Breeds to start with for insect control in an orchard?

[SunHwaKwon]

Silkies have no business being outside without direct human protection.



I was thinking the same thing and was surprised they were even suggested. I personally do not like heavily feather legged or crested birds because I like to free range and feel like both of those traits can be a hindrance to predator evasion. Silkies also have the additional disadvantage of being "silkied" which, like frizzling, makes their feathers less effective for temperature tolerance/adaption.

 

[LearninMyFlock]

Thank you! Try this if you have new flowers now (I do, but further north you might be a little early). Clip off the whole flower head. Make some pancake

You're very welcome! Go for the flowers that are fully opened and getting close to wilting. Like maybe 2 days away from wilting, if you are familiar enough with them to guess that. Flowers with lots of yellow pollen - that's where the flavor is.

Important: Just a word of caution, and I doubt your kids will want to eat a lot of raw flowers (they're not that great raw) but the stems (any green part) should be thoroughly removed - that part is not for eating. And little tummies are always more easily upset of course. If you're a fan of sushi you may have tried one of those purple orchids that sometimes come on your plate - they kinda taste like that but with a little more fragrance from the pollen. Again, I'm not really suggesting eating a bunch of raw flowers - elder flowers or any others really lol.

There all kinds of elderflower recipes out there - if you happen to find one you feel is exceptional I would love to know about it!

LOL you don't know my guys. If it's edible they take great joy in eating it. Like I mentioned before, even the elderberries. Not huge numbers but they do. And while flowers? Better yet ever try a pansy or begonia? Thanks for this additional info. I'll keep you in mind if I find any great recipes. So far what I have is a cough syrup recipe, but haven't tried it yet. And if my guys like the flowers it might be a while before I do LOL. Thanks again for all the elderberry info. Didn't meant too hog away from your chicken questions. I can't answer any of them. I just have a hobby pet set up where the more varied chickens I can get and some rare the better. Best wishes

 

[LearninMyFlock]

I believe it was also mentioned that this is a newbie to chickens and getting opinions. And wasn't familiar with silkies. I guess I'm the kind that would ignorantly ask about something like that also. It's awesome we have a place to come to ask our chicken questions and get knowledgable info from great people. But at the same time it's a bit uncomfortable to be told its a surprise we would even think of something. We are coming to learn from your great store of knowledge. We don't know some of this stuff which is why we are researching and asking you experts. Thanks so much for all your knowledge you share with us. It's so nice to know we can count on you to help us make truly knowledgeable decisions!!!

 

[LearninMyFlock]

Silkies have no business being outside without direct human protection.



I was thinking the same thing and was surprised they were even suggested. I personally do not like heavily feather legged or crested birds because I like to free range and feel like both of those traits can be a hindrance to predator evasion. Silkies also have the additional disadvantage of being "silkied" which, like frizzling, makes their feathers less effective for temperature tolerance/adaption.

 

[Digby57]

Wow, a wealth of information I am receiving! Thank you. I will research American Game. The first thing I see is that there is a Bantam version of American Game, but I see that you are stating that the larger size of the standard American Game allows for better defense against hawks. I was intending to talk to people in my area that free range chickens how they deal with hawks and owls here. The free range chickens I am aware of in my immediate vicinity are Rhode Island Red, but they are not nearly as "free to range" as what I am intending.

How do you think the standard weight American Games would do with guineas? I am still interested in the guineas insect eating capabilities, but from what little I have already read, these American Games might whoop em! It sounds like they are fiercely protective of their flock and would out weigh the guineas. Then again, I am on a pretty large area, so maybe I'm over thinking that.

From the quick research I have done these are a little harder to come by than the OEGB, but I'll look harder.

 

[Digby57]

No worries, I don't feel like you took away from my chicken-questioning abilities at all I hear what you're saying about the kids, heck when I was kid growing up on a farm smack-dab in the middle of nowhere I ate all kinds of crazy things I never should have. My cousins and I would get into mom's rhubarb and have a contest to see who could eat the most raw right there in the garden, lol! But we also had a game where we would touch sticks to a hot wire fence and whoever found the stick that gave you a shock had won that round. So getting a zip was for the win, haha!

I'm not trying to say that I'm an elderberry expert at all, I just have a few small stands of it here on my property and have become extremely interested in the possibility of a market for it on a little bigger scale. That said (and this isn't aimed directly at you) but anyone reading this, I hope you do not go munching on a bunch of raw elder flowers or berries and end up throwing up and blaming me! lol, I ate enough raw rhubarb to get sick, and enough chokecherries for that matter. I found it fun to hand-test the hot wire fence as a kid, so you probably shouldn't trust me at all - haha!

 

[AuntJamie]

Guineas are quite vocal. You might consider if that would bother your neighbors.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I believe it was also mentioned that this is a newbie to chickens and getting opinions. And wasn't familiar with silkies. I guess I'm the kind that would ignorantly ask about something like that also. It's awesome we have a place to come to ask our chicken questions and get knowledgable info from great people. But at the same time it's a bit uncomfortable to be told its a surprise we would even think of something. We are coming to learn from your great store of knowledge. We don't know some of this stuff which is why we are researching and asking you experts. Thanks so much for all your knowledge you share with us. It's so nice to know we can count on you to help us make truly knowledgeable decisions!!!

Ah sorry, I think you read it in a different tone that what I wrote it in. One of the downsides to communicating only via words

 

[Digby57]

I am definitely a noob. No offense taken from anyone here. I'm just getting information presently, I'm a long ways off from the final product, but this portion has turned out to be more interesting to me than I thought it would. Tell me more about these American Games! I'm reading what I can find in between doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Any breeder's websites or excellent posts here or elsewhere anyone would recommend?

 

[LearninMyFlock]

No worries, I don't feel like you took away from my chicken-questioning abilities at all I hear what you're saying about the kids, heck when I was kid growing up on a farm smack-dab in the middle of nowhere I ate all kinds of crazy things I never should have. My cousins and I would get into mom's rhubarb and have a contest to see who could eat the most raw right there in the garden, lol! But we also had a game where we would touch sticks to a hot wire fence and whoever found the stick that gave you a shock had won that round. So getting a zip was for the win, haha!

I'm not trying to say that I'm an elderberry expert at all, I just have a few small stands of it here on my property and have become extremely interested in the possibility of a market for it on a little bigger scale. That said (and this isn't aimed directly at you) but anyone reading this, I hope you do not go munching on a bunch of raw elder flowers or berries and end up throwing up and blaming me! lol, I ate enough raw rhubarb to get sick, and enough chokecherries for that matter. I found it fun to hand-test the hot wire fence as a kid, so you probably shouldn't trust me at all - haha!

Ah sorry, I think you read it in a different tone that what I wrote it in. One of the downsides to communicating only via words

They have a mom who enjoys researching edible plants. . So they know how to find and eat all kinds of edible... and very healthy I might add.... weeds. It's intriguing Rhubarb in the raw is a big treat to some of my friends. Esp when dipped in sugar. And no that's not my guys as we don't use sugar We all enjoy different things

No offense taken. Just pointing out How it Can feel to be new and realize we are way off and also appreciation for all your wisdom