I only have 3 right now, 2 americana's(probably just easter eggers) and a blue one with feathered feet, can't pin down what she is.
As far as planning, this probably won't happen till next year, as I'm planning the large coop and run to build this year, so I'll have everything done, nice compost in the run before they even arrive.
The plan for the new flock is as follows: a split coup and run, each side holding a rooster and 10 hens. I am very interested in a sustainable flock for both eggs and meat, one side I 'm thinking will be 3 brama hens, 3 jersye giants, 3 new hampshire reds and a NHR roo. The otherside, I would like to do 2 barred rocks, 2 white rocks, 2 leghorns, 2 australorps and a dark cornish roo.
The run, will be 30' x 40' split down the middle, coup will be sized to hold 15 birds comfortably(each side).
I'd love to free range, but lotta predators on my property. We even have nesting hawks and owls on our land.(5 acre plot behind our house).
Hopefully that group of hens will produce tons of eggs of all colors, and still have the ability to breed certain ones and try to get some good meat birds outta the deal. I know it's a long way off, and I have to get a better understanding of the chicken genetics, and how crosses work, but I was hoping maybe the new hampshire red and jersey giants will produce a faster growing large bird, and the cornish roo and barred hens will make decent birds, possibly mate the giant red and barred cornish offspring together and see what happenns. I know crosses don't breed true, I'm just figuring out this part... and rambling but future dreams...lol
