Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

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Cool - How many panels did yo wind up using?

 

[Tracydr]

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You have a Penedesenca? I don't need another roo but where did you get him from?

 

[Tepary]

We hatched him from McMurray eggs. Are you sure you don't need another roo? Really? We're probably going to be up in Mesa next Sunday.

 

[pastrymama]

LAREEPQG here, at pastrymama's house, logged in as her.....OH THE DAMAGE I COULD DO!! MUAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Or not. She knows where I live. And she bakes. So---I will be good. Maybe....

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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I have had barnevelders and still have 1. They are not any smaller than my other brown egg laying hens. They are beautiful birds and some lay a bit darker brown eggs, but not all of them do. The one I have now does lay a pretty egg - not real dark, but I can tell her eggs apart from my other brown egg layers. They do fine in the heat.

I also have a Welsummer (and LOVE her eggs) but she doesn't seem small to me either - she is about the same size as my other hens. I think for the most part, the brown egg layers are going to be larger than white egg layers, and I haven't discovered any smaller breeds, other than bantams. Other than the Delaware (she's my largest), the rest all seem to be about the same size - they are BCM, Plymouth Rocks, SS, Barnie, Welsummer.

Don't forget, most of the smaller chickens lay smaller eggs (with the exception of the leghorns), and if you want large brown eggs, you'll need larger hens.

 

[Mikey D]

Here we go...

Tracydr asked what breeds I'm considering - I found my short list.
I know I'm not going to be able to have them all (as there is a nominal 6 chicken target set) but here are the one's I've considered.


The parameters are: docility & easily handled & children friendly - - - High heat tolerance - - - good egg production

This is kind of like one of my students asking which car or motorcycle to buy (except a chicken probably will not be able to kill you

)

This may (or may not) be in order of me thinking they will work for me or look cool!

Silver laced Wyandote

Salmon Faveorlle

Sumatra

Buff Orpinghton

Langshen

I also think the barred Plymouth Rocks might work and someone suggested sex links, Rhode Island Reds and Naked necks.



OK all you Prolific Posters! Wadda ya think?

 

[LarryPQ]

My response to your list:

SLW are big and fluffy--my experience is they are not super-heat hardy. Tendancy to get sick.

Salmon Favorelles- Fragile birds. Die at the drop of a hat.


Buff Orpingtons- sweet birds, can be big, depending on where you get them. Not the greatest layers.

 

[Arizonachicken]

In my limited experience, heres my two cents. I have two laying hens, a production red and a buff orpington. They both do well in the heat and give me 9-10 eggs a week. They are friendy and let my kids hold them all of the time.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

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I've never had Langshens or Salmon Faverolles, but my experience with feather legged breeds has been that they are not as heat tolerant as my others. I lost my Buff Brahma last year to the heat and this year, even though I haven't lost any chickens to the heat, my Black Copper Marans (with feathered feet) are suffering the most.

SLW - from what I've heard, not the friendliest (although they are very pretty).

Sumatra - not good for egg laying, but for exhibition mainly - don't like confinement

Within your parimeters, I agree with Laree's suggestions and will also add my favorites. My very favorites are the Barred Plymouth Rocks, Speckled Sussex, Easter Eggers (and Ameraucanas), Red or Black sexlinks (I adore my Black Star). A hatchery Buff Orpington won't get too big and they are very friendly. I can't remember how well they laid. You can also look at Black Australorps (instead of the Black Sumatra). They are excellent egg layers and docile.

 

[LarryPQ]

My favorites for egg-laying:

(all are hatchery stock....breeders will have birds with better temperments/size/laying)

EE/Ameracunas--friendly, lay well in the heat, don't lay in the winter.

Wellies- Not friendly, but we have an understanding. Lays regularly.

Australorps--one of the best layers--try to get from a breeder. Heat-hardy, individuals have varying personalities, good eating too.

BOs-SOOOOO friendly. Not the greatest layers, though. Egg size was disapointing.

OEGBs- teeny weeny, big big BIG eggs for the size of the chicken, doesn't eat much. Lays all year regularly. Hilarious little personalities. Goes broody regularly.