Do you wish you would have gotten a different breed of chicken now that you have your flock?

[Bullitt]

I originally chose Golden laced wyandottes and added some silver laced wyandottes with one barred rock. They were suppose to be friendly but they were not - the barred rock was. I ordered a variety pack the next year and I got some great chickens. I went to a chicken show and learned a lot too. I found an old photo of my grandmother and her dominiques and I ordered some. I really love cream leg bars. I had a breeding pair but lost them both last summer. Next spring I am ordering new stock - a roo and 2 pullets. I live on 5 acres so I have room to do it but my chicken run is only about 1000 square feet.

The thing is...stuff happens. Attrition happens, predators happen. If there is a certain kind of chicken you really want and you have room now or eventually, you can get it.

I think you should enjoy and learn from the chickens you have now. Maybe you start a separate flock with a special breed and start with a rooster and 3 pullets.

You can let them flock together or not. I have found that chickens that are not raised together will not flock together or if they have a choice of coops will coop with their flock mates not intermingle.

Hope that helps
Caroline

I think the Dominique would be a good breed to raise. They are called "America's first breed" and on The Livestock Conservancy's watch list. Plus, your grandmother raised Dominiques.

How many of them do you have now? Do you plan to breed them, or did you just want to have some?

 

[memphis]

Spent a lot of time figuring out what type of chicken would work for me. Knew I wanted a larger bird. Clean legs. Something docile, friendly, pretty & smart. Something that didn't fly like a pidgeon. Then began researching the different breeds. I settled on Speckled Sussex! They met all my criteria & I loved their shape & profile. Loved their dots. Found a breeder. Was turned off of hatcheries by what I learned here. I have eight big fluffy hens. I love them! They are smart, good layers, great free rangers. What surprised me is how funny they are! And so sweet & friendly. I have a lead hen, but no picking on or pecking amoungest them. A great group of girls. I do see other birds I'm interested in. But love this breed so much I'm not sure I'd ever add another breed!

 

[rojororeo]

Oh!! One of my fav girls is a speckled sussex!! She is awesome! Hatchery, but still awesome.. I would like to try to get into heritage later maybe... but I have a few years... or maybe grow my own birds. Do you have any cool pics of them?

 

[memphis]

For me, my Speckled Sussex are perfect! I need to post some pics. I'm an avid gardener & can't imagine working outdoors without them. They aren't noisey, but are always softly murmering. I actually think they are gossiping!!

 

[MonicaAndHer6]

I wish I would have gotten more easter eggers and americanas. I accidentally ended up with one, I'm hoping she lays green eggs.
I'd want to get chocolate eggers, green and pinl etc.. but i am thankful that i got all hens.

 

[Bullitt]

Folks, you cannot buy birds like this from any feed store or hatchery. They don't have them and don't sell them. It is not just the dark color. Color alone doesn't make a Red a Red. It is foremost the brick shape. You cannot get these brick shaped birds except from those who have preserved, bred, shown and passionately kept these great birds going.

Yes, they are generally larger and meatier as well. They are often incredibly calm and friendly as well, a trait not generally associated with a hatchery type Red. Body width is vastly wider, tails are fuller and set lower, chest is much deeper, and the list goes on.

In that last picture, you can really see the deep chest of that rooster. You are right. I have not seen Rhode Island Reds like that from a hatchery.

 

[Beekissed]

Those are a work of art...truly.

If life were in a different place in time, I'd have a flock of RIR and WRs out of lines that Bob Blosl had developed, and some stellar heritage line stock NHs. That would be all I need to be happy...those three breeds. One would have all the eggs, meat and beauty they could possibly handle with a flock like that.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Those are a work of art...truly. 

If life were in a different place in time, I'd have a flock of RIR and WRs out of lines that Bob Blosl had developed, and some stellar heritage line stock NHs.  That would be all I need to be happy...those three breeds.  One would have all the eggs, meat and beauty they could possibly handle with a flock like that. 

Yep and that is what I had intended to start with right off the bat. Those RIR like Fred showed you. And he is where I got my layers. The dynamics in my coop are much better now. Hopefully in spring he will have some for me. I'll work on increasing the RIR by hatchlings and my original layers (were supposed to be RIR but were productions) and the WR mix and older WR I got from Fred retire, I'll turn the whole coop over to the RIR. Then that is all I will have.

I love those dark birds!!!! The culls will be enjoyed at the right age/weight and be a full flavor.... not like the production I lost. Not the full flavor I remember so I guess Granny had the old stock. Wish I had them.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

If I see a new breed I really want I just make more room for it

 

[wsmith]

I think the Dominique would be a good breed to raise. They are called "America's first breed" and on The Livestock Conservancy's watch list. Plus, your grandmother raised Dominiques.

How many of them do you have now? Do you plan to breed them, or did you just want to have some?

Dominiques are AWESOME. But the same holds true with them as well. A hatchery Dom is nice, but a well bred SoP Dom is spectacular.