California-Southern

[SurfCityBumpkin]

Hi, from Huntington Beach! I'm new to BYC and haven't purchased my chicks yet but the coop is well on it's way. I am so bappy to see a California thread and would appreciate any tips and advice from my neighbors including the best feed and places to purchase my chicks. From what I have researched, I think I would like to start with Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks!
Michele

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Hi SurfCityBunpkin! Welcome! I'm new here too. I lurked for a long time doing all sorts of chicken research before I joined.

I'm in NOC too. In La Habra, pretty much right at the Fullerton border. My bf and I are still trying to finish building our coop. Hopefully there will be a erected roof tomorrow morning. Our chicks are getting big quickly.

I think chicken picking is fun and a very difficult personal choice. I mean, how can you choose when there are so many good options? Right now I have 4, which I got a the Yorba Linda Feed Store and Kruse's in La Habra. I get organic feed from Modesto Milling (the starter/grower crumbles) from Kruse's. However, I just learned of a store in Bellfower that sells Scratch & Peck, which is more appealing to me because it's whole grains and not processed crumbles or pellets.

As for chicks, I don't think you can really go wrong. The HB climate is so mild that you don't have to worry about heat or cold tolerance. I'm more inland, so we sometimes can get week-long heat waves in the high 90s or even low 100s in extreme cases, so I kept that in mind for my chickens and my coop. I have 1 barred rock, 1 Australorp and 2 Easter Eggers. They all are friendly, social, docile and have great personalities. I chose them for their egg-laying ability, looks and that they're less broody. My barred rock is really funny and makes a running beeline to me whenever I go outside. (They free range most of the day.) My Australorp is the runt of the group, but she's the most affectionate, sweetest and she's always eating. One of my Easter Eggers was the biggest cuddle bug, second to the Australorp, when she was younger. Right now, she's going through her prepubescent growing pains and doesn't want to be held, but she's still quite friendly and tame. The other EE was more skittish as a smaller chick and less affectionate, but in the last 2 weeks, she's been seeking attention more and even fell asleep in my lap! I didn't it'd be possible to have that with this particular chicken. It's been really fun watching them grow and their personalities develop.

My coop isn't even done yet and I'm already thinking I want at least 2 more chickens, but I'm having trouble narrowing the breeds I want down to just 2! I'm debating between Silky, Faverolle, Laced Wyandotte, Sussex, Polish or Hamburg. Eep. I hope my neighbors don't get mad or notice too much!

 

[hillfloweranch]

Hi, from Huntington Beach! I'm new to BYC and haven't purchased my chicks yet but the coop is well on it's way. I am so bappy to see a California thread and would appreciate any tips and advice from my neighbors including the best feed and places to purchase my chicks. From what I have researched, I think I would like to start with Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks!
Michele

Welcome to BYC !!

whether you are raising for eggs meat or just pets you've landed in the land of everything you ever wanted to know about raising chickens...enjoy the fun!!

 

[estamets]

Hi, from Huntington Beach! I'm new to BYC and haven't purchased my chicks yet but the coop is well on it's way. I am so bappy to see a California thread and would appreciate any tips and advice from my neighbors including the best feed and places to purchase my chicks. From what I have researched, I think I would like to start with Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks!
Michele

I am loving my partridge rock and welsummer. I also have an easter egger and a speckled sussex- they are all sweet, but the PR and the Wellie spend more time on my lap. This could absolutely be due to individual personality.

In any case, I think you can't go wrong with chickens- it depends on what you're looking for. The My Pet Chicken book has a great guide to chicken breeds, including hear hardy breeds- important for SoCal!

The next breed I'll look at is Australorp; I think they'll be a great docile, heat hardy breed.

