Chicks from Mt Healthy...

[mychookschick]

Hello everyone!

I know that there are many threads about the Mt Healthy Hatchery, but I wanted some info about some specific breeds from them. I get my chicks through my local feed store, which gets it's chicks from Mt Healthy. I have gotten chicks from them before, but never these breeds:

Australorps
Jersey Giant- Are they slow to mature like everyone says?
Leghorns- I have read that they are heat tolerant, but what about the cold?
New Hampshire Reds- Are they like RIR's, flighty and aggressive (towards people and other birds)?
Orpingtons- I have some, but not form Mt Healthy.
Plymouth Rocks

I would like to know what the roosters are like (aggressive wise), if they are good brooders, how much they lay, are the hens friendly, etc. Pretty much any input that you might have on these breeds from MT HEALTHY. I am not too interested in the temperaments, etc for birds other then from Mt Healthy. Just want to know about their birds in particular.

Also, if anyone knows anything about Sussex, I might be interested in them too, but I can't get them through my feed store. Let me know what you guys think about these... Thanks you!!!!

~My Chooks Chick

 

[KyBlue]

Of the breeds mentioned above, I have had the Australorps, Jersey Giants, New Hampshires, Brown Leghorns (no Babcock whites, yet) , White Rocks and Partridge Rocks from Mt. Healthy. I love their White Rocks! Two years ago I ordered White Rocks from three different hatcheries. There was no comparison. Mt. Healthy's were much bigger and meatier than the other hatchery birds. They are great layers and very calm birds. I also ordered Brown Leghorns from the three hatcheries and Mt. Healthy's were larger, prettier birds IMO but a little slower to lay. All the birds from the 3 hatcheries were very good layers and a little flighty like most leghorns are. I've had no problem with cold hardiness here in Kentucky.
Mt. Healthy's Australorps are excellent layers and pretty calm. Mine have been very broody but overall very good birds. The New Hampshires are also excellent layers and calm, gentle birds. They are not as big as I would have liked but are good birds. The Partridge Rocks were really pretty birds but didn't lay quite as well as the White Rocks. The Jersey Giants were my least favorite. They were skittish and not "giant" at all. They matured very early and started laying about the same time as my Comets. They were great layers but just undersized and nervous.
The only roo I have had from these breeds was a Jersey Giant. He didn't stick around very long.
I hope this helps a little.

 

[mychookschick]

It does, thank you!

Anyone else?

 

[CountryFriedChicken]

I got 10 Australorps in this morning, very pretty chicks plus they are quietest of the bunch. I got RIRs also - most are rusty red with a couple rusty with white (one is like a tuxedo). Since they are hatchery birds, that is fine with me. I was worried about the RIRs - as I have read that they are not true... I know they are still production line, but at least they look rusty red insted of the bleached out look like the production reds (I have 6 from mt healthy and they do look like the part).

Great looking chicks. I may order more layers from Mt. Health again - especially new Hampshire reds and rocks.

 

[mychookschick]

Thank you, Fried Chicken!

 

[BlazeJester]

I picked up several barred rock chicks from my local TSC last week (Mt Healthy sourced) - straight run - and they are healthy, happy, VERY active and growing like little weeds. I barely dare to hope that the females are fast-feathering and the males slow, because that would mean I got 5 - FIVE!!! - girls. They're still feathering out so I can't tell you about beauty, but they're kinda skittish I think from being at the feed store. I have them in a dog crate so there's no "hawk coming in from above" fear response and they're warming up to me.

 

[mychookschick]

That's interesting... I wonder if all TSC chicks are from Mt Healthy? I have heard some bad reports about chicks from TSC so I doubt it... I'm glad that yours are OK though!!

 

[themenagerie]

I got twenty pullet chicks last year through my feed store, they purchase from Mt. Healthy. Every single one of them was strong and healthy, only one was a roo. None of them are skittish or flighty, and they're all nice looking birds. I have a mix of Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers (though they call them Araucauna), Speckled Sussex, Australorp, Wyandotte and Buff Orpington, and Columbian Rock Cross. I wasn't a huge fan of the temperament on the Rock crosses, they were really stand offish and sort of aggressive to the other hens (prob because they are crossed with Rhode Island Red), I re-homed the two hens & roo.

Edit - Just re-read your post. In regards to laying.. the Barred Rocks, Australorp and Easter eggers are good layers, I get at least 5 eggs a week. The Wyandotte and BO are closer to four, and the two Speckled Sussex aren't the best layers...maybe 3 a week, but they're beautiful birds with really engaging personalities and I have to say, they're probably my favorites in the flock.

 

[CountryFriedChicken]

Tractors Supply said that they buy from Mt. Healthy and Privett.


This is my first time from Mt. Healthy so I dont know about the laying capabilities yet. But I hope they will be great layers as that is why I bought them for!

 

[mychookschick]

Thank you both!! That is so helpful! Especially knowing what the different breeds lay! Thanks!!