- Jun 10, 2008
- 26
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After my 8 year old son had a terrible bout with cancer (he's doing well now) I decided I wanted to have a little more control over our foood. At least I wanted to think I had a little more control. This spring I purchased 7 Buff Orpingtons from an area feedstore. I figured I might lose a few to predators or so 7 seemed like a good way to keep 5.
I picked BO's because I wanted a bird that would do well in Michigan's harsh winter and still lay. I also wanted a quiet docile bird as my wife was dead set against the whole idea. By the time they were 12 weeks old I decided I had to have more and what the heck, why not add a rooster...I'm in the country. I thought I'd try Australorps. A friend has one who is a terrific layer.
The hatchery sent me more than I bargained for:/. I now have the original 7 BO's, 3 Black Black Australorp girls, 2 Black Australorp roosters, and an unidentified rooster that I am 95% certain is a grey leghorn. Three roo's is too many for 10 girls. I know I don't want the leghorn. He's flighty, noisy and skittish and tends to send the BA's into a tizzy when he panics. A neighbor has agreed to take him. One of the BA's has already drawn my blood twice. If I can't re-home him, I think he'll end up on the dinner plate eventually.
I really love the BO's. They came from a different hatcery than the BA's and they are wonderful. Quiet, friendly, easily handled. Even my darling wife tolerates them well. The BA's are less friendly, more skittish. I think I'd rather have BO's breed true. However, I am wondering what kind of mix I would get with the two? Does anyone happen to know? I want a quiet, docile winter layer, but more eggs are better right? My instincts tell me I goofed and should have gotten a BO roo. That way my BO's would breed true and the others, well we'd see. Anyone have any experince with these breeds together?
Thanks
Dad
I picked BO's because I wanted a bird that would do well in Michigan's harsh winter and still lay. I also wanted a quiet docile bird as my wife was dead set against the whole idea. By the time they were 12 weeks old I decided I had to have more and what the heck, why not add a rooster...I'm in the country. I thought I'd try Australorps. A friend has one who is a terrific layer.
The hatchery sent me more than I bargained for:/. I now have the original 7 BO's, 3 Black Black Australorp girls, 2 Black Australorp roosters, and an unidentified rooster that I am 95% certain is a grey leghorn. Three roo's is too many for 10 girls. I know I don't want the leghorn. He's flighty, noisy and skittish and tends to send the BA's into a tizzy when he panics. A neighbor has agreed to take him. One of the BA's has already drawn my blood twice. If I can't re-home him, I think he'll end up on the dinner plate eventually.
I really love the BO's. They came from a different hatcery than the BA's and they are wonderful. Quiet, friendly, easily handled. Even my darling wife tolerates them well. The BA's are less friendly, more skittish. I think I'd rather have BO's breed true. However, I am wondering what kind of mix I would get with the two? Does anyone happen to know? I want a quiet, docile winter layer, but more eggs are better right? My instincts tell me I goofed and should have gotten a BO roo. That way my BO's would breed true and the others, well we'd see. Anyone have any experince with these breeds together?
Thanks
Dad