Consolidated Kansas

[MarcAustin]

Hey guys. Yesterday I received a book from Ebay called "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens" Anyone here familiar ? And by the way - it's not that there isn't a wealth of information here on BYC, just that I like to know EVERYTHING about activities i undertake. I saw a similar book at the feed store called "Chick Days. . . " http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781603425841 but while it had pretty pictures, didn't seem to contain enough detail for my tastes.
Lastly - Does anyone feel like it may be better for a beginner to start out with bantams? Is there any benefit in terms of handling, manageability beyond the obvious less space/feed etc ? I have my brooder set up with all the basic equipment now, but have just started to decide what species to start out with. Thanks All !

 

[MarcAustin]

I have my brooder set up with all the basic equipment now, but have just started to decide what species to start out with.

I know I want docile, good looking, not too huge . eggs/

 

[chicken danz]

I see no need at all to start with bantams unless you don't have the space. IMO they are more for show than just having a good all around chicken. I guess it depends on what you want. Personally I like birds that lay big eggs and would have some meat if I butcher them. I have a few bantam breeds but it seems to me they are more susceptible to getting sick or dying young. Some of them just have that failure to thrive thing going on.
So it's really a matter of taste.

 

[Trish44]

MarcAustin, that is a very good book, I have it & it's a very good reference. Personally I would go with the large fowl myself. I agree with Danz that the bantams seem to be more fragile & harder to raise. The larger birds are usually very hardy, they lay a lot bigger egg, & like she says when they quit laying you can put them in the stew pot. There are many breeds that are really docile birds. I have Australorps, Speckled Sussex, Black Copper Marans, Barred Rocks, Red Stars, & Gold Laced Wyandottes to name some of them, that are all pretty docile & easy to deal with. They all lay nice sized eggs, the Barred Rocks even lay extra large eggs. I would just start out with getting the most common ones you can find easily & then you can branch out later on after you get more comfortable. If you get a mixture to start with then you can try some out & see what breeds you really like. I like to have a mixture anyway just for all the different colors to look at in my yard.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I wouldn't do bantams at first either, personally. Of course, I have them! I love them! But we got them specifically to show, not to use as egg layers. My SQ silkies are a lot more delicate. They start shivering in the cooler temps and don't seem to do well outside this winter. I've kept them inside my garage where there are not drafts on them-- and they are nearly adult-- they are now 9 months old. I have a couple of hatchery silkies and they handle the cold MUCH better. I keep putting them outside, but find myself bringing them back in when it's in the 50's with a cold wind or cooler. It could be the others aren't very acclimated. I've done some reading on the other smaller bantams and it seems they need much more shelter and care to keep warm than the larger birds. If you have a nice big barn and the time, then it's not going to be any big deal for you. I have LF Polish-- they are in between a bantam and a large bird. They are not very cold hardy, either-- but they lay a more medium/small egg if you are looking for something like that. They do tend to get really picked on, so if you go with a crested breed-- get at least 5 or 6 of them so they can pack together and not be such a target to the bigger birds. I have my Polish with my barred rocks and Wyandottes and the Polish STILL get picked on even though I have more Polish-- they out number the LF. I'm tempted to just have Polish and nothing else! LOL They are cute, quirky and very docile with each other. They are a bit "flappy" though-- they aren't the best pets, and they are supposed to lay every other day-- not every day. But I still like them.

 

[chicken danz]

As far as docile chickens my Salmon Faverolles are the most docile of all my birds. I've never messed with them much but I can just walk up and pick up still a lot of them. My second calmest breed are brahmas.

 

[chicken danz]

Oh and another puppy just left. She is going to live near Hutchinson.

 

[MarcAustin]

Thanks all ! I've checked Orschelns the last few weeks and they consistently have the following: RIR, Barred Plymouth, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Red Sex Link. Yesterday they also had Leghorn, and a couple of Speckled Sussex and Polish Crested. The Wyandotte's seem the most interesting to me. Perhaps i'll start with a half dozen and two or three of the sex links . If that's not an appropriate mix - pls advise before this evening . . . .

 

[Hawkeye95]

I have the silver laced Wyandotte-- mine seem to get along with everyone. They are also pretty friendly and tolerate being held.
I think your picks sound good, and I think you'll be happy with them.

Danz, glad you have another puppy on its way to a new home! I hope they were really excited to have their new puppy!

 

[chicken danz]

Yep, these people were thrilled. They totally fell in love with my dogs and Fluff fell in love with their little boy. I think they actually got the very best looking pup out of the litter. He was huge for 7 weeks. I'll bet he weighed 25 pounds easy. Had he been a girl I would have kept him myself.
My stupid phone has rang all day and it's just chit chat. I really hate that. I'm just not a phone person!! I get up tight and feel like I need to be doing something. DH thinks I spend too much time on the computer but when I'm here I'm busy reading, writing, or researching.
It got so cold out today. The sun was out and it felt good but the wind was cold. Then it got cloudy and it just felt miserable. Now I can't get my feet warm.