Beginner but with a family tradition

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TaraBellaBirds

TaraBellaBirds

Songster
6 Years
Joined
Jul 13, 2013
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283
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Location
SW Kansas
I live in a small ranching (mostly horses, cattle, and large pig farms) and farming in S. W. Kansas. There a few people that have chickens in my area but no one I can really get advice from and just share bits of life with chickens. I planned on starting small but my Father and a family friend needed help brooding chicks this spring. Most people know that I am the type that if I don't know much about something I will find out, so I became the go-to chicken lady! I am learning fast but there is still so much to learn. I started out with a mix of 75 and now I am down to just mine. I have a beautiful mix of 31 heritage breeds that are 13 weeks. Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orphington and Buff Rocks, two Speckled Sussux Roos (they are trouble!), White Rocks, and several Black Jersey Giants. I also have 18 three week olds (yes they are seperated), 7 of which are my Fathers. My babies are Aruacuanas (not sure on spelling), Anconas, Red Star, Silver Speckled Hamburgs, and two Light Brahmas (sweetest girls ever). I am simply looking for others to share wisdom and chicken gossip with. BTW I am raising my birds for meat as well as eggs so I guess if you are against eating what you grow we won't click!
 
You're gonna love your Red Stars! I have four Gold Stars, same breed, different color. They have laid almost every single day from day one. I can always count on having four eggs when I go out in the morning. They are the most dependle laying breed I have. (We'll see how my recently-bought white leghorns do.) My BO's are the sweetest things imaginable! I am not planning on eating my current girls, (They are strictly eggs/pets.) But thinking of raising some freedom rangers come spring.
 
Greetings from a fellow Kansan, TaraBellaBirds, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Always great to see new Kansas folks on BYC!! Hope the drought in your area is letting up a bit. Seems like so far this summer hasn't been nearly as brutal as last summer! There is a KS thread in the link below if you want to chat with some fellow Sunflower Staters. Good luck and have fun!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you
 
So far my Red Star isn't very friendly but I am looking forward to her being a great addition. Starting out I am trying several different breeds until I get a feel for which ones will work best for us. We even tried the hybrid CC for meat. My Father and I were not too impressed, we got a lot of meat but their quality of life (not to mention the disgusting mess they made) was not what we are looking for in meat birds. We have decided to stick with the heritage breeds that may take longer but give us happier birds and better quality meat. Thanks for the feedback.
 
I'm in Kansas as well :) Welcome to the site! I have 2 red sex links, one is the meanest of the flock and the other is slowly turning into a sweet heart.
 
Hi and Welcome! I have red stars and I noticed when they were young they were not so friendly, as they grew they mellowed out quite a bit. I recommend this breed to new chicken raisers but I won't get them again as they are commercial hybrids and I really like the idea of helping a rare heritage breed to still have a purpose. My red stars (I have 8) are steady layers but I have to search for feed that will support their diet. Mine all have issues with a vitamin A defiecency which causes blood spots.
 
Welcome to BYC it's a great place to learn and share!....Wish I had room for meat birds. I have never eaten a homegrown before just store bought. and
I have only eaten a fresh egg once about 20 yrs ago, so I'm looking forward to my girls laying.
I have 7 girls,
2 Easter Eggers
2 Buff Orpington
1 Welsummer
1 Black Copper Marans
1 Iowa Blue
 

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