Farm Chicken Help. What type of Chicken to buy?
- Thread starter imaginative
- Start date
theoriginaldeb
Still A Geology Fanatic
theoriginaldeb
Still A Geology Fanatic
I like the chocolate brown color of the Maran eggs so much that I think I will add some to my flock next spring.
The Cuckoo Marans look a lot like a Barred Rock...except the barring is more like mottling. They are a French breed.
The breed is still being developed in this country...meaning not standard...yet. Not in the American Poultry Association standard book of breeds yet. They are a busy bird...active.
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/cuckoomaran.htm
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html
The Cuckoo Marans look a lot like a Barred Rock...except the barring is more like mottling. They are a French breed.
The breed is still being developed in this country...meaning not standard...yet. Not in the American Poultry Association standard book of breeds yet. They are a busy bird...active.
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/cuckoomaran.htm
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html
imaginative
keep your eye on the ball
Deb
Thanks for the pics; especially the Ram & barred rock pics. Very nice
Thanks for the pics; especially the Ram & barred rock pics. Very nice
I really like my Cuckoo Marans. They lay WELL, lay huge eggs in their second year, and I've got a hen raising her second brood of chicks so far this year. Very calm birds, in my experience. And while they're not precisely "sex linked" it's fairly easy to tell pullets from cockerels at a very young age... the cockerels are a lot lighter color.
Plus they grow to a very nice, meaty bird. Until I discovered the "Slow white broilers" from Welp hatchery, I was planning on using Marans as my "SHTF" meat bird...
Summerthyme
Plus they grow to a very nice, meaty bird. Until I discovered the "Slow white broilers" from Welp hatchery, I was planning on using Marans as my "SHTF" meat bird...
Summerthyme
theoriginaldeb
Still A Geology Fanatic
Interesting...how is the flavor of the Maran cockerel?
Flavor-wise the best tasting bird I ever had was a free range Silver Phoenix...very scrawny though.
Gonna have to try those Welp Hatchery slow white broilers.
I just want something with some flavor...tired of flavorless Cornish X.
Honestly, I think flavor is more a function of feed and age than anything. If you raise the Marans to 16 weeks (so you get more than a 2-3# bird, dressed) they'll be "more chicken flavored" than CornishX at 6-7 weeks.
We like the CornishX birds we raise. They aren't the best for making a deep, rich flavored broth, but they certainly make a tender chicken barbeque. And you can't beat them for boneless breasts...
I do feed some weeds and waste garden stuff to them, and maybe that helps with the flavor. And I use spent laying hens for soup...
Summerthyme
We like the CornishX birds we raise. They aren't the best for making a deep, rich flavored broth, but they certainly make a tender chicken barbeque. And you can't beat them for boneless breasts...
I do feed some weeds and waste garden stuff to them, and maybe that helps with the flavor. And I use spent laying hens for soup...
Summerthyme
imaginative
keep your eye on the ball
About this time last month the Golden Comets laid their first egg. They have given me 3 eggs everyday since then- with the exception of 1 day where I only got 2.
Today both Barred Rocks laid for the first time & I got 5 eggs. Go now we will start getting at least 4 eggs everyday.
My observations thus far; the GCs are quiet- friendly- active- and dont eat too much food. The BRs are very talkative- they are getting friendly- eat a lot and are at the top of the 'pecking order'. Both breeds seem to drink more than my Buff Orps.
Today both Barred Rocks laid for the first time & I got 5 eggs. Go now we will start getting at least 4 eggs everyday.
My observations thus far; the GCs are quiet- friendly- active- and dont eat too much food. The BRs are very talkative- they are getting friendly- eat a lot and are at the top of the 'pecking order'. Both breeds seem to drink more than my Buff Orps.
imaginative
keep your eye on the ball
I'm going to pick up another small flock here in a few weeks; the Golden Comets were perfect birds and that is the breed on the next order
Chicken Help. What type of Chicken to buy?
The kind that cluck and lay eggs?
Sorry, couldn't resist...
The kind that cluck and lay eggs?
Sorry, couldn't resist...
Cool poster, Imaginative! 
