Posted on 09/10/2011 7:32:49 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
You’ve decided to take the plunge and raise your own chickens. What’s 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 don’t 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.
I've decided not to take any vacation time this year and sell back all that leave when I retire on Dec 31.
That’s what I’d like to do, too. I think my employer will make me cash in enough to cover my health insurance each month, though. :( Can’t blame them, and they are VERY generous to me as it is...
Have chickens. Have had many different flocks. Get the Storey guide to chicken. It is CHICKEN BIBLE!!
I let my flock free range and always have two to three roosters to protect the hens. They do a great job. Will take out a hawk or eagle in no time.
Guineas make wonderful alarms. They also have delicious little eggs if you can keep them from eating too many ticks.
Some say the Cochins are the closest of modern chicken cousins to gallus gullus, the original jungle fowl which originated in what is now Malaysia and was domesticated by man shortly after he turned from hunter-gatherer to farmer. Much of this is, of course, speculative but we do know that chicken raising did move into China in ancient history and that the Cochin was a favored breed both for its hardiness and resourcefulness for foraging and ferocity in protecting its young.
Normally, it is one of the most gentle of breeds (hence the comparison to Orppingtons), but don't mess with her chicks! She can turn ferocious on a dime; the Bantam Cochin breeds doubly so! We used to joke that if anyone ever figured out how to breed a broody Bantam to the size of your average domestic cat, it would prey on coyotes.
thanks, i needed that !
I loved having chickens and those wonderful free range eggs! So big with bright orange yokes and sometimes doubles. We had some mean roosters though. I remember being in the chicken house gathering eggs with a hoe in hand as a weapon because you never knew when the rooster may attack. I had the bucket on my arm full of eggs and when I turned around THERE HE WAS IN THE DOORWAY! I hadn’t realized that my weapon of choice, the hoe, was not the best choice because the roof of the house was too low to swing it and get a good blow. He started to attack and all I could do was punch at him with the hoe, eggs flying from the bucket on my arm EVERYWHERE! No eggs made it to the house that day.
I was always a city kid. When I was little, on my grandparent’s farm, I fell into the chicken pen and this bad-ass Rhode Island Red chased me around the place. When I ran to Grandma, tears streaming, she went out and said, “Which one?” A hand pointed him out. Later, when we were having Chicken ‘n’ Dumplins, Grandma asked me how ol’ Red tasted?
Sweet.
Well.. then I guess the description as regal certainly stands up. I had no idea that different breeds of chickens had such a line of distinction. It is amazing to me that different breeds of chickens have such distinct personalities as well. I guess I just had assumed they all acted similar.. the only big difference was the egg size/color etc. I am LOL at your description of a Bantam if they were bred to be the size of a domestic cat.
Thank you so much for the info, Vigilanteman! I truly hope to own a place one day with a bit of land so that I can get some chickens. I just think the idea of getting your own fresh eggs is beyond cool. You are very lucky to live in a place where you can do that!
That is actually a good idea if you don't need the cash. But I'd like the chance to cash it in and put it into savings.
So that’s a Polish. I’ve seen them along the side of a few country roads and wondered what they were. That plumage on the head is something else.
Bumb this for later....
I cant wait to move out to a farm and I cant wait to get some chickens.... Thanks for the stories - fun read.
Bumb this for later....
I cant wait to move out to a farm and I cant wait to get some chickens.... Thanks for the stories - fun read.
Bumb this for later....
I cant wait to move out to a farm and I cant wait to get some chickens.... Thanks for the stories - fun read.
I swear I only hit that button once..... how goofy...
Try raising them like this. No problem and fun.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/580822259BmprZp
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