Sunshine_Amy
Songster
Hi everyone. I'm finalizing my chick order tomorrow, and I just discovered the Ancona breed, which is very tempting because it hits so many of my desired traits spot on (fantastic winter laying, white egg, med. egg size, good forager, good feed to egg conversion, predator awareness and med-dark feathers for camouflage from predators). I have a few pressing questions about them, that I can't find online answers to. Can you help?
The first is about if my situation is enough space for Anconas. I'm a first time chicken owner, and I don't know yet if I'll be able to let my girls roam or if they'll need to stay in the chicken tractor I'm building, so let's assume the latter for now: it's 6x10' and 6'3" tall. In the winter they'll have an additional covered run, but in the summer let's assume they're in the tractor, moved every 1-3 days. I've read they like space, so I'm wondering: will that space be enough for them?
The second question is how they do with the more docile breeds. I'm planning on six birds total, and am probably not going to get the Faverolles, but it's currently in my cart along with Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Ameraucana, Favaucana, and Welsummer. I'd also love to get a Buff Orpington at some point. What do you think, will they get along okay? I've got kids and so wanted to include some cuddly chickens in the mix, and I know they can tend to be bullied by more dominant breeds. Would the Ancona fit into this category?
Finally, I've read they are noisy. Will we be hearing these at dawn? Or any of my other breeds, for that matter? I know Welsummers are chatty...
Thanks in advance!
The first is about if my situation is enough space for Anconas. I'm a first time chicken owner, and I don't know yet if I'll be able to let my girls roam or if they'll need to stay in the chicken tractor I'm building, so let's assume the latter for now: it's 6x10' and 6'3" tall. In the winter they'll have an additional covered run, but in the summer let's assume they're in the tractor, moved every 1-3 days. I've read they like space, so I'm wondering: will that space be enough for them?
The second question is how they do with the more docile breeds. I'm planning on six birds total, and am probably not going to get the Faverolles, but it's currently in my cart along with Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Ameraucana, Favaucana, and Welsummer. I'd also love to get a Buff Orpington at some point. What do you think, will they get along okay? I've got kids and so wanted to include some cuddly chickens in the mix, and I know they can tend to be bullied by more dominant breeds. Would the Ancona fit into this category?
Finally, I've read they are noisy. Will we be hearing these at dawn? Or any of my other breeds, for that matter? I know Welsummers are chatty...
Thanks in advance!
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