Consolidated Kansas

[cherwill]

I love the community and support here but I do have to say that the advice on "check out the breeds of chickens and decide what you want" is a bit unrealistic. So far I've looked at all the breeds suggested for this area and I like them all. I've yet to read an article where anyone says "Oh, you don't want to get these chickens. They're awful." Does not help with the narrowing down. If anything, I now want some of each.
Next question (you are going to get so tired of me). Do I want duel purpose chickens if I'm not going to get a rooster and hatch baby chicks? I had originally though the plan would be to eat them when they slow down on egg production and add more young ones. But someone told me they are usually tough by the time they slow down or stop laying.

The reason no one can tell you a specific breed is better than any other is because they all have their own quirks, and what I like, you might not like. I got into chickens by accident. A boy who was living with us while he finished high school bought his girlfriend a chick and her parents wouldn't let her keep it at their house. DH and I had talked about having chickens before, but not in any serious way. We decided to go with it and began learning all we could as fast as we could. I live in a town with an anti-roo ordinance. Our first chickens came from Orscheln, where we experienced a 40% roo/60% hen ratio. Luckily, I met someone who didn't mind extra roos and we have, a couple of times, traded roos for hens. Our coop is a converted Sturdibuilt playhouse that my niece outgrew. If we were starting from scratch, I'd make sure the coop was tall enough to stand up in.

At the moment, I have 3 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Black Australorp, 4 Easter Eggers, and 1 Speckled Sussex. In the past we have had a Rhode Island Red, who was an adorable, friendly cockerel and a mean roo, and we've had other Black Australorps, and a Barred Rock. My absolute favorite is the Sussex. She's friendly and curious, fun to watch and interact with. My second favorites are Easter Eggers because they're also very curious creatures, and they talk when I go outside. Their little noises make me smile. If all you want are prolific egg layers, I've been told Gold Stars are very good but not as friendly as some other breeds. DH wants some Gold Stars next time we add to our little flock.

DH says his grandparents raised chickens and "retired" their layers after a year or two to replace them with younger chickens. Those birds are generally tougher, but if you use slower, wetter cooking methods like braising, they're fine.

I'm not happy because I put off some necessary grocery shopping and now I have to go out today! We only got an inch or so, but I really just want to stay in by the fire.

 

[sharol]

This cold is just NASTY. I ran the chickens out of the coop this afternoon about 3, and they all came up by the house (we face south) where it was sheltered from the wind and sunny but otherwise, they didn't leave the coop. Silly girls.

I'm really hating the cold. I don't really mind the snow, though. When we had the big snow last spring, there were problems with the birds, but with our setup, it is fairly easy to adapt. I don't envy those of you like Danz with lots of birds in different buildings. I got a taste of that the last couple of days trying to keep thawed water available for the 2 little cockerels that are in the hoop coop. wow.

I have to get rid of several cockerels before the 16th, so I have to get on that. I finally got some decent pictures of the br boys this afternoon. They are 18 weeks old and really pretty. I hope the individual pictures are of 2 birds (not 2 pictures of 1 bird). One is larger than the other, but otherwise they look alike to me.

One MAY have a home, but the other one needs a flock in order to avoid freezer camp.

 

[MsDebD]

At the moment, I have 3 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Black Australorp, 4 Easter Eggers, and 1 Speckled Sussex. In the past we have had a Rhode Island Red, who was an adorable, friendly cockerel and a mean roo, and we've had other Black Australorps, and a Barred Rock. My absolute favorite is the Sussex. She's friendly and curious, fun to watch and interact with. My second favorites are Easter Eggers because they're also very curious creatures, and they talk when I go outside. Their little noises make me smile. If all you want are prolific egg layers, I've been told Gold Stars are very good but not as friendly as some other breeds. DH wants some Gold Stars next time we add to our little flock.

I spent time over the weekend making DH look at some breeds. I was working around football and I only had my phone so I didn't get to show him everything I'd like to. But we both like Black Australorp and Buff Orpingtons for sure. I looked at the Sussex breed also and they sounded nice. We're looking for dependable egg layers since we're starting off small and will, according to the laws of chicken math, expand as we learn more. The EE's sound interesting also. I really appreciate the input!

DH isn't yet sold on hoop coops but is sold on the idea of not having to build anything. He does think it would be a good way to start out though. And @Prairie Fleur if all things were equal, I would love having an adorable little coop like the one you posted. Maybe after we get through all the collecting of critters DH will take up carpentry as a hobby.

