Breed Selection. Backyard Flock

[Too Fast]

Wow Tim, I didn't know 15 birds would make an area like that (50 x 25) bare after a while. Interesting comparison about egg production vs. cake.

Backyard Bob, I'm new to this as well, and from what I've read the leghorns are flighty and spook easily, but are great layers. RIR are great layers as well, and not so easily spooked, so if you're after max egg production I think that'd be a great choice. Lots of information and first hand experience on this forum, I've found.

We bought 2 leghorns, 2 SL wyandottes,(straight run, hoping for hens!) 2 NH red and 2 amber links (pullets). One pullet died overnight, probably getting a replacement today.

 

[Backyard Bob]

Thank you all! I will have feed out for ten, I was just wanting something that would not eat all of it. We have decided they will go out on free range, but have a predator safe coop to go in at night. I thinking Leghorns and RIrs!

 

[Too Fast]

^^^yes that way you can cut down on feed costs. How many hawks in your area? We were excited that we had a red tail hawk couple sire a new generataion last Spring/Summer in our relatively small back yard. To help keep the rabbit population down, so they didn't eat our vegetable garden. Now, not so sure, since we wanted our hens to have some free ranging ablility.

 

[seventreesfarm]

I love barred rocks for dependable laying, calm personalities, and good foraging. They've been our best winter layers too.

We trim our hens wings until they are too heavy to get much air. That way we can use 3 foot temp fencing for their grazing paddocks.