 

[Sylvester017]

Hi, from Huntington Beach! I'm new to BYC and haven't purchased my chicks yet but the coop is well on it's way. I am so bappy to see a California thread and would appreciate any tips and advice from my neighbors including the best feed and places to purchase my chicks. From what I have researched, I think I would like to start with Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks!
Michele

If ever I would need more Silkies in future I will get my next ones from Amber Waves Silkies in Norco, CA who have shown Silkies and also have pet quality available. Amber Waves was aired on the Tori Spelling Reality TV Show when they went to the farm to get their little boy a pet for his birthday. Amber Waves show birds are pricey but sometimes they have pet quality stock.

Also there are many private breeders that should come forward to let you know if they have stock. Also check the BYC Silkie thread or the Partridge Silkies Only thread to see if anyone comes forward. I have a hatchery Partridge Silkie who is sweet but not really full crested but she was gifted to me - her brother was spectacularly beautiful but had to rehome the roo. My Black Silkie I bought from a private breeder who brought 10 of his private stock to Wes's Pet and Feed in El Monte and I was the first one to drive to that store to get my pick of the litter - a Black full crested beauty. They were just old enough to identify the cockerels from the pullets - about 3 months old.

As many as agree just as many will disagree but my experience is that mixing LF with bantams - especially very Heavy LF like Orps with Silkies is not adviseable. My Partridge chicks were raised with LF chicks and the LF chicks grew large much faster than the little Silkies and the Silkies were mercilessly picked on and always hiding. They had to sneak out to get their feed and then run and hide again before getting picked on by the larger chicks. Silkies have soft skulls that can damage easily. In adulthood a 2-lb Silkie doesn't stand a fair flock flight against a 6 or 7-lb Orp in pecking order squabbles. (2-lbs against 7-lbs -- you do the math). Wish I had heeded this advice when I first got my Silkies. I had to rehome a 7-lb Marans who bullied and chewed off the crest off my Partridge and attacked the Black pullet on her first POL day. If you want Silkies for pets and Orps for eggs keep them penned from one another -- especially as chicks.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

As many as agree just as many will disagree but my experience is that mixing LF with bantams - especially very Heavy LF like Orps with Silkies is not adviseable.  My Partridge chicks were raised with LF chicks and the LF chicks grew large much faster than the little Silkies and the Silkies were mercilessly picked on and always hiding.  They had to sneak out to get their feed and then run and hide again before getting picked on by the larger chicks.  Silkies have soft skulls that can damage easily.  In adulthood a 2-lb Silkie doesn't stand a fair flock flight against a 6 or 7-lb Orp in pecking order squabbles. (2-lbs against 7-lbs -- you do the math).  Wish I had heeded this advice when I first got my Silkies.  I had to rehome a 7-lb Marans who bullied and chewed off the crest off my Partridge and attacked the Black pullet on her first POL day.  If you want Silkies for pets and Orps for eggs keep them penned from one another -- especially as chicks. 

Boo! So sad! Poor silkies!

 

[Sylvester017]

Hi SurfCityBunpkin! Welcome! I'm new here too. I lurked for a long time doing all sorts of chicken research before I joined.

I'm in NOC too. In La Habra, pretty much right at the Fullerton border. My bf and I are still trying to finish building our coop. Hopefully there will be a erected roof tomorrow morning. Our chicks are getting big quickly.

I think chicken picking is fun and a very difficult personal choice. I mean, how can you choose when there are so many good options? Right now I have 4, which I got a the Yorba Linda Feed Store and Kruse's in La Habra. I get organic feed from Modesto Milling (the starter/grower crumbles) from Kruse's. However, I just learned of a store in Bellfower that sells Scratch & Peck, which is more appealing to me because it's whole grains and not processed crumbles or pellets.

As for chicks, I don't think you can really go wrong. The HB climate is so mild that you don't have to worry about heat or cold tolerance. I'm more inland, so we sometimes can get week-long heat waves in the high 90s or even low 100s in extreme cases, so I kept that in mind for my chickens and my coop. I have 1 barred rock, 1 Australorp and 2 Easter Eggers. They all are friendly, social, docile and have great personalities. I chose them for their egg-laying ability, looks and that they're less broody. My barred rock is really funny and makes a running beeline to me whenever I go outside. (They free range most of the day.) My Australorp is the runt of the group, but she's the most affectionate, sweetest and she's always eating. One of my Easter Eggers was the biggest cuddle bug, second to the Australorp, when she was younger. Right now, she's going through her prepubescent growing pains and doesn't want to be held, but she's still quite friendly and tame. The other EE was more skittish as a smaller chick and less affectionate, but in the last 2 weeks, she's been seeking attention more and even fell asleep in my lap! I didn't it'd be possible to have that with this particular chicken. It's been really fun watching them grow and their personalities develop.

