California - Northern

[Olamina]

Go Here: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

and look for Dual Purpose breeds. It tells you a lot about the different breeds common in the US. Add to that list EO Marraduna Basque. Lawatt has one Broody now--setting on 8 or so eggs. The Cockerels get big fast and have white feathers and yellow skin.They are also heat hardy and very friendly.

Black Australorps also fit most of what you want except for the black feathers and white skin. Some do not like the black pin feathers. It does not bother me.

I guarantee that you will get a bunch of recommendations today too

I saved that link, it's an excellent one, thanks a ton! I don't mind the black pin feathers, at least I don't think I do lol. Thanks for the recommendation

basque and favorelle's maybe

Thanks I will look into that.

You will get all kinds of recommendations because we all have breeds that we have & like and lots of other ones that we want! When I started out with chickens, I only knew about hatchery birds and the first year I bought an eclectic assortment to see which ones I liked. Then I discovered BYC and the addiction really began as well as the search for bigger & better birds! Now, I like all of my birds but some of the breeds that I have I am definitely not interested in breeding.

Currently, I am in the process of building breeding pens with a friend who lives on 10 acres in Brentwood. We are starting our breeding program with 4 colors of Langshans because they are my favorite, Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks because Cheryl graciously allowed me to practice my hatching last year with eggs from her breeding stock, and we have a trio of Am Bresse which just began laying. We are looking for 2 or 3 dual purpose breeds to concentrate on. We plan on trying a few other breeds to see how they work for us. My friend started off liking the SPPRs the best but has now swung over to join me in Langshan love! Everyone who comes to the farm comments on how beautiful they are! They are decent egg layers and a great table bird. Jenny is currently fattening up the extra roos who are close to 1 yr old. Supposedly, they are one breed that has excellent meat even when they are older. We'll find out!

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated. I will add these to the research list as well!

Your criteria are similar to mine I think Speckled Sussex and Dorkings sound like they will both meet your needs. Delawares meet everything except for the broodiness, they may go broody but aren't known for it. Australorps are also worth looking at. There are people on this thread who have all of the above

Thanks! Added to the list as well!

OK I sound like a marans fanatic. But heritage marans are fantastic mothers and IMO the best eating I have had. Other then that I will say make sure to get calm birds if you get silkies and don't raise silkies with a lot of larger chicks. Silkies are fragile birds and can die if they get pecked in the head. If you are going to get silkies have a small coup and get bigger birds get silkies that do not have vaulted sculls.or showgirls they have a bit more spunk.

That being said basques buckeyes Dominique's marans are all duals I have heard great things about.

Thank's for the info! So many chickens to compare, I have been doing a good amount of research on the silkies cause once I saw those I guys I KNEW I was gonna have some! And everything I've read has all agreed with you, you have to be very careful with the fluffy little dears. I was already planning on them having their own coop/area so they wouldn't get terrorized by the embden goslings who will be here soon. Thanks for the tip about the skulls, that's getting highlighted in my notes!

 

[ChickNmamma]

Welcome new people

Ok my husband says chickens are green light for go! So I know nothing about chickens except I want a Silkie but more as a pet and a breed of chicken that ideally has these traits: calm, docile, good layer, good mother, good table bird. I'm open to and looking for breed recommendations as well as hatchery suggestions. I'm also willing to go thru someone in my area from this site. I'm in Yuba City which is in Sutter County. Any and all help is much appreciated. Thanks a ton, I'm logging off for bed but will check in the a.m.

I mis-read this at first and thought you were posting a list of traits of the Silkies.. until I got to the "good table bird" then I just cracked up! I would NOT call them good table birds - not sure if I can eat black skin and dark flesh..

and they are bantams so teeny!

I love my Silkies, and I have one in with my bantams right now and she does stand her own - but she did not have the vaulted skull - just a hatchery chick. She is a great mommy but nowhere near a SQ or even BQ bird.

just so you guys know you have me wanting the following:

Marans...pretty much any color
Barnvelders
Basque
BLUE Australorps
Brabanters
SFH
anything Frizzled
Langshans
Sliver Penciled PRs
Icelandics...

and the list grows. Hopefully the hatch will net me some Dorkings and Chanteclers so they can be removed from my "Pre Nor Cal Thread Wish List" or we can add them to this list too.

And to think a couple of months back I was going to be keeping it simple by adding a couple of broody breeds a white egg layer and some EEs to my flock.

