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 agree.
My grandson had the cutest banty rooster, they didn’t keep him in the pen and every time you turned your back on that little thing, he attacked. We hated that little rooster!
When he died, we were sad anyway.
Pumpkin and Buttercup agree!! We are awesome!
Ping for later reading...
looking for an “attack breed” that goes after polticians...
lol!
We are getting purebred Ameracauna’s. I had a hybrid mongerel that strayed into our yard for awhile and she kept the whole side yard groomed of weeds and bugs, slept up in a tree at night and was friendly and laid a green egg on the deck everyday. The only thing I gave that chicken was a water bowl, several handfuls of popcorn (unpopped) each day and salad scraps.
Don’t know about politicians, but some breeds of geese are so good at raising the alarm and attacking indruders, they’re sometimes used in place of guard dogs.
Works for me. I used to have a gray-feathered hen (never did figure out her breed) that I called Gray Lady. I could NOT keep that girl penned in. She did the same thing; came and go as she pleased for quite a number of years - until she became coyote food.
So, life fast, live free, die young, become a coyote’s dinner! :)
My uncle had turkeys like that when I was a kid. They were MEAN!
Aquila chrysaetos , although egg collection can be difficult.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DANGIT!
I totally fell for that!
I wish we could raise chickens, but it is against city ordinances. I remember having fresh eggs when I was on the farm.
Forgot to ask you about your foot. I noticed you posted on the gardening thread that you had broken it. Doing OK with it for now?
Getting around pretty good. I’m getting stronger now, so hauling myself around on a walker is working OK. I’ll still be off of work (= no pay) for a number of weeks, unless my doctor relents and lets me go back at least part time with the promise of taking it easy. *SMIRK*
I have lots of family and friends helping me out, so it’s not too bad. I’m kind of enjoying the down time, truth be told. I’ve been running full speed ahead since February, so this is taking some getting used to, but it was time I took a ‘break.’ LOL!
My chickadees fit that bill but aren't their eggs kinda small?
Muhuhauha! :)
One thing about eggs - they are relatively inexpensive and they taste great. Also some of the best high quality protein, and can be prepared so many ways - fried, scrambled, poached, omellette, incorporated into cakes, cookies, breads. Couldn’t live without ‘em.
Gosh... I feel sort of sorry for Big Chief Featherfoot. I mean he was the big man on campus and in strolled Cooper. I never thought in my life there would be so much “drama” on a farm! (I want a small farm so badly that it isn’t even funny). I envy you girl!!
“.. they develop cliques but they all get along”.
My Great Uncle used to tease all his young nieces by saying we acted like a bunch of hens. We would sort of pair off into cliques and just talk and talk and talk. I think I NOW know what he meant by it. Thanks Protesbyproxy!
He contacted eyeworms and I ended up doing a mercy killing but he had a placid disposition..Had a rooster meaner than a longshoreman, I think it was a white rock, big and nasty...hubby ended up chopping his mean old head off cause that nasty bird like to attach him and was dumb enough to do it once too often...
You have to stir them around a bit in the skillet before they fluff up. Then puts lots of really hot sauce on them and you’d be surprised how big they seem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.