My coop isn't even done yet and I'm already thinking I want at least 2 more chickens, but I'm having trouble narrowing the breeds I want down to just 2! I'm debating between Silky, Faverolle, Laced Wyandotte, Sussex, Polish or Hamburg. Eep. I hope my neighbors don't get mad or notice too much!

First I will start out by saying most chicks appear to get along in a brooder. However they do not stay chicks and one day become squabbling adults. Do not mix Silkies in a Heavy Dual Purpose LF flock - 2-lb Silkies against 6 or 7-lb LF will not be a fair pecking order fight and Silkies have soft skulls that can get damaged by taller head pecking LF. Faverolles are extremely docile and are nearly always at the bottom of the pecking order and don't stand up for themselves. Hamburgs are not particularly docile and are nervous active types. Sussex are generally calm but very large/heavy. Gentle Polish like Silkies should not be mixed in a Heavy LF flock. As I posted to SurfCityBumpkin above I wish I had heeded the advice not to mix Silkies, bantams, or any of the docile gentle breeds with Heavy Dual Purpose LF who at maturity around 18 months to 2 years old become bullies toward smaller gentler breeds just because they can.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

First I will start out by saying most chicks appear to get along in a brooder.  However they do not stay chicks and one day become squabbling adults. Do not mix Silkies in a Heavy Dual Purpose LF flock - 2-lb Silkies against 6 or 7-lb LF will not be a fair pecking order fight and Silkies have soft skulls that can get damaged by taller head pecking LF.  Faverolles are extremely docile and are nearly always at the bottom of the pecking order and don't stand up for themselves. Hamburgs are not particularly docile and are nervous active types.  Sussex are generally calm but very large/heavy.  Gentle Polish like Silkies should not be mixed in a Heavy LF flock.  As I posted to SurfCityBumpkin above I wish I had heeded the advice not to mix Silkies, bantams, or any of the docile gentle breeds with Heavy Dual Purpose LF who at maturity around 18 months to 2 years old become bullies toward smaller gentler breeds just because they can.

Thanks for the advice. Though I have a relatively large yard, I definitely don't think I want on run 2 flocks, even if my flocks would be small and even with good space planning. I certainly don't want to create an unhappy chicken situation by mixing bantams with LF.

 

[sol2go]

Hi, from Huntington Beach! I'm new to BYC and haven't purchased my chicks yet but the coop is well on it's way. I am so bappy to see a California thread and would appreciate any tips and advice from my neighbors including the best feed and places to purchase my chicks. From what I have researched, I think I would like to start with Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks!
Michele

Since it is likely you will have a small flock, consider looking at specialty breeders (as opposed to hatcheries and feed stores). It may require a little more effort, ie travel time or expense, but you can find some substantially improved varieties if you go that route. Whether or not you plan to show birds, you may notice the improved feather quality and patterns, as well as overall shape and size. A hatchery buff orpington next to a show quality or even general breeder stock will have different characteristics. Although breeders are working towards a recognized SOP, this may still be true between different breeders who have developed a specific line.

That having been said, I like my mixed breeds as well as my feed store stock and my specific breeder stock. They all have engaging personalities, and as someone else mentioned, there are individual differences not defined by breed. But committing to 6 birds for their lifetime is very different than having options with a much larger flock.

 

[SurfCityBumpkin]

Thank you everyone for all of the great tips. I was told that as long as chicks grow up together they should get along, but I know we can't always believe everything we hear. How about Silkies and mini Cochins? Is that a fair enough balance of size?