Breed Suggestions?

[wsmith]

I would recommend Dominiques. Of course, I am prejudiced......

They do great with no heat in the winter, they are good layers. We processed on Saturday, and our 7 month old cockerels dressed out at an average of 4 pounds. They are frugal and forage well. They are good with warm temps up to about 105F. Their coloring and temperment make them excellent choices for free ranging, as they blend in well and are wary birds.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

I would recommend Dominiques. Of course, I alm prejudiced......

They do great with no heat in the winter, they are good layers. We processed on Saturday, and our 7 month old cockerels dressed out at an average of 4 pounds. They are frugal and forage well. They are good with warm temps up to about 105F. Their coloring and temperment make them excellent choices for free ranging, as they blend in well and are wary birds.

Those are gorgeous! I may look into them We are freezing temps all winter, they are good with that? We have two very young boys, good temperment? Broody? Good mothers? I think I read they lay 250 eggs a year?

 

[wsmith]

Those are gorgeous! I may look into them We are freezing temps all winter, they are good with that? We have two very young boys, good temperment? Broody? Good mothers? I think I read they lay 250 eggs a year?

Thanks!

They lay during the winter, though they do slow down. Overall they do fine. We had some very cold days last winter and they were all in the shade because 10 F in the sun was too warm.....

The hens pretty much ignore people, unless you have treats...... All roosters have the potential to become aggressive, so we don't tolerate that in our birds. Mostly our roosters are wary, and only get pushy when they think the hens are threatened. I don't trust any rooster unsupervised around small children. We had one go broody last year, but she quit. It was a bad hatching year for us...

Average egg laying for my flock is 220 per year each.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

Thanks!

They lay during the winter, though they do slow down. Overall they do fine. We had some very cold days last winter and they were all in the shade because 10 F in the sun was too warm.....

The hens pretty much ignore people, unless you have treats...... All roosters have the potential to become aggressive, so we don't tolerate that in our birds. Mostly our roosters are wary, and only get pushy when they think the hens are threatened. I don't trust any rooster unsupervised around small chicldren.

I am sure we will be handling our chickens often. They good for that?

 

[wsmith]

I am sure we will be handling our chickens often. They good for that?

If you handle them from the start, they like people contact. Understand that we don't go out of our way to handle our hens. That being said, we have three that love to be handled, hop up on a knee, etc.

 

[wsmith]

You can get good Dominiques from most larger hatcheries, but the best place to get them is from a breeder. Most breeders don't tolerate aggressive roosters, which is a passed on trait, and they cull out aggressiveness towards people. You also get a great heritage bird that has been bred to the APA standard.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

If you handle them from the start, they like people contact. Understand that we don't go out of our way to handle our hens. That being said, we have three that love to be handled, hop up on a knee, etc.

You can get good Dominiques from most larger hatcheries, but the best place to get them is from a breeder. Most breeders don't tolerate aggressive roosters, which is a passed on trait, and they cull out aggressiveness towards people. You also get a great heritage bird that has been bred to the APA standard.

Great thanks! Do you know where I can find a list of breeders in my area? SW Ohio

 

[wsmith]

Great thanks! Do you know where I can find a list of breeders in my area? SW Ohio

Mike Stichler . Several of his birds just won Best of Breed at the Ohio show over the weekend.

Michael Stichler Large Fowl
1120 State Route 603, Greenwich, OH 44837 419-565-3197 [email protected]
Pick adults at farm, will deliver to shows/other events I attend. NPIP

 

[sahmhomesteader]

Mike Stichler . Several of his birds just won Best of Breed at the Ohio show over the weekend.

So do I just google him lol or do you know how I could contact him to ask questions? Thanks!

 

[wsmith]

So do I just google him lol or do you know how I could contact him to ask questions? Thanks!

I added his contact info.....