- Jun 24, 2011
- 76
- 1
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Hi!
I have a small flock of RIR's (13 hens, 2 roosters). Hatchery bred, GREAT layers, tasty meat, friendly (after I got after the roosters with a water hose), but they are terrible when it comes to toughness and being broody. I can't get these girls in the mood and have lost 4 to predators while out, lost the 4 IN THE SAME DAY. Wanting a hardy breed to survive out here in the forest (with great care), raise me some babies, and possibly cross with my existing RIR flock...
So from what I can gather AG's aren't the tastiest, light on egg production, BUT hardy and great mothers...
Cochins... fine on meat and great little producers and great moms, aren't the toughest.
So I can raise a separate flock but the roosters will probably cross paths when I free range (not at the same time), not the best... What to do? I'm thinking on keeping them in different runs and having the AG's hatch my RIR's, or do you think crossing the Cochin with the RIR's will preserve the meat/eggs and give me some broodier hens... But then I still have pansy chickens!
I want to be self sufficient and these girls are daft.
I have a small flock of RIR's (13 hens, 2 roosters). Hatchery bred, GREAT layers, tasty meat, friendly (after I got after the roosters with a water hose), but they are terrible when it comes to toughness and being broody. I can't get these girls in the mood and have lost 4 to predators while out, lost the 4 IN THE SAME DAY. Wanting a hardy breed to survive out here in the forest (with great care), raise me some babies, and possibly cross with my existing RIR flock...
So from what I can gather AG's aren't the tastiest, light on egg production, BUT hardy and great mothers...
Cochins... fine on meat and great little producers and great moms, aren't the toughest.
So I can raise a separate flock but the roosters will probably cross paths when I free range (not at the same time), not the best... What to do? I'm thinking on keeping them in different runs and having the AG's hatch my RIR's, or do you think crossing the Cochin with the RIR's will preserve the meat/eggs and give me some broodier hens... But then I still have pansy chickens!
I want to be self sufficient and these girls are daft.