Any advice on our flock expansion?

[sezjasper]

We're NOT enablers. No, no we aren't. Not in the least.

Uh huh, and if we all keep saying that, our noses will grow so long, our chickens will be able to roost on them

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Oh, all my hens are cold hearty breeds. I know from experience how hot and humid Maryland summers can be. You might want to consult someone about the high and low temperatures your hens are likely to be exposed to and make sure you make choices that will flourish in your climate.

 

[sezjasper]

Oh, all my hens are cold hearty breeds. I know from experience how hot and humid Maryland summers can be. You might want to consult someone about the high and low temperatures your hens are likely to be exposed to and make sure you make choices that will flourish in your climate.

Excellent point, and I have thought of that. We are fortunate to have a local feed store with very informed and helpful staff. All the breeds they sell are well suited to this area. I'm also very fortunate that my back yard (aka my extra large chicken run...lol...) is almost 100% shaded, and gets morning sun. The hot afternoon sun shines on the front of the house, so the back yard is always much cooler. Every little bit helps.

 

[sezjasper]

I have had 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, 2 White Plymouth Rock, 2 Black Jersey Giants, 2 Welsummer, 2 Easter Eggers and 35 Freedom Rangers (meat chickens) of which I kept 2. My Rocks are by far the friendliest and they are steady suppliers of nice pinkish brown eggs. The Welsummers lay the very beautiful dark brown eggs, ranging from medium brown with chocolate chip like spots to very dark brown but their personality is a bit more standoffish. The Easter Eggers are beautiful and lay pretty bluish/green eggs. The Black Jersey Giants were slow to lay and not great layers but they were nice to look at (lost one to a bobcat and the other to sour crop). The Freedom Rangers are not great layers, being bred as a meat bird, but they do lay large, orangish/brown eggs.

Personally, I love having a varried and beautiful collection of eggs to show off to my friends. It is just another pleasure in owing your own chickens.


So...back row, left to right is WPR, EE, BPR, WPR, EE, Welsummer. Front row left to right is Welsummer, Freedom Ranger, EE, Welsummer, Freedom Ranger, and either WPR or BPR. Isn't it a pretty dozen?

It is indeed! The eggs I'm getting now don't have nearly the variety as yours, but I still arrange my egg cartons to show them off...lol...especially the dozens that I give to family or friends!

 

[mtnviewfarms]

I do sell my eggs so I go for the 'Rainbow Dozen' which I sell at the farmer's mkts for $5 per dozen and my large brown eggs for $4 per dozen.

That said, I have a large flock ( over 60 pullets and 9 cockerels ) of these breeds: Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers, Black Australorps, Welsummers,
RIRs, White Leghorns and Buff Orpingtons - the Black Australorps and Buff Orpingtons are the most people friendly.

I did not raise my birds to be pets although you wouldn't know it as they are spoiled ROTTEN with the perfect coop, run, special treats, etc. In my
flock all but the BOs and the BAs shrink away from being touched.

Good luck with your Spring additions!

 

[mrsc1951]

We're NOT enablers. No, no we aren't. Not in the least.

Absolutely NOT. Not any of us who post on here. Uh huh.

 

[mrsc1951]

Great advice ChickensAreSweet. Very thorough and thoughtfully presented. I totally agree with ChickensAreSweet that Black Australorps are about one of the best egglayers around. I have two and there have been very few days that both of them haven't laid and they are almost two years old. Nice large eggs, too.