- I guess I forgot to warn you.. sorry. I think everything you listed here is available from local people - it won't be long until you are building new coops for them all.. or are you just going to have a pretty mixed flock?

i've spent the morning watching the chickens negotiate for spots in the nesting boxes -- with two broodies and only three boxes, things often get crowded. question: should i offer an additional nesting box or two for the interim? i have a couple of wooden boxes i could set up inside the henhouse -- don't really have a separate space to move the broodies to, and don't really want to force them to move anyway, but am a little concerned some eggs might get broken with so many girls all trying to crowd in at once...?

i would add nesting boxes/places. Trying to move broodies is problematic - sometimes they don't want to move - they want to be where they are! Giving the other girls another place to lay will help, if they will accept them. I had good luck blocking off the boxes where the broodies were until the other girls used the other nesting boxes - then I was able to remove the blocks and they left the broodies alone. Yes, the eggs get broken - or pushed out and get cold - or in the last period the mommy could be forced off when she HAS to stay hunkered down for the eggs to hatch - all not good scenarios.

 

[lawatt]

i would add nesting boxes/places. Trying to move broodies is problematic - sometimes they don't want to move - they want to be where they are! Giving the other girls another place to lay will help, if they will accept them. I had good luck blocking off the boxes where the broodies were until the other girls used the other nesting boxes - then I was able to remove the blocks and they left the broodies alone. Yes, the eggs get broken - or pushed out and get cold - or in the last period the mommy could be forced off when she HAS to stay hunkered down for the eggs to hatch - all not good scenarios.

thanks -- i have added two, and will see if anyone takes to them -- several were at least checking the new boxes out already, so fingers crossed -- and will be sure to come up with a better system once i get back from my travels this week...

much appreciated!!

 

[chiqita]

Don't forget to put fake eggs or golf balls in the new digs. Chickens like to lay where there are eggs ( I bet you already noticed this, haha )

thanks -- i have added two, and will see if anyone takes to them -- several were at least checking the new boxes out already, so fingers crossed -- and will be sure to come up with a better system once i get back from my travels this week...

much appreciated!!

 

[Deerling]

Thank's for the info! So many chickens to compare, I have been doing a good amount of research on the silkies cause once I saw those I guys I KNEW I was gonna have some! And everything I've read has all agreed with you, you have to be very careful with the fluffy little dears. I was already planning on them having their own coop/area so they wouldn't get terrorized by the embden goslings who will be here soon. Thanks for the tip about the skulls, that's getting highlighted in my notes!

Don't forget Buff Orpingtons! Ours are the sweetest. They're so lovely.

 

[Olamina]

Don't forget Buff Orpingtons! Ours are the sweetest. They're so lovely.

lol I've all but picked them already! A feed store nearby sells pullets that are buff orpington but I'd need to find a fella still.......

 

[Olamina]

Welcome new people

I mis-read this at first and thought you were posting a list of traits of the Silkies.. until I got to the "good table bird" then I just cracked up! I would NOT call them good table birds - not sure if I can eat black skin and dark flesh..

and they are bantams so teeny!

I love my Silkies, and I have one in with my bantams right now and she does stand her own - but she did not have the vaulted skull - just a hatchery chick. She is a great mommy but nowhere near a SQ or even BQ bird.

LOL yea I agree they don't look too tasty unless I want to play Chopped at home, I bet it'd make for a GREAT mystery ingredient! I just want them to look at and talk to and have as pets really. I know they aren't a "practical" chicken but who cares? I'm just gonna have it sit in my lap so I can brush it's purty hair!

 

[Chickengirl1304]

just so you guys know you have me wanting the following:

Marans...pretty much any color
Barnvelders
Basque
BLUE Australorps
Brabanters
SFH
anything Frizzled
Langshans
Sliver Penciled PRs
Icelandics...

and the list grows.  Hopefully the hatch will net me some Dorkings and Chanteclers so they can be removed from my "Pre Nor Cal Thread Wish List" or we can add them to this list too.

And to think a couple of months back I was going to be keeping it simple by adding a couple of broody breeds a white egg layer and some EEs to my flock.

That's how it goes lol. I started with 7 RIRs and then when I got married and realized I had the help and my husband loves the chickens so much also, now we have 5 breeds! So much fun

 

[Deerling]

lol I've all but picked them already! A feed store nearby sells pullets that are buff orpington but I'd need to find a fella still.......

Hmm, we have two buff orpington roosters. They're so sweet, just a little over a month old. We were planning on keeping them both, but let me know if you don't find one. We have quite a few little boys running around so I wouldn't mind one going to a good home. They both sit on my shoulder and arm and talk to me. Very sweet boys.

One of my black pullets pecked me in the mouth yesterday and made my lip bleed and Gilbert, one of the BO roos, ran over as soon as he heard me cry out and jumped up on my arm and then sat on my lap for about 10 mins making little trilling noises.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Yeah I know they are'nt the best pictures but the subject matter is cute. I got a good mix of colors in this hatch!


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