Best chicken for the apocalypse?

[Sylvester017]

Not the maggot thing. It has been proved to be dangerous.

You've peaked my interest. Can you explain further re the maggot dangers?

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Not the maggot thing. It has been proved to be dangerous.

Yes, it can cause botulism and other food intoxications or poisoning. However, it is how it was done in the 19th Century and even later.

 

[Quailsong]

The bird would have to grow/keep well in low light most of the time, it'd need to feed off bugs as a main food source so I could keep them in my basement &/or let it eat off the compost pile. Of course the 'compost' would be rotting zombie flesh...

Probably would be my own future mutt breed, cold/winter hardy, small combs, quiet/gentle temperament.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

The bird would have to grow/keep well in low light most of the time, it'd need to feed off bugs as a main food source so I could keep them in my basement &/or let it eat off the compost pile. Of course the 'compost' would be rotting zombie flesh...

Probably would be my own future mutt breed, cold/winter hardy, small combs, quiet/gentle temperament.

The 19th Century settlers found a bird that worked admirably in harsh conditions, just as it had during the Colonial era. This bird is known as the American Dominique, or just simply the Dominique. I see no reason to reinvent the wheel.

 

[LilyD]

We have actually talked about prepping and what we would want for chickens when we were prepping. The main difference we think would be that there might not be power to actually run a refridgerator if the SHTF. So we wanted a bird that could be self sustainable and that we could process as we needed them. Right now I have dorkings, brahmas and australorps in a mixed coop. The dorking rooster over the australorp and brahma hens makes a very nice meat bird and the dorking hens are very nice broody hens.

I do like the Dominiques though and having lost a few to frost bite I might move more towards a rose comb and start keeping mixes that have the brahmas rose comb rather than the straight comb of the other two breeds.

 

[CrazyTalk]

The 19th Century settlers found a bird that worked admirably in harsh conditions, just as it had during the Colonial era. This bird is known as the American Dominique, or just simply the Dominique. I see no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Conditions post zombie-apocalypse would probably be significantly different than conditions for 19th century settlers, so the birds would be different. Most of the normal coop designs would be kill boxes, I'd think you'd want a bird that flies well enough to roost out of zombie reach.

 

[Quailsong]

The 19th Century settlers found a bird that worked admirably in harsh conditions, just as it had during the Colonial era. This bird is known as the American Dominique, or just simply the Dominique. I see no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Well, if you'd like to keep your wagon wheels while I use my car tires then by all means, enjoy your ride. I'll work with what I got, whether it's a Dominique, mutt or fancy zombie chicken.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

We have actually talked about prepping and what we would want for chickens when we were prepping. The main difference we think would be that there might not be power to actually run a refridgerator if the SHTF. So we wanted a bird that could be self sustainable and that we could process as we needed them. Right now I have dorkings, brahmas and australorps in a mixed coop. The dorking rooster over the australorp and brahma hens makes a very nice meat bird and the dorking hens are very nice broody hens.

I do like the Dominiques though and having lost a few to frost bite I might move more towards a rose comb and start keeping mixes that have the brahmas rose comb rather than the straight comb of the other two breeds.

I believe at least one of the Dorking colors comes in rose comb. There is some evidence that they may have been involved in creating the Dominique since some past strains of Dominiques had five toes.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Conditions post zombie-apocalypse would probably be significantly different than conditions for 19th century settlers, so the birds would be different. Most of the normal coop designs would be kill boxes, I'd think you'd want a bird that flies well enough to roost out of zombie reach.

Then you'd want bantams. Dominiques fly quite well for a "heavy" fowl - mine burst into the air at about chest height and clear the lawn furniture when I have treats on offer. They are also extremely good at hiding.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Well, if you'd like to keep your wagon wheels while I use my car tires then by all means, enjoy your ride. I'll work with what I got, whether it's a Dominique, mutt or fancy zombie chicken.

I think it is less a matter of wagon wheels versus tires than whether or not to reinvent the wheel. In any event, the Dominiques are quite happy to roost high up in trees and are quite willing to come in and share space with the people if you let them - or they can get away with it.