Posted on 09/10/2011 7:32:49 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Youve decided to take the plunge and raise your own chickens. Whats next? In addition to building a chicken coop and mulling over the egg-eating options scrambled or over-easy? you need to consider what kind of chicken breed is right for you.
There are 60 different breeds of chicken today, and each breed has unique qualities. Your decisions should be based on what you want (and dont want) from a chicken. Are you hoping for steady egg production? Meat production? Both? Do you get a kick out of multi-colored eggs? Do you need a chicken guaranteed to thrive in your climate without overheating or getting frostbite? Or maybe you just want a friendly companion with gorgeous plumage?
Whatever your preference, there is a breed that will fit your needs and wants.
They are both beautiful birds! I would say that they look “regal”. (can you even say a chicken is regal?) If I had to pick between the two... I don’t know if I could. I think I would definitely have both!!
*DROOL* :)
To show the possum it could be done.
It sounds like Cooper is the alpha rooster! The accidental introduction (from your kindly City Folk neighbors (giggle)) must have had some tense times for poor Cooper. I remember seeing pictures of the “boys”... they are WAY TOO HANDSOME to kill!
You betcha! My hens get cracked corn, laying mash and lots of fruits and veggies on a weekly basis. They always have access to water. My Mom buys Day Old Bread for ‘her Grandchickens,’ LOL!
I'll second that. We have 54 birds, We love the BOs, Barred rocks are good too, I have one that will lay eggs in a garage.
LOL!
Whatever floats your boat, Honey! :)
You need to see, ‘The Natural History of the Chicken’ DVD. There’s a lady in there with a Silkie that she bathes and takes swimming with her and uses the blow dryer on, etc. How she keeps it from cr@pping in her house was never covered, though...
Actually, the Banty suffered the most becuase HE was in charge before Cooper showed up. But Big Chief Featherfoot (the Banty) is past the trauma of prison rape now and his ‘100 Mile Stare’ is all but gone, LOL!
pingaling
*GROAN* :)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Guy was given a live chicken and he ‘fell for it’. Took it everywhere. Even to work.
Boss had enough and said “Take this afternoon off and take that ‘thing’ to the zoo”.
Next day guy comes in goes to boss and says “Can I have this afternoon off for my chicken?”
Boss “I told you to take it to the zoo yesterday”.
“I did, it liked it so much I am going to take it to the ball game this afternoon”.
Brilliant!
And toe-tappin’ too!
It still could peck though!
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I think I’ve settled on Nanking chickens, a bantam breed that goes broody at the drop of a hat. I want to raise a variety of birds (including ducks, quail, geese, and turkeys) but don’t want to mess with incubators, so hopefully these will do my incubating for me.
Granted, this is still on hold until I get my house built.
*DOUBLE-GROAN*
My Dad tells the same joke, but about a drunk and a penguin...LOL!
AWESOMENESS! :)
Yes, once they go broody, they’ll do all the work for you. I have one hen right now I have to take a shovel to, to get her off the nest she’s made on the floor of the coop. She’s nuts.
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