For strictly layers, I loved my Gold-links and Comets. But now have gotten so paranoid about the world situation that I want a good duel purpose breed. One that will provide lots of eggs and grow fast to a nice meat bird. I think Summertyme got the ball rolling, but quite a few folks on the forums are going to the Welp Hatchery Slow White Broiler. They are nice layers, and the chicks grow to a good 5-6 lb carcass in 10 weeks. I had to cull the extra 9 month-old rooster from my flock this spring, and he and his broth filled 4 quart jars!
Very sweet, pleasant birds (even the roosters) and some hens will go broody besides.
For strictly layers, I loved my Gold-links and Comets. But now have gotten so paranoid about the world situation that I want a good duel purpose breed. One that will provide lots of eggs and grow fast to a nice meat bird. I think Summertyme got the ball rolling, but quite a few folks on the forums are going to the Welp Hatchery Slow White Broiler. They are nice layers, and the chicks grow to a good 5-6 lb carcass in 10 weeks. I had to cull the extra 9 month-old rooster from my flock this spring, and he and his broth filled 4 quart jars!
Very sweet, pleasant birds (even the roosters) and some hens will go broody besides.
A pot in every chicken.......
I was looking for a "Chicken in Every Pot" poster, and this came up.
Just finished building a covered chicken pen & coop. LM1 got Barred Rock/Silver Laced Wyandotte cross, Araucana/RIR cross.
It's too early for a range report.
I was looking for a "Chicken in Every Pot" poster, and this came up.
Just finished building a covered chicken pen & coop. LM1 got Barred Rock/Silver Laced Wyandotte cross, Araucana/RIR cross.
It's too early for a range report.
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Freeholder
This too shall pass.
Follow-up to my post from three years ago: have tried both Cuckoo Marans and Salmon Faverolles, and they don't seem to be as tough as some of the other breeds. I've settled on Gold-laced Wyandottes and Australorps, and plan to do some crossing. The crosses will probably all be black, but maybe down the line I'll be able to get the gold-laced color back. I'm using these two breeds for practical reasons, but pretty is nice, too!
Kathleen
Kathleen
Yes, WalknTrot mentioned my new (and all time) favorite breed for dual purpose birds- Welp Hatchery's "Slow White Broilers". They don't get as gigantic as the CornishX birds will- but that means they actually can live to breed and lay eggs. The pullets lay earlier than ANY breed (10 days earlier than some Leghorns twice for me now) and do well even in our bitter winters. The roosters (at least the ones I've kept so far) are sweet hearts- no aggressive tendencies at all.
They grow slightly slower than CornishX- they'll dress out at a solid 5# at 9 weeks, where CornishX can reach that weight in 7 weeks. And they aren't quite as broad breasted as the CornishX birds- but the breasts probably weigh 3X what any "dual purpose" breed cockerel will produce. I've been breeding them for 4 years now, and while I'm not particularly fond of white birds (except when plucking them!), these are "pretty" enough (and I have some Americaunas which give me plenty of color to look at) and make so much economic sense that I'll stick with them.
Summerthyme
They grow slightly slower than CornishX- they'll dress out at a solid 5# at 9 weeks, where CornishX can reach that weight in 7 weeks. And they aren't quite as broad breasted as the CornishX birds- but the breasts probably weigh 3X what any "dual purpose" breed cockerel will produce. I've been breeding them for 4 years now, and while I'm not particularly fond of white birds (except when plucking them!), these are "pretty" enough (and I have some Americaunas which give me plenty of color to look at) and make so much economic sense that I'll stick with them.
Summerthyme
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Yep - chickens are racist. At one point I had a mixed flock of Rhode Island Reds, White Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks and White Bantams. It didn't matter if they were in the coop or out free ranging, each bird stayed with the others of the same breed. Very funny to watch.
I agree with the others - try a mixed flock.
I agree with the others - try a mixed flock.
Thanks for the updates - we'll be getting a flock of our own pretty soon, if all goes well. The Slow Whites sound as if they'd do OK in the NC mountains...
http://www.welphatchery.com/other-meat-type-birds/broiler-slow-white/ if anyone else is interested...
http://www.welphatchery.com/other-meat-type-birds/broiler-slow-white/ if anyone else is interested...
