Hey there, I have LF Lights growing out right now, so shush. I don't know how they'll compare to Chad's or the Petersen LF Lights, but they are big. Waiting FOREVER for tail feathers on the cockerels.
There is hope for you. It just takes longer for some to come around.
The Cochins are staying!
yes,Dirt Farmer, you are correct. BUT the key here is "commercial flocks".... as in those large factory farms with flocks of hundreds, or sometimes over a thousand birds per building. But if you are talking about small sustainable farms raising heritage breeds of poultry then the finding of these "studies" do not apply.
We raise only heritage breeds here on our farm, and they do better on pasture than in confinement. We raise them all natural & in smaller numbers than tose commercial operations, and they are moved to large pens & allowed out on the pasture starting at age of 5-7 weeks old.
We do vaccinate for Mareks & LT as those are 2 diseases common to our area.
As for predator control we use 6 ft. high fencing around their whole pasture & have 2 livestock guardian dogs, a Great Pyrenees & a Belgium Malinois. .As long as the chickens stay INSIDE the fence line they are safe.Birds that habitually fly over the fences?? I usually start naming them "fox bait."...... LOL
Just as there is more than one way to skin cats, there is more than one way to raise poultry. It all comes down to what breeds & method works best for you & of course what the intended purpose for your flock...... personally, the welfare of my chickens is my main concern. I have used just about every system there is and this is what works best for me.... pasture raised, grass fed chickens are happier & healtiher chickens, in my book....
I have definitely thought about the "third Asiatic breed". Problem is, around here, there are still quite a few of Terry Britt's hand-me-down Langshans that are rough competition.
Guessing the three asian chicken breeds of which you speak are Brahma, Langshan and Cochin?
I have Langshans, and only a trio of Brahmas currently. If I had the facilities I would have all three. My first cock was a giant black Cochin. I don't know if this is true for the breed but he was the quietest ever. I swear he would crow once in the late morning, maybe a couple more times throughout the day, that was it. The neighborhood dogs were more of a noise issue. But since this the Brahma thread, let me say the most personable cock was the Light in my avatar.
