Breed suggestions?

[TheAmundsons]

Hi! We currently have a flock of 9 hens, 1 rooster, 1 drake, and 2 female ducks. They are 11-12 months old (with the exception of 2 of the ducks which are about 8 months, I think). They are our first birds, and chicken math has struck our little homestead! We technically have enough room in our coop/run for a few more birds (we free range during the day), but it just seems cramped to us so we don't want to add any more birds to our current set up.

We have another barn on our property that is unused, and would be the PERFECT coop! Thankfully my hubby is a carpenter, so that is going to be our spring project! We will be able to grow our flock probably at least 5 times what it currently is! We won't do that right away, but gradually will grow!

Knowing that we will be ordering chicks in late spring/early summer, we want to figure out which breeds would be best suited for our climate and needs. We live in south eastern South Dakota, so our winters get pretty cold (-20s with wind chills up to -50 is the extreme, but happens every winter for about a week), and gets hot and humid in the summer (high 80s-low 90s with 90% humidity for about 1.5-2 months).

We prefer dual purpose birds that will be good layers, then be able to go to freezer camp at 1.5-2 years old. I'm not necessarily opposed to having a few strictly meat birds, I just need to do some research on raising them and when to cull. Any suggestions/information on that would be appreciated! I would also like a few that would be good mothers because we'd like to try our hand at hatching some eggs!

With all that being said, we've found some breeds we are interested in based on our research (mostly for what wouldn't be affected by our winters). I've listed them below. We would love any suggestions for different breeds, or reasons these breeds will be either good or bad based on what we're looking for! We think we're going to order from Murray McMurray. Other suggestions for where to order are welcome!

Thanks in advance.

-Blue Laced Red Wyandotte (we're interested in getting a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte rooster)
-White Leghorn
-Light Brahma
-Speckled Sussex
-Whiting True Green
-Whiting True Blue
-White Laced Red Cornish

We haven't decided if we want to add more ducks yet or not. That'll be a separate thread if we do!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I would suggest Rhode Island Reds as they are one of the most prolific large brown egg layers. They are also cold hardy.

 

[TheAmundsons]

@A_Fowl_Guy we currently have some RIRs and LOVE them! Our rooster is a RIR, and he does a wonderful job. We were hoping to try some new breeds that we don't currently have. Right now we have 2 RIR, 3 Salmon Favorelle, 2 Golden Laced Wyandotte, 2 EE, and 1 Barred Rock.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

@A_Fowl_Guy we currently have some RIRs and LOVE them! Our rooster is a RIR, and he does a wonderful job. We were hoping to try some new breeds that we don't currently have. Right now we have 2 RIR, 3 Salmon Favorelle, 2 Golden Laced Wyandotte, 2 EE, and 1 Barred Rock.

I will also suggest cackle hatchery as I have used them in the past with great results!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! I would suggest anything small combed: Wyandottes, barred rocks, barnevelders, brahmas, buckeyes etc. All good cold weather breeds.

That's fantastic that you'll have that much more space for chickens! Gotta love chicken math

 

[TheAmundsons]

@Meg-in-MT I will look more into those breeds! I have to say, we started by looking at the cutest ones, then narrowed it down to the logical ones

We knew chicken math was a thing, so we made our current coop with that in mind, based on the square footage requirements we were given but it just doesn't seem big enough to us. There are some days we don't free range because we have hawks (and currently fox!) so we keep them locked up with access to a secured run. I'm just excited to be able to grow the flock!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

It's always better to have more room than not enough! Crowding just causes issues. Good for you for not wanting to cramp them up just because you want more chickens. I may have done this in the past, haha.

I'm guilty of looking for cute chickens, as well! Worse if they have pretty eggs. It's just not our fault

Can't wait to see the new accommodations!

 

[TheAmundsons]

@Meg-in-MT the local store got their chicks in yesterday and it's taking ALL of my will power not to go in there because I know I wouldn't be able to leave without a few! Haha

We're just starting to plan the new coop and it's so exciting! There's just so much potential, and so many options of things we can do! The weather is finally shaping up, so we're hoping to be able to get started on it in the next 2-3 weeks! Our biggest challenge is going to be figuring out a heated water system that can last several days...this winter was a huge struggle.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Have you ever had black meat chicken? If not, perhaps you should try it...... it's pretty good.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

@Meg-in-MT the local store got their chicks in yesterday and it's taking ALL of my will power not to go in there because I know I wouldn't be able to leave without a few! Haha

We're just starting to plan the new coop and it's so exciting! There's just so much potential, and so many options of things we can do! The weather is finally shaping up, so we're hoping to be able to get started on it in the next 2-3 weeks! Our biggest challenge is going to be figuring out a heated water system that can last several days...this winter was a huge struggle.

Oh, winter...I hear you there. Luckily my husband and boys built calf sheds this year. They've been a life saver. We've got two calves with frostbitten ears and have heard of others with as much as 80 frozen. Supposed to be in the 40's starting Sunday, so I'm hoping the end is near!

Do you not have power at the barn? I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have heated waterers. Although, many times this winter it just wasn't enough and I'd have to break ice out of the trough anyway! The older I get, the worse winter gets haha.

How fun to start the planning process! Are you going to make a coop build page out of it? Might be fun for you to enter the contest! You'll probably be done before it's over