Topic: Chickens!!!

[codethree]

Just a reminder to anyone that is thinking of getting chicks, the easiest time to find what you want is in the Spring.

We had wanted some last year but by the time we started looking every place was sold out.

We got eight chicks this year. We got 3 from D&Bs, 3 from Dunlaps Hatchery in Caldwell, and 2 from Zamzows. We wanted specific breeds so we had to shop around.

We had been looking forward to getting Chickens for a long time, but it wasn't until we got them have I realized what a great animal they are to have. They are inexpensive to buy and maintain. Overall they are simple and easy to maintain. From a survival perspective, I think they are a great source of meat and eggs. And if they are allowed to free range, it will substantially decrease the amount of feed needed to keep up egg production. I've heard that chicken will eat almost anything.

The also make good pets. They seem pretty social. Our kids love them.

[rubbleroser]

Oh, yes, they're just lovely creatures. I've raised them a few times myself. However, they can sure rile your neighbors. This year it's my turn to get hit. All my neighbors, on three sides of me, have chickens which they're free-ranging. I've had to fence my entire garden and part of my yard.

I've heard that chicken will eat almost anything.

Yes, they do eat everything! And, on top of this, the roosters are in my yard crowing as early as 6:45 a.m. on the mornings I'd like to sleep-in.
Lovely creatures! 

[codethree]

I like to sleep in sometimes also. That is why I didn't get any Roosters, we bought all pullets. If any turn out to be rooster, it will be dinner (Just don't tell my kids ).

I figure roosters are good if you want fertilized eggs and they help protect the flock, but it's not worth it to me. I have multiple neighbors that have roosters, so if the crap hits the fan, I'm sure I can probably barter for a rooster if needed.

[Jeff]

What breeds do you have/like?  I've been thinking about getting 3-4 Australorps (if I can find them locally).

[codethree]

We ended up with 8 pullets (females). We got two Araucanas, two Buff Orpingtons , one Cuckoo Marans, one Light Brahma, one Welsummer, and one Silver Laced Wyandotte. Since I have young kids we wanted chickens that were friendly, easily handled, calm, quiet, and somewhat docile. Even though we are going to use them for eggs and eventually probably going to make them dinner, they are also pets. The breeds of chicks we got more or less meet the above criteria.

We also picked the chickens for various other reasons. We got the Araucanas (they are also called easter eggers) because they typically lay green or blue eggs and we think that is pretty cool, especially for the kids. I also think that they are pretty cool looking. I wanted the Buff Orpington because they are an all around good chicken. Attractive, mellow, fairly large, good layers. The Cuckoo Marans is an interesting bird because it lays really dark brown eggs, sometimes called "chocolate brown". The Cuckoo Marans looks similar to a Barred Rock. The Light Brahma, I thought was one of the most attractive chickens out there. It is one of the largest chicken breeds and it has feathered legs and feet. I've heard they are good layers and extremely friendly. My wife picked the Silver laced wyandotte because she liked the way it looked. And My daughter wanted the Welsummer for the same reason. The Welsummers are supposed to lay pretty dark brown eggs as well, although not as dark as the marans I believe.

It would seem a lot of the reasons for our choices were superficial, but I think we have a good set of layers. I think picking a chicken breed for a backyard flock is going to be a personal decision. If I had a farm it would be different. If I was trying to make money I'd get Cornish Crosses for meat and Leghorns for eggs.

I've read that Australorps are pretty easy going birds as well as great egg layers. I'm pretty sure that Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell was hatching them this year, but I'm not sure that they were going to be sexed. All I saw was straight run listed on their retail price sheet.

On craigslist, I saw some Australorps for sale a a month or two ago. The number was 208-674-1012 and they sell year round.