I think they'd do fine there, Dozdoats...
The only real drawback to white birds is their visibility to predators. Since we have dogs which protect all the livestock here, that's not a problem for us. I tried to find out from Welp whether or not they were considered "hybrids" a few years ago. They never answered me (even after promising to have "someone get back to me"), and in the 5 years I've been raising them, the uniformity of the offspring (whether first or third generation from hatchery stock) convinced me that they can't be a hybrid. There is some variation between birds, but nothing like you'd see if you were unravelling an "inbred hybrid" line like the CornishX birds are.
Summerthyme
The only real drawback to white birds is their visibility to predators. Since we have dogs which protect all the livestock here, that's not a problem for us. I tried to find out from Welp whether or not they were considered "hybrids" a few years ago. They never answered me (even after promising to have "someone get back to me"), and in the 5 years I've been raising them, the uniformity of the offspring (whether first or third generation from hatchery stock) convinced me that they can't be a hybrid. There is some variation between birds, but nothing like you'd see if you were unravelling an "inbred hybrid" line like the CornishX birds are.
Summerthyme
bbbuddy
DEPLORABLE ME
Based on summerthyme's recommendation we bought some Slow Whites a year and a half ago, and I love love them. I never thought I would like plain old white birds, and had had Barred Rocks for a decade. But now I wouldn't be without the Slow Whites. They are calm, sweet, free range well, grow fast and meaty, lay well, you name it - they do it!
I did have one roo that "tried me out" a few times but each time I grabbed his tail, picked him up and held him a bit (NOT by the tail, it was just a first hand-hold), then let him go. Now he leaves me alone.
I DO have LGD's. so the fact they are white is ok, coyotes very rarely get too close to our place.
I did have one roo that "tried me out" a few times but each time I grabbed his tail, picked him up and held him a bit (NOT by the tail, it was just a first hand-hold), then let him go. Now he leaves me alone.
I DO have LGD's. so the fact they are white is ok, coyotes very rarely get too close to our place.
imaginative
keep your eye on the ball
Good info and certainly a bird to consider.
The Golden Comets lay eggs 16 weeks after cracking out of their shells- which I consider to borderline miraculous. And a great selling point for the GC's. How early do the Slow White Broilers lay?
We've tried 8-10 breeds and pretty much settled on Americaunas and Barred Rocks... White Rocks are pretty good too.
But I just got 60 gold sex links Thursday... at $2/ea I was willing to try them.
We also usually raise Cornish X too... a customer does them for 4H... so they start with over 100 and cull down to 5-10. They don't want to mess with them so they call us to come get them as they cull... free. The younger we get them the better because we do not baby them. They grow well for us and we don't get leg problems and some live to lay eggs... we free range them like the rest of our chickens. Breed plays a role, but so does how you raise em.
But I just got 60 gold sex links Thursday... at $2/ea I was willing to try them.
We also usually raise Cornish X too... a customer does them for 4H... so they start with over 100 and cull down to 5-10. They don't want to mess with them so they call us to come get them as they cull... free. The younger we get them the better because we do not baby them. They grow well for us and we don't get leg problems and some live to lay eggs... we free range them like the rest of our chickens. Breed plays a role, but so does how you raise em.
Dozdoats- they will go broody, but not constantly. Out of half a dozen hens, usually 2-3 will set at least once during the warmer months. For us, that's enough (and I do have a small incubator if I need more chicks).
Not sure how well they'd do in extreme heat, although when I'm raising some with the CornishX in our humid summers, the CornishX show a LOT more heat stress than the Slow Whites.
They generally start laying at around 18 weeks. Most others pure breeds (Golden Comets are hybrids) start around 20-22 weeks. I'm usually getting an egg every other day from the Slow Whites before the others start laying their first egg. If you want pure egg layers, it's hard to beat the Comets. For dual purpose, I think it's impossible to beat the Slow Whites. (the Cuckoo Marans, which were the closest I'd found to an "all purpose" breed are nice birds, and I love their cinnamon colored eggs. And the cockerels DO grow about 2x faster than cockerels of almost any other "heavy" egg laying breed. But that's still a LOT slower than the Slow Whites, plus you have the typical problem of very little breast meat on the Marans- or any egg laying breed cockerel.