Lawrence totally missed the snow, as usual, and that's just fine by me. I HATE the cold with a passion and it's even worse when it comes with snow and/or ice. It's really nice to have a state specific site so I can proceed with my chicken plans knowing they aren't going to freeze next year.

 

[chicken danz]

Sharol those BR boys are really nice. When they mature they're going to be fantastic. Be sure to mention that they are true heritage bred Barred rocks and not hatchery stock if you post them on Craigslist or someplace.
DebD, orpingtons and sussex are both awesome gentle breeds. I don't know much about Australorps other than it's hard to find some that aren't hatchery birds. EEs can be any mix of any breed and you never know what you are getting for sure. Not that there is anything wrong with them. I sure don't intend to sound like a chicken snob, cause I used to have a mixed flock and loved them.
I have to laugh that your husband is so opposed to building. My favorite phrase is, "It's just a chicken coop." It drives me nuts when something doesn't turn out perfect or isn't square or something and I am always saying that. It's the only way I can convince myself that it doesn't have to be perfect. The chickens really don't care.

 

[MsDebD]

I have to laugh that your husband is so opposed to building. My favorite phrase is, "It's just a chicken coop." It drives me nuts when something doesn't turn out perfect or isn't square or something and I am always saying that. It's the only way I can convince myself that it doesn't have to be perfect. The chickens really don't care.

And I'm laughing back because I said that so many times to DH about our goat shed. That and "everything I've read says that goats NEED ventilation". My wonderful late FIL was an excellent builder and I think my DH feels like his work needs to honor his dad. Or at least be square....and maybe level.

 

[sharol]

@MsDebD We looked at the light weight ones first and then decided on a very expensive 9x4 hoop from HenHoops.com (only 4x3 of it is coop, the rest is run). It is a well built, sturdy, practically predator proof construction, but it will only comfortably house 3 or 4 full sized chickens. I use it as a hatching/brooding coop and as a place to put cockerels when they turn into hormones on feet. Our coop, that we bought because we came to our senses about size, is a 6x8 metal building with added insulation and plywood inside. It was built as a demo for a builder, and when he didn't need it any more, he sold it to us at his cost. My DH and I put in roosts and windows and a pop door with a ramp and that was that. I decided on 6x8 to limit the number of chickens I could have. I know me too well.

Ideally, the coop would house 12 birds. I have lots of roost space and a couple of other climbing/sitting areas in it, and they have access to a fairly large run and the yard when I'm home, so I don't think that the 15 I'll have over winter will be too cramped. That is about the limit, though. When they are "all cooped up" (good expression) on snowy days, I don't want them picking on each other.

Before you get a coop, you need to think about your total chicken numbers. It it is too big, it won't be comfortably temperate in winter, if it is too small, crowded chickens aren't nice to each other. Once that decision is made, you can mover forward on looking at your options.

Get a coop you can stand up in. Don't even think about a 4' high coop, or you will be griping about backaches as long as you use it. 6-7 foot ceilings ventilate better both winter and summer.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

I spent time over the weekend making DH look at some breeds.  I was working around football and I only had my phone so I didn't get to show him everything I'd like to.  But we both like Black Australorp and Buff Orpingtons for sure.  I looked at the Sussex breed also and they sounded nice.  We're looking for dependable egg layers since we're starting off small and will, according to the laws of chicken math, expand as we learn more.  The EE's sound interesting also. I really appreciate the input!

DH isn't yet sold on hoop coops but is sold on the idea of not having to build anything.  He does think it would be a good way to start out though.  And @Prairie Fleur
 if all things were equal, I would love having an adorable little coop like the one you posted.  Maybe after we get through all the collecting of critters DH will take up carpentry as a hobby. 

Lawrence totally missed the snow, as usual, and that's just fine by me. I HATE the cold with a passion and it's even worse when it comes with snow and/or ice.  It's really nice to have a state specific site so I can proceed with my chicken plans knowing they aren't going to freeze next  year.

I can't take the credit for that last lovely cool tho I certainly Wish it was on my yard!! CHIKENROOKIE is the one who has that I believe. I have a cool that my sweet DH built with a bit of help from me and its lovely but not as cute as the one pictured.

