn- but for now this flock seems to be a real good mix.

 

[naturallysweet]

Only 200? Heh! What do you do with all the eggs?

This farmgirl had about the same number or so I would guess. She had one of those beautiful old barns that seemed to ramble on and on; she had a large room for each breed- each with their own outside access- it was really quite impressive (and I didnt even go upstairs).
Anyway- 200 birds- Im way jealous, very nice

I do eat lots of eggs and sell a few eggs, but basically I sell chickens. Mostly I sell hens to people who want eggs, and roosters to people who likes the taste of old fashioned chickens. LOL, I sometimes sell my roosters before the hens.

Some of my chickens come from my incubator, and some from my broody hens. For some reason, my chickens have been extra broody this year.

 

[Oldironboy]

I enjoy a mix as well. I got the rainbow selection from the hatchery I used and I am glad I did. It is fun to watch the different birds. Grown together, they all seem to get along just fine.

 

[theoriginaldeb]

I am buying a new flock this weekend- maybe even tonight and I thought that I could get some advice from the experience here.

I just sold my 1 1/2 year old flock of Buff Orpingtons, I sold 3 this Spring ($45!) because it seemed 6 full growns were just too much for the city lot that I have.
Then one of my remaining 3 died Monday after eating a day old dead mouse and it seemed that 2 wasnt worth maintaining; I knew someone looking for 2 more for her flock so I sold them Tuesday.

So now I have cleaned out the coop and run and am ready to start a new chicken adventure. Someone locally is selling 3 to 4 month old pullets and I am going to be checking out her farm and chickens. She has Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red, and Golden Comets for sale. I will be most likely buying 4 or 5.

I live in NE Ohio and the Winters can get chilly- but the coop is fairly tight and generally does not get into the single digits. At least too often nor for too long. The high end of the temperature spectrum is maybe low 90's. My Buffs seemed fine in both Winter and Summer.

The free-range time is generally about an hour every evening just before sunset- I wish I could leave them out but- heh- its not the right place.

I'm mainly looking for egg production and a quieter breed. Right now Im leaning toward the Rhode Island Reds but I would love to hear from anyone who has any input that I could use.

And I will definitely post some pics after they get moved in.

Thanks.

Hmmm..Orpingtons are about as good as it gets for cold winter areas....larger birds keep themselves warm better.
For a bird that will lay straight through the cold winter I favor Australorps.
Rhodies have a tendency to take the winter off when it comes to egg laying. New Hampshires are better in cold winter areas and they are a little smaller and so go easier on the food consumption than Rhodies which are slightly larger.
The golden comets should be very good egg production wise....I don't know how they do during the winter.
I haven't been in favor of Barred Rocks for awhile...but these new ones I got last spring have changed my mind...they are gentle consistent layers...except they have taken to hiding their nests the last few weeks. And one keeps going broody...PITN....having to throw her off the nest every day.

LOL they like to hang out with Buster Keaton my Border Leicester Ram lately.

 

[Loon]

I have golden comets and RIR's and they both made it through winter fine and even laid eggs all winter. To keep them laying you have to provide a light for at least 14 hours a day. We just kept a small watt lightbulb on for them. They are both quiet breeds and gentle. We have one golden who is broody now and sitting on eggs. I like both breeds. Goldens are much smaller in size. I bought goldens because they came advertised at being able to get through cold winters in unheaded sheds.

 

[CountryboyinGA]

Game fowl.


CB

 

[Freeholder]

Hmmm..Orpingtons are about as good as it gets for cold winter areas....larger birds keep themselves warm better.
For a bird that will lay straight through the cold winter I favor Australorps.


Deb, I would have to disagree about the Buff Orpingtons. They are a pretty bird, and cold-hardy, but for winter layers, I much prefer Wyandottes. Will find out this winter how my new Salmon Faverolles do in comparison -- they have a good reputation as winter layers, but do have single combs. I like the rose combs that the Wyandottes have.

Kathleen