Summerthyme
Not sure how well they'd do in extreme heat, although when I'm raising some with the CornishX in our humid summers, the CornishX show a LOT more heat stress than the Slow Whites.
They generally start laying at around 18 weeks. Most others pure breeds (Golden Comets are hybrids) start around 20-22 weeks. I'm usually getting an egg every other day from the Slow Whites before the others start laying their first egg. If you want pure egg layers, it's hard to beat the Comets. For dual purpose, I think it's impossible to beat the Slow Whites. (the Cuckoo Marans, which were the closest I'd found to an "all purpose" breed are nice birds, and I love their cinnamon colored eggs. And the cockerels DO grow about 2x faster than cockerels of almost any other "heavy" egg laying breed. But that's still a LOT slower than the Slow Whites, plus you have the typical problem of very little breast meat on the Marans- or any egg laying breed cockerel.
Summerthyme
mbabulldog
Inactive
the timing of this thread is amazing, we're heading out this afternoon to pick up 4 hens; our town has finally "allowed" us to have chickens.
btw, anyone know of a breed of chicken who's rooster do NOT crow in the morning? I'd like to have a rooster to help grow my flock, but if I get caught with one crowing I'm screwed.
btw, anyone know of a breed of chicken who's rooster do NOT crow in the morning? I'd like to have a rooster to help grow my flock, but if I get caught with one crowing I'm screwed.
KFC. Otherwise, no...
However, if you can find anyone who has a roo you can borrow, you don't need one full time. One mating fertilizes the eggs a hen lays for the next 3 weeks. You could "borrow" a roo, toss him in with 3-4 hens, let him get happily exhausted and then return the happy roo to his owners after a few hours. Then collect the eggs from the newly bred hens (probably wait 48 hours as the eggs laid right after mating won't be fertile) and you're good to grow...
Summerthyme
I had to give up my birds 
COPD is getting the best of me. Tending to the chickens and geese at least twice a day meant going out even when the wind was carrying dirt and dust from the surrounding agricultural fields. The dirt was further damaging my lungs. The good news is that my DD and SIL decided they liked fresh eggs so much that they took some of my blue/black/splash orpingtons. The rest went to school - literally! I became friends with a teacher at a local high school that has an emphasis on agriculture. He is also a poultry judge. The school has pigs, sheep, cows, chickens and more. He took the chickens for the kids to raise for education and their 4-H and FFA pursuits. He kept the geese for himself!
COPD is getting the best of me. Tending to the chickens and geese at least twice a day meant going out even when the wind was carrying dirt and dust from the surrounding agricultural fields. The dirt was further damaging my lungs. The good news is that my DD and SIL decided they liked fresh eggs so much that they took some of my blue/black/splash orpingtons. The rest went to school - literally! I became friends with a teacher at a local high school that has an emphasis on agriculture. He is also a poultry judge. The school has pigs, sheep, cows, chickens and more. He took the chickens for the kids to raise for education and their 4-H and FFA pursuits. He kept the geese for himself!
DIMDAL
Contributing Member
I'm considering Faverolles because they've are supposed to be winter hardy and predisposed to laying throughout the winter, now I'm concerned this might not be the right choice for me. Could you elaborate on why you considered them not as tough? Are they quiet and friendly? Right now I have Welsummers, they are NOISY! all day long, not just when they are making the egg laying "song" and not friendly at all.
Melodi
Disaster Cat
I am really surprised that no one here mentioned the "breed" that I think no homesteader should be without a few of (if you want a flock that is likely to survive in difficult circumstance) that is: The Bantam - now I know there are tons of different kinds of bantams, and I discovered this time around looking for chickens that they have "downsized" just about every breed in bantam versions for smaller yards etc; but I am thinking more of the little, usually multi-colored (but sometimes black, gray or brown) hens that go broody at the drop of a hat an mini-roosters that give a whole new meaning to the world "macho."