 

[Trish44]

MSDebD I deal with a man who isn't a carpenter as well & he's an "engineer type" of guy who thinks everything has to be perfect. He had never built anything in his life before I decided I had to have a breeder coop year before last & I told him what I wanted & tired to draw him pictures but he said no he had to have better plans & dimensions to be able to even attempt it. So we found a free software online that you can draw things with & he drew out the coop & then we had "discussions" over how to do the roof. I wanted him to just do the angled roof to the back because I knew he would never get the pitched roof done to his satisfaction & it's harder to build. I finally won out on that one. It took him forever to get the foundation in place, it had to be absolutely level, which is almost impossible here since we live in the Flint Hills & everything here is downhill from our backyard siince our house is built into the hill. He was not happy about doing this project & I got reminded of it all the time. It took way longer to build this thing than it should have because he refused to give it much time at once to work on it. But it finally got done & I built the walls inside & it has worked out fine. I finally got it painted this year right before it got too cold. So don't give up on your husband, maybe he will like the chickens well enough he'll get inspired to build something. You could just build a hoop coop & put plywood on the back & a tarp over the top & try it out & see how it works for you. It's the cheapest way to get a coop pretty fast. Of course getting chicks you would have to keep them inside anyway with heat till they were old enough & feathered out & by then it should be warmer.

I have some Australorps in my laying flock & they are good layers. The only downside to them that I don't like is they go broody a lot & if you're wanting them for egg production that gets aggravating. I had one that was broody more than she laid & I ended up selling her to someone that wanted a broody hen. The Orpingtons are better layers & are big fluffy birds, at least the ones from breeders are fluffier than the hatchery birds & are really calm birds. The EE's can lay green or other colors of eggs depending on what they're mixed with but they're not as regular of a layer as other birds. They are a nice addition for some color in your egg basket & usually are pretty colors. I love my Speckled Sussex, they're so pretty & are calm as well, they just add some eye candy to the yard & are good layers as well. Another breed you might consider is the Wyandotte, I love them as well & they're good layers. They come in several colors & some are really striking. I have two Gold Laced, one Silver Laced, & 3 Blue Laced Red. I would just start out with a few you think you might like & see how it goes, that's what I did when I started out with chickens & I have over time picked my favorites & found a few I wasn't crazy about. If you want white egg layers you can't beat Leghorns but they are very flighty & not friendly at all, they are super layers though. I have a few just for my laying flock so I have a variety.

 

[chicken danz]

I made a couple of the wreaths Trish posted about. Trouble was though they fell apart when I tried hanging them . I may have needed more gelatin. As it was I just took chunks of them and put them in the various pens. I used peanut butter instead of grease and the birds loved it. Turned out cute though. If I try it again I may change things so they will be more solid. As I said earlier I made too much so I put one in an angel food cake pan instead of a bundt pan.

 

[zigzag45]

Hi All - I've been reading a fair bit and haven't had a chance to post.

Happy New Year!!!

My birds slowed down their laying in early Dec but have picked back up. I was getting a bit frustrated to be getting so few eggs, but figured with time it would self correct. This year, I'm using LED Christmas lights in the coop as a "good morning girls" service instead of the old heat lamp. It works great and I'm not as concerned about fires.

My three babies are growing up. They are mutts, and I'm not able to tell gender yet. I'm told they have some welsummer in them. I need to get better at looking at the feathers....

I think it was @Trish44 who suggested a chick creeper.... This is what I did and it has worked great. Way easier than other stuff I saw online. Babies can eat their little kid food, and stay out of adult feed (since they can't reach it). Now if I can just train them to not sleep in the nesting boxes - talk about dirty eggs.

Also, I've wanted to play with fermented feed for awhile. I had a gallon of whey left over from making mozzarella cheese and dumped 20 lbs of feed in with it. I'm watching it to see that it actually starts to ferment, can't tell so far, I think it is. But, the weather has been colder so I know that slows things down. I might try adding some kefir whey to help it out. It turned my layer crumble into mud, but the birds seem to really like it. Last thing I want to do is have it go rancid and be feeding that to them. I do enough other culturing I'm hoping I can tell the difference between bad and good.

I got a kick out of my Cinnamon Queen finding a better feeding location when I was refilling their feeder. @Trish44, that's a Tractor Supply CQ... I've wondered how she compares to what you used to do.

I also am wrestling with what breeds to add this year. I only need 3-4 birds, but I like the layers and it's hard to tell a good layer from a great layer - esp since it can vary by bird. I have one little white leghorn, that girl is an over-achieve when it comes to cranking eggs out. She's settled down pretty well for us - less flighty than my three, broody raised, chicks. I'll probably end up going to the Gardner auction and if they have surplus chicks, just buying some there. All four birds I got form there last year have turned into big, beautiful girls - much nicer than I was expecting.

Take care,