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Barnyard Buddies:  Chicken Advice needed  |
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ijjie
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Joan
Knoxville
TN
USA
92 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 12:39:39 PM
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Ladies, I need your advice and input! The last time I raised chickens was about 10 years ago, but want to start a small flock in the spring. I hope to buy some layers ready to go locally---raised barred rocks and aracanas in the past. What breeds do you raise? Also does anyone know where to get plans for a simple, but good chicken coop? Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Looking forward to fresh eggs soon!
Thanks Joan 
One of the joys of life are friends! They take you as you are! |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 1:29:42 PM
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I have buff orpingtons. They are a dual breed. They are great layers but also make great meatbirds too plus they handle a variety of temperatures as well. I love mine. We have 30.
Backyardchickens.com is a great resource for plans and other information.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 1:40:57 PM
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I have Buffs also. I love miy girls. They are the cutest fluffliest birds ever. And my Jimmy Buffet roo is the most handsome fella around. Good birds. I have 13 hens and they are 8 months old. I get about 8-10 eggs a day right now. And they are nice big almost pink eggs.
I also like Barred Rocks, too. But my choice is the Buffs. If I get a wild hair in the spring and want more I will get some Wellsummer chicks. I like them, too. They lay an almost red egg. And they are super sweet chickens, too.
Good luck choosing yours.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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ZenGoddess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Cindy
MO
USA
613 Posts |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 3:46:49 PM
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I have Rodies and I love them. My last group were Buffs but they ate twice as much and didn't lay as long. I have always had the best luck with Rhodies and their such sweet personable girls.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 4:31:51 PM
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I realize this place isn't "local" for you, but they have good info and may be able to refer you to another hatchery. Ideal Hatchery in Texas has some cross breeds they've "perfected" for egg laying...... they have Production Reds which are a cross of Rhode Islands and New Hampshire Reds. The Ideal 236 is their White Leghorn cross breed they developed for excellent egg production. They're website is www.ideal-poultry.com
I love my buffs, too. They are so pretty and sweet natured. The only negative about them compared to all the other breeds I raise is that they are very broody and will sit on an empty nest and stop laying eggs.
I just googled "how to build a chicken coop" and 697,000 hits showed up! It looks like a lot of people are willing to share their ideas. There are some youtube videos, too.
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 7:18:38 PM
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Joan there are several things to consider when choosing your flock and type of housing. Will they be free range or penned? If penned will you have an enclosed pen? How much space can you give them? What tempatures are they going to have to endure? A very good book to help you answer some of these questions is Hobby Farms, Chickens - Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit by Sue Weaver. It is an easy read and very informative. I would definately recommend it. Just remember chickens can live up to 20 years. Make sure it is a breed you want. I free range and live in a very warm climate so I went with the modern game. They are working out great because they can fly fairly well so I don't have to worry about coyotes so much. However, they are not the friendliest bird I have had. I love Araucana, which is what I had when I lived in Washington state, but they don't do so well in the Texas heat. Murry McMurry hatchery has a great ornamental layer package that has several different rare breeds of hens. If don't want to be confined to one breed.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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LRSaint
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Custer
Washington
7 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2010 : 8:56:18 PM
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| We have an assortment of reds, barred rocks, buff orpingtons and leg horns. Most of our hens are now cross breeds. It's been 3 years since we bought layer chicks. I usually have at least one or two hens that go broody and I let them hatch out their chicks. As for the hen house...my husband built a wonderful, movable house I can stand up in. He made an 8'x12' base from 4x4's he recovered from old pallets. We bought a couple of slightly damaged hog panels at the feed store for 25% off and arched them over the frame. Then he closed one end with a piece of ply wood and made a door in it with laying boxes beside the door. Covered the whole thing with chicken wire, put a couple of berry poles through for roosting on, and put clear plastic over it to keep out the rain. In the summer, we cover it with a tarp to provide shade. If I figure out how, I'll post a picture. |
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ijjie
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Joan
Knoxville
TN
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2010 : 11:48:06 AM
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I appreciate all the great advice. I am very excited about starting up a new flock. I need to do some research on the breeds suggested and get my coop built ready for spring.
Joan
One of the joys of life are friends! They take you as you are! |
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simone947
Farmgirl in Training
34 Posts
sarah
peru
NY
34 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2010 : 3:21:56 PM
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| we ordered the rainbow layer group from murray mcmurray last spring because i wasn't sure what kind of chickens i wanted. we have a mix of barred rocks, white rocks, white leghorns, a cornish cross, black orpington, and a mish-mash of Easter eggers. I would definitely order that mix again- I can tell the chickens apart and i like the variety of eggs. |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2010 : 09:53:11 AM
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I love my chickens. Most have been ordered from Murray Mcmurray. The rainbow layer pkg. is perfect. they also have one that gives you both meat chickens and layers.
I have batams,wellsummers,barred rocks,leg horns,buffs,americans and araucanas. I also have a Naked neck rooster [he won grand champ at 4-H last year]. I love a wide variety. Good luck.
One hint... make sure you keep pens clean [no short pen or pen you cannot get into to clean].
Enjoy! |
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Downhome CountryGirl
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Sam
Klondike
Texas
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2010 : 2:13:27 PM
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Joan,
I raise a veriety of chickens and I'm also fond of the Buff Orpingtons, they are a large bird with a quiet disposition, they do well in the cold weather, there good for eating, and make excellent setters, & thier eggs are brown. Dominiques are also a good breed these birds are great foragers, hardy in the cold weather, they will as well make good pets and are broody. Their eggs are also brown. These are just a few of my preferences. Best of luck! |
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happydaze
True Blue Farmgirl
136 Posts
lorraine
atlanta
ni
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2010 : 5:28:39 PM
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| I have cochin, and orpingtons, been laying all Michigan Winter. Am buying Delaware and Buckeyes this year, good dual purpose birds |
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ijjie
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Joan
Knoxville
TN
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 05:16:41 AM
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Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of variety, will check out Murray McMurray's rainbow collection. I'm playing with a few ideas on the coop design, but would love to see a picture of your's LR.
Joan
Farmgirl Sister #849
One of the joys of life are friends! They take you as you are! |
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Downhome CountryGirl
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Sam
Klondike
Texas
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 07:00:05 AM
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Joan
I'm sure you probably already know that there are a lot of other suppliers for chick and supplies, I think I've searched almost all of them (gotta find that bargain LOL) and I have found that Murray McMurray's is one of the most expensive routes to go. I have also used Ideal Poultry, Welp, Cackle Hatchery, and Stromberg's I like to call to see which will have the best deal that will better suit my needs. You might also google chicken coops and you'll get a load of ideals and designs that you can tweak to acomodate your needs. Some of the books that I have on hand that have been good referencs to go back to for help, are BarnYard in Your BackYard and Storey's Basic Country Skills, they give quiet abit of information on chickens guides to raising them and their health and shelter needed for their accomidations. I had always raised chickens and other animals but these books still taught me a lot I didn't know. Hope this might help you in your search. Good Clucking Sam |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chicken Advice needed |
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Chicken Advice needed