Now, unless I lived in a city and only wanted a few eggs, I wouldn't want a flock just of banties, but having them around assures you have "natural" incubators (we have one on quail eggs, another on duck eggs, and a third teaming with the Buffy on both Buffy and Bantam eggs on a shared nest - they take over for each other it is very cute).
They also have survival skills (in general) way beyond those of the usual barn yard chicken, our mini-rooster Henry got out a few days ago and managed just fine "being feral" for about a week before we caught him. When the dogs went after him he just flew up onto the roof, when our a chicken the size of a parrot that's easier than if you are the size of Hagrid, my Buffy Rooster (who is a gentle giant).
My hope is to eventually have enough spare bantams around to keep a few in the mixed-run flock and/or a bantam run and also let Henry out with a few girls and just let them circulate about the garden eating bugs and occasionally surprising us with chicks (where we live you do loose chickens this way, but often the bantams can handle it while larger chickens become fox food). We did this a few years ago and one Bantam hen really surprised us (and the barn cats) by hatching about 12 ducks! Sadly the cats got about six of them before we figure out why they were all ringed around one of the bamble bushes, but we did get hen, her ducklings and one baby chick locked up in time to save a few. She had stolen the nest from one of the ducks and we didn't even realize it; this time we are locking the ducks up at night to avoid this fiasco.
But seriously, if you have room and want a "survival flock" be sure to get a few generic bantams, preferably from someone else who already has a flock and has a few extra; that's what we did, a young future farmer of about 16, he picked out the "best layers and mommies" and he was totally correct (at least in terms of sitting eggs, have not had time for a hatching yet).
I'm hoping to keep some of the Buff Orffington hens if we get any from this hatching, but I may also get a couple of rescue battery hens or other hybred layers just for extra eggs. With nearly everyone going broody at once, eggs because an issue - we are building more arcs so we can separate them out and take away the eggs from some of the girls but we are not there yet.
But so far I'm really happy with the Bantie/Buffy combination and I noticed that even Hagrid has no problem with mini-wives, though it looks pretty hilarious watching him "diddle" his tiny hens, it doesn't seem to hurt them any.
(Henry and Hagrid live in separate runs and have different hens to avoid one killing the other, though I'm not sure who would win...).
Now, unless I lived in a city and only wanted a few eggs, I wouldn't want a flock just of banties, but having them around assures you have "natural" incubators (we have one on quail eggs, another on duck eggs, and a third teaming with the Buffy on both Buffy and Bantam eggs on a shared nest - they take over for each other it is very cute).
They also have survival skills (in general) way beyond those of the usual barn yard chicken, our mini-rooster Henry got out a few days ago and managed just fine "being feral" for about a week before we caught him. When the dogs went after him he just flew up onto the roof, when our a chicken the size of a parrot that's easier than if you are the size of Hagrid, my Buffy Rooster (who is a gentle giant).
My hope is to eventually have enough spare bantams around to keep a few in the mixed-run flock and/or a bantam run and also let Henry out with a few girls and just let them circulate about the garden eating bugs and occasionally surprising us with chicks (where we live you do loose chickens this way, but often the bantams can handle it while larger chickens become fox food). We did this a few years ago and one Bantam hen really surprised us (and the barn cats) by hatching about 12 ducks! Sadly the cats got about six of them before we figure out why they were all ringed around one of the bamble bushes, but we did get hen, her ducklings and one baby chick locked up in time to save a few. She had stolen the nest from one of the ducks and we didn't even realize it; this time we are locking the ducks up at night to avoid this fiasco.
But seriously, if you have room and want a "survival flock" be sure to get a few generic bantams, preferably from someone else who already has a flock and has a few extra; that's what we did, a young future farmer of about 16, he picked out the "best layers and mommies" and he was totally correct (at least in terms of sitting eggs, have not had time for a hatching yet).
I'm hoping to keep some of the Buff Orffington hens if we get any from this hatching, but I may also get a couple of rescue battery hens or other hybred layers just for extra eggs. With nearly everyone going broody at once, eggs because an issue - we are building more arcs so we can separate them out and take away the eggs from some of the girls but we are not there yet.
