FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[pdx2phx]

Hi all -

I haven't been online here in a few years, and am hoping to find other Jacksonville, FL (or inland a little) area chicken peeps, especially those with seramas or very small bantams.

I have an aging flock, and have an almost completely blind serama hen who just lost her 13 year old serama rooster this morning. I really would like a buddy for her, ideally another serama or other small hen, maybe one that has some special needs too/is docile/not massively active.

My blind hen is in a protected enclosure with easy access to food/water and small ground-level coop within a larger run with other chickens.

I've tried finding local rescues, reached out on facebook, craigslist and thought I'd try here too. It looks like there were some active Brunswick area folks a while back but they haven't been on BYC in a while.

I would love any suggestions or info you might have. thanks so much!

-Lisa

 

[Mrs.Johnson]

I am in Tallahassee. Is anyone else from around here? I need some chicken people I. North Florida.

I'm near Panama City.

 

[MommaHen1996]

Port St. Lucie here

 

[CreveChris]

St. Augustine here. Crevecoeurs only, and breeding a personal flock and willing to share in the future.

 

[Araucana Nest]

Fort White which is 30 minutes south of Lake City. I breed Welsummers, Silverudd’s Blue, Lavender Orpington, Cream Legbar, Araucana and just started with Shetland hens. Currently selling out to clear my grow pens of Lavender Orpington straight run and Welsummer cockerels with a couple of pullets available. This will be my last year with Orpingtons so I have a mature flock that is young and beautifully feathered for sale and also will be selling out of Cream Legbars.

 

[Coggsinc]

Hi from Unincorporated Orange County, anyone else on here hopeful about the backyard chicken ordinance passing. I was able to take the UF course last spring when it went online hopeful we’d eventually be allowed to have them.
Also, a little ahead of myself but any recommendations of what kinds of chickens do best in central florida and who to buy from locally and when is the best time of year for chicks. I have young kids so I’d love to have a breed that are at least somewhat friendly.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

North of I-10, halfway between Panama City and Tallahassee. So, middle of nowhere, spitting distance from Alabama.

@Coggsinc with enough shade and good airflow, any breed can tolerate our temps. Open Air coops are well suited for our climate. Not sure any enjoy it, but my recommend to you is to favor birds with clean legs (feathers trap heat, and can be problematic with clays and muds - particularly in winter) and prominent combs. The clean legs and large combs will help them dissipate heat.

In theory, smaller birds will do better too - larger bodies are better at protecting their core temp from cold - while larger surface area (think an elephant's ears) are better for dispersing heat - but at the size of the typical chicken, I really don't think the difference matters.

Spring tends to be the best time to buy birds, no recommends on friendly breeds, and are you looking for pets primarily? or egg-layers primarily? something else? What traits are important to you will help determine which birds are most likely to suit your needs.

 

[Coggsinc]

North of I-10, halfway between Panama City and Tallahassee. So, middle of nowhere, spitting distance from Alabama.

@Coggsinc with enough shade and good airflow, any breed can tolerate our temps. Open Air coops are well suited for our climate. Not sure any enjoy it, but my recommend to you is to favor birds with clean legs (feathers trap heat, and can be problematic with clays and muds - particularly in winter) and prominent combs. The clean legs and large combs will help them dissipate heat.

In theory, smaller birds will do better too - larger bodies are better at protecting their core temp from cold - while larger surface area (think an elephant's ears) are better for dispersing heat - but at the size of the typical chicken, I really don't think the difference matters.

Spring tends to be the best time to buy birds, no recommends on friendly breeds, and are you looking for pets primarily? or egg-layers primarily? something else? What traits are important to you will help determine which birds are most likely to suit your needs.

Thanks, I think pets first and then eggs would be a bonus. I love the idea of fresh eggs from my own yard but don’t need super producers. I have no intention of showing chickens either so I don’t need anything too fancy lol. I really looked into ducks a couple years ago but that didn’t seem likely to ever be legal here and didn’t want to do illegally. I did a bunch of research on duck breeds, their personalities and traits so now I’m starting over with chicken research lol.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thanks, I think pets first and then eggs would be a bonus. I love the idea of fresh eggs from my own yard but don’t need super producers. I have no intention of showing chickens either so I don’t need anything too fancy lol. I really looked into ducks a couple years ago but that didn’t seem likely to ever be legal here and didn’t want to do illegally. I did a bunch of research on duck breeds, their personalities and traits so now I’m starting over with chicken research lol.

I have Pekin ducks (my current flock is in the Sig, below - I adjust with births and culling). Dirty, dirty, dirty birds. Tasty, but more maintenance than any of my chicken breeds. Even if they were allowed, good plan looking elsewhere.

The best egg producers are the sex links, red and black. They are sold under a lot of trade names, such as the "Golden Comets" I own. Good news is that they start laying very large eggs relative to body size very fast (16-20 wks) and lay almost every day (300+ /yr) in my experience. Bad news it that puts a lot of strain on a body - I describe it as burning the candle at both ends. Most only live a couple years, and they can look really ragged going into molt, even with higher protein feeds.

Since you want pets first, I'd suggest you avoid those too - even though the sexing of those is essentially 100%.

 

[Coggsinc]

I have Pekin ducks (my current flock is in the Sig, below - I adjust with births and culling). Dirty, dirty, dirty birds. Tasty, but more maintenance than any of my chicken breeds. Even if they were allowed, good plan looking elsewhere.

The best egg producers are the sex links, red and black. They are sold under a lot of trade names, such as the "Golden Comets" I own. Good news is that they start laying very large eggs relative to body size very fast (16-20 wks) and lay almost every day (300+ /yr) in my experience. Bad news it that puts a lot of strain on a body - I describe it as burning the candle at both ends. Most only live a couple years, and they can look really ragged going into molt, even with higher protein feeds.

Since you want pets first, I'd suggest you avoid those too - even though the sexing of those is essentially 100%.

For sure don’t need anything producing that much and fast. I don’t mind waiting a bit for them to produce and even if they didn’t it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
I have a friend with ducks, she has runners, and she warned me how messy they are. I have a pretty big yard with an area I was going to dedicate to them but settled for just enjoying the shy wood ducks on our lake from a distance and the slightly more friendly mallards who visit occasionally, while waiting on the chicken law to happen. In the meantime I kinda gave up hope and started beekeeping lol. Hopefully I’ll have some chickens next year to add to my urban backyard farm.