Anyone Here from Southern New Jersey?

JohnB:

I've only had chickens for about a year, and I'm sure there are more experienced people who might give you advice, but I think the three breeds you listed are good ones. Our Speckled Sussex girls are only "pretty good" layers, I think about 3-4 eggs a week from each of them. But ours have not been broody, they have a lot of personality, they seem to free range well, and they get along with the rest of the flock very well. I know people who love their Rhode Island Reds, because they are hardy, great layers and they generally do well in the NJ climate, but the folks I know keep a flock of only RIR's, because apparently they can be nasty to other breeds. We also have buff orpingtons, which we really enjoy although they are not "superstar" layers either, and easter eggers (green-blue eggs are just a lot of fun.) We find that having several different breeds in our flock adds to our enjoyment. I think we're adding a couple of black australorps and barred rocks this year, actually.

I don't have any experience with hybrid layers, sorry.

Edit: I wanted to add a picture. Our 10-year old seems to get a lot of pleasure out of our chickens:

Thank you for that informative answer. That's good to know about the RIR not getting along with other breeds. Since we are looking at getting around 4 hens, I was hoping to get 4 different breeds if it did not matter to the chickens themselves. Great pic, he looks so happy and I'm sure my 10 yr old daughter will be doing the same. All she does is talk about it right now, saying she will do all the cleaning and taking care of but I know that will last about a month lol. Is there any taste difference between the eggs of different breeds? Might sound like a silly question but seeing as they can be different colors as you said, and I do hear these types of eggs are better than what typically find in a grocery store. Also do you think breeds rated "cold/heat" and/or "cold" would need heat in winter? I certainly wouldnt want them to be in any discomfort and it's hard to say what that chart thinks is "cold", our winters where it can be as low as teens and rarely but possible single digits or is cold more like Michigan and such where winters are brutal. Thanks again for info!

JohnB,

There isn't a taste difference between different breeds or different shell colors, but the freshness of the eggs and the diet the chickens eat does make a difference. Eggs laid yesterday by healthy chickens that eat a high-quality diet are definitely better than the grocery store kind

My chickens don't have any supplemental heat. Most of what I've read is that as long as their coop isn't drafty and it's dry in there, they can tolerate very cold temperatures. Our flock came through the winter OK and our coop is not exactly a palace. They seem like they have a harder time with heat than cold, so they do need shade in summer.

My younger son there in the picture is really only good for doing the "fun" parts of chicken care. It's me going out on cold mornings to let them out of the coop and break the ice on their water.

Elmer, Salem County. Just started our flock. 2 EE's, a Buff Orpington , Barred Rock, and Rhode Island Red.

Great info! Do most people start out with buying eggs or already hatched birds? As much as I'd love to do the egg thing and have my daughter take care and watch the eggs hatch...I'm a little leary of how were supposed to deal with male chicks as I'm sure there will be soon going the egg route. Also are there any places that have eggs/chicks in South Jersey or is the Internet where most source them? Apologies if this kind of questioning is off topic for this thread.

Most people start with baby chicks. You still will need a little brooder setup for them -- the traditional method is to use a heat lamp, which works fine, but there is also a huge thread on the Raising Baby Chicks part of the forum about using a heating pad instead -- you make a cozy little "cave" out of it.

The places where I have gotten chicks:

http://animalsandgardensunlimited.com/

http://www.jerseychickens.com/

I think most or all Tractor Supply stores have chicks in the spring also.

I get my pullets at Dutch Connection Farm near Glassboro

dutchconnectionfarm.com

for cold hardy breeds that are great layers.

Egg color is heredity (in the genes, so to speak) while taste and nutrition come from diet.

We got our chicks at Roork's Farm Supply in Elmer.

Just a note for anyone who would like to have a few chicks in their backyard in Delran: http://www.delrantownship.org/chicken_pilot_program