But so far I'm really happy with the Bantie/Buffy combination and I noticed that even Hagrid has no problem with mini-wives, though it looks pretty hilarious watching him "diddle" his tiny hens, it doesn't seem to hurt them any.
(Henry and Hagrid live in separate runs and have different hens to avoid one killing the other, though I'm not sure who would win...).
Agree that Bantams (especially the ones which are pretty well miniatures of LAYING breeds, not the fancies bred solely for show) are excellent homestead birds. In fact, if I only wanted chickens for eggs, I'd keep Americauna bantams alone. They eat about 1/2 the feed, lay eggs that are 2/3rds the size, and will set and raise families. In fact, I need to get some more, because something (we suspect a big cat) broke off three fenceposts, flattened my chicken fence and stole my last two Auracana bantams last month (along with two Cuckoo Marans)... the dogs are now staying outside all night guarding.
But they are impractical for meat birds (to put it mildly), and that's one of our main reasons for keeping birds. I still prefer the CornishX for meat- they really are hard to beat for the fastest growing, largest breasted meat birds in existence. However, I don't trust the system that currently allows us to buy day old chicks through the mail- the animal rights nutcases almost got that banned a few years ago, and at some point, I KNOW they'll manage it. Plus, the cost of chicks is climbing fast. So, finding a dual purpose breed which actually produces acceptable carcasses at a young age has been a real Godsend... and one I've been looking for for over 20 years.
Summerthyme
But they are impractical for meat birds (to put it mildly), and that's one of our main reasons for keeping birds. I still prefer the CornishX for meat- they really are hard to beat for the fastest growing, largest breasted meat birds in existence. However, I don't trust the system that currently allows us to buy day old chicks through the mail- the animal rights nutcases almost got that banned a few years ago, and at some point, I KNOW they'll manage it. Plus, the cost of chicks is climbing fast. So, finding a dual purpose breed which actually produces acceptable carcasses at a young age has been a real Godsend... and one I've been looking for for over 20 years.
Summerthyme
I loved my Banties. Too bad the snow got so deep a couple of months ago that it drifted up about six feet and over the top of the mesh-covered run, so the fox climbed on top, dropped down into the run one night, opened the door latch to their henhouse and killed them all.
I'll have more someday. Don't have the heart for it this spring. Still sick that I lost them.
I'll have more someday. Don't have the heart for it this spring. Still sick that I lost them.
Glad they worked out. I've had 2 flocks of them and want no more. They are great at egg production and feed conversion but mine were way too flighty. They acted like I was trying to kill them every time I went in the lot. Mine also liked to find creative ways to commit suicide.
Freeholder
This too shall pass.
They seem to be plenty winter hardy here -- it can get well below zero. And the Marans I had were good foragers. But both the Marans and the Faverolles suffered more from the heat in the summer than the other breeds I had at the same time. I lost some of both breeds, in different years, when they were accidentally left with no shade for a few hours (tarps blew off chicken tractors). They'd be worth a try, depending on your situation and your climate. Oh, and the Faverolles I had left were all taken by raccoons, while the other breeds escaped. I still think that the Faverolles is ones of the prettiest breeds but I think I'll stick with what I've got for now. Would like to try some of the slow whites maybe next year, if things don't fall apart before then.
The Faverolles were fairly quiet, but be careful what lines you get, because some of them bite!! Several of the ones I had were biters. The one rooster who survived to adulthood was also aggressive towards me, one of the few roosters I've had recently that was.
Kathleen
savurselvs
Veteran Member
I believe these are the black and white checkerboard birds also known as barred rock I think.
GOOD choice! Had them when I was a kid
Freeholder
This too shall pass.
No, Dominiques and Barred Rocks are two different breeds. They have some ancestry in common, but have been separate breeds since at least the late 1800's. Dominiques are smaller, have rose combs, are more cuckoo in color rather than barred, and are more likely to go broody. Barred Rocks are usually better layers, and have more meat at butchering time. People used to call any chicken with cuckoo or barred (black and white) coloring a 'Dominique' or a 'Dominiker',
; that's where the confusion comes from.
Kathleen
; that's where the confusion comes from.
