BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[jewels4710]

Hello! Thank you for the post. Early in 2015 I started looking up information on Chickens. My parents had a few chicken when I was a littlle girl and some family members did also. But now as an adult I wanted to get some. I wanted them for eggs and later meat. Live in Ohio so wanted something that could handle the cold. June we brought our first 6 leghorn chicks home. Then in July I wanted to add 4 more. Ended up coming home with 6 more instead. 3 Rhode Island red, 3 Americauna (not sure of the spelling or if the breeds are what they where sold as). May or may not be purebreeds. They all lived and are all hens. Here before long I want to add more.They are all laying good. They are all suppose to be good multipurpose. The next bunch we get will be some for meat only and some to add to the eggs laying job. And hopefully get a male or two the next time. Any suggestion on what breed I should add?? I am not sure what breed rooster to add to the hens I have. On what would be the best match? I want to have good multipurpose chickens and can handle the cold. Does not really matter what coIor eggs that they lay. Any suggestion? Or what has everyone came up with? I am still learning and looking up information. Sorry I know this was long. Thank you for staying with me.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Hi Jewels, welcome to chicken math! Yeah you start out with a few and before you know it it's gone crazy.
Being from Ohio, you might want to have a look at Buckeyes- you'll want to find a breeder that breeds for good production qualities- eggs and meat. The pea comb is a handy thing to have, the roosters and especially the hens, are more resistant to frostbite.

 

[AnthNDacula]

Oops

 

[hellbender]

Are you still talking about the catfish?

Yep...that too.

I'm giving serious consideration to early departure but getting Ariel on board (literally) might be a battle.

I doubt she's in love with that boy but they are joined at the hip...at the very least.

 

[jewels4710]

Thank you CanadianBuckeye. After I got the first 6 I read someplace about the frostbite. They have not done too bad this winter Been putting vaseline (thin coat) on them when it is getting colder.

 

[hellbender]

Thank you CanadianBuckeye. After I got the first 6 I read someplace about the frostbite. They have not done too bad this winter Been putting vaseline (thin coat) on them when it is getting colder.

I have very few straight combed cocks left but I use a product called Udder Cream made by Ken-AG. It is effective for more than a week and is non greasy. Have used it for decades and almost never had frostbite problems.

EDIT: I buy the 4.5 pound tub and we use it on our hands and faces (and everywhere else you might become chaffed).

It provides instant relief from pain and will totally prevent cracked hands/fingers.

http://hambydairysupply.com/xcart/product.php?productid=774

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Looks like the weather forecasters are promising a few days of very cold weather- tonight I'm going to "winterize" my chickens. They aren't going to like the next four or five days very much.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine have been foraging like crazy during the warmer weather and lack of snow on the ground and now we have a good 5 in. out there and I haven't seen a one poke their head out of the coop this morning.

They will when they hear me coming with food, though. They will most likely NOT like this cold and snow after having that brief halcyon period of lovely weather and productive foraging. Weird, weird winter here in WV. The cold I'm used to...it's the warm weather in between that takes one aback a bit.

But, spring is roaring upon us like a freight train and will catch me with many things undone, I just know it. I'm still tweaking the breeding pen and that rooster needs to be in it right now instead of ensconced in a snowy coop with a bunch of nubile young pullets. This snow and cold caught me mid-tweakage on that pen and I wish I had made more hay whilst the sun shown, so to speak.

 

[DesertChic]

Mine have been foraging like crazy during the warmer weather and lack of snow on the ground and now we have a good 5 in. out there and I haven't seen a one poke their head out of the coop this morning.

They will when they hear me coming with food, though. They will most likely NOT like this cold and snow after having that brief halcyon period of lovely weather and productive foraging. Weird, weird winter here in WV. The cold I'm used to...it's the warm weather in between that takes one aback a bit.

But, spring is roaring upon us like a freight train and will catch me with many things undone, I just know it. I'm still tweaking the breeding pen and that rooster needs to be in it right now instead of ensconced in a snowy coop with a bunch of nubile young pullets. This snow and cold caught me mid-tweakage on that pen and I wish I had made more hay whilst the sun shown, so to speak.

Our weather has turned amazingly spring-like....and the chickens have too. "Frisky" doesn't begin to cover it. My chronically broody hen is no longer broody (for now), but I wouldn't be surprised if the instinct kicked in again very soon. At least everyone is having fun chasing bugs and lizards that have begun making an appearance again.

 

[DesertChic]

Hello! Thank you for the post. Early in 2015 I started looking up information on Chickens. My parents had a few chicken when I was a littlle girl and some family members did also. But now as an adult I wanted to get some. I wanted them for eggs and later meat. Live in Ohio so wanted something that could handle the cold. June we brought our first 6 leghorn chicks home. Then in July I wanted to add 4 more. Ended up coming home with 6 more instead. 3 Rhode Island red, 3 Americauna (not sure of the spelling or if the breeds are what they where sold as). May or may not be purebreeds. They all lived and are all hens. Here before long I want to add more.They are all laying good. They are all suppose to be good multipurpose. The next bunch we get will be some for meat only and some to add to the eggs laying job. And hopefully get a male or two the next time. Any suggestion on what breed I should add?? I am not sure what breed rooster to add to the hens I have. On what would be the best match? I want to have good multipurpose chickens and can handle the cold. Does not really matter what coIor eggs that they lay. Any suggestion? Or what has everyone came up with? I am still learning and looking up information. Sorry I know this was long. Thank you for staying with me.

Hi Jewels, welcome to chicken math! Yeah you start out with a few and before you know it it's gone crazy.
Being from Ohio, you might want to have a look at Buckeyes- you'll want to find a breeder that breeds for good production qualities- eggs and meat. The pea comb is a handy thing to have, the roosters and especially the hens, are more resistant to frostbite.

Welcome @jewels4710 ! You found an outstanding thread for learning about chickens, exchanging information, etc. Everyone here is great!

As far as chicken selection is concerned I think @CanadianBuckeye gave you some great advice, especially since the Buckeye began in Ohio, bred specifically for that climate. That said, there are A LOT of chicken breeds out there to select from, and just as many devoted supporters of each breed. If you haven't done so already, the "Breeds" tab here on the BYC is a great place to learn about some of your options. I'd share with you my own personal favorite breeds but I'm trying very hard not to contribute to the chicken math epidemic that seems to infect us all, LOL!