Kathleen
Dozdoats... while those fighting roosters are almost certainly bantams, there are other breeds of small chickens which actually make very suitable homestead breeds... unless, as I wrote above, you want meat! (although the Bantam Cornish- unfortunately, not available in white that I've found- they come in Red laced or Dark varieties) are nice little meat birds- but the emphasis is on "little") When I've butchered out extra Bantams, the carcasses went right into the soup pot... there just isn't enough meat on them to do anything else with them.
But if you get- (just the ones we found to be good layers) Araucana bantams, or bantam versions of the Rhode Island Reds or any of the Rocks (I loved my Partridge Rock bantams- prettiest birds!), you'll get birds which will lay pretty well year round. They almost all will set and raise a family, but most of the ones I've listed aren't as obsessive about that as the Cochins or Silkies are.
And speaking of Silkies, NOTHING in the chicken family can beat them for broodiness and mothering ability. However, that's essentially all they're good for- they do lay eggs on and off, but probably average no more than 120 a year or so. And their skin is black, which makes them look DARNED weird when butchered and plucked. Worse, when it's cooked, it turns sort of a blue/gray. They taste just fine, but you never want anyone to SEE them at any time until the meat is picked off the bones and the skin has been discarded someplace safely out of sight!! Even my Amish butcher, who presumably has seen almost everything, and like most Amish, has a cast iron stomach, admitted "they look a lot prettier with their feathers on"! LOL!
Summerthyme
But if you get- (just the ones we found to be good layers) Araucana bantams, or bantam versions of the Rhode Island Reds or any of the Rocks (I loved my Partridge Rock bantams- prettiest birds!), you'll get birds which will lay pretty well year round. They almost all will set and raise a family, but most of the ones I've listed aren't as obsessive about that as the Cochins or Silkies are.
And speaking of Silkies, NOTHING in the chicken family can beat them for broodiness and mothering ability. However, that's essentially all they're good for- they do lay eggs on and off, but probably average no more than 120 a year or so. And their skin is black, which makes them look DARNED weird when butchered and plucked. Worse, when it's cooked, it turns sort of a blue/gray. They taste just fine, but you never want anyone to SEE them at any time until the meat is picked off the bones and the skin has been discarded someplace safely out of sight!! Even my Amish butcher, who presumably has seen almost everything, and like most Amish, has a cast iron stomach, admitted "they look a lot prettier with their feathers on"! LOL!
Summerthyme
No, I want meat and eggs, in enough quantity to make the whole thing worthwhile.
I've had experience with bantams in my younger years, they were generally kept around to help keep bugs down, along with guinea fowl. And because my folks liked to see them, they are attractive birds. No one at home cared about eating bantam eggs or meat, they were pretty independent birds and kept themselves up pretty much without demanding any human attention to do so. I can't see really needing any unless we do need them as self powered incubators and biddy raisers.
My grandfather used to set an occasional bantam hen that was broody to raise a clutch of guinea eggs (he always removed the eggs from the guinea nest with a long handled spoon, claiming the guinea hens would never come back to the nest if he touched it). The bantams were always much better mothers than the guinea fowl were - more attentive both to eggs in the nest and new-hatched keets as well. For surrogate parenting bantams might be useful - but for eggs and meat, only as a last resort
. Pretty much like guineas, in that regard .
I've had experience with bantams in my younger years, they were generally kept around to help keep bugs down, along with guinea fowl. And because my folks liked to see them, they are attractive birds. No one at home cared about eating bantam eggs or meat, they were pretty independent birds and kept themselves up pretty much without demanding any human attention to do so. I can't see really needing any unless we do need them as self powered incubators and biddy raisers.
My grandfather used to set an occasional bantam hen that was broody to raise a clutch of guinea eggs (he always removed the eggs from the guinea nest with a long handled spoon, claiming the guinea hens would never come back to the nest if he touched it). The bantams were always much better mothers than the guinea fowl were - more attentive both to eggs in the nest and new-hatched keets as well. For surrogate parenting bantams might be useful - but for eggs and meat, only as a last resort
. Pretty much like guineas, in that regard .
