Free chicken

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frailing banjo

frailing banjo

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 6, 2014
26
2
24
Loveland Colorado
New member and chicken adoptee. I live in Colorado and after a sever night of winds which took several trees in my neighborhood down I discovered that the wind also deposited a chicken in my back yard. I have exhausted all possible chicken owners in the area and after a joint session in the garden with a pretty amazing bit of bird conversation I have grown quite attached to Barraak (she named herself)..my new friend has adopted me and after investigation I found she is a speckled hamburg chicken with the alert and amazing flyer attributes being spot on. She is pre-layer and my question is what breed of chicks should I consider that would be comparable with Baraak. My free chicken is getting quite involved but I am enjoying it.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

Wow, loved your story!! I am always looking skyward into my trees and never have I found a lost chicken in one of them!!!
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Chickens aren't picky when making friends. There are lots of great breeds out there and great layers too. I am fond of the Orpington breeds as they are super friendly, docile, great layers and are very hardy as well. Check out these 2 external pages on the different breeds and maybe they can help you pick some breeds...

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

Also, stop by our Coops pages to get some ideas on building a coop. Barraak and her friends are going to need a safe coop to sleep in to keep them all those nasty predators that lurk in the night looking for chicken dinners....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center


You will also need to stop by your local feed store for some layer feed and oyster shell for Barraak so she can pass those eggs and stay healthy.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Enjoy your new free chicken and all your other poultry adventures!
 
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Hello from Austin, TX. Glad you enjoying your pet friend there. Wishing you getting more new friends here.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new chicken! TwoCrows gave you some great links about caring for her and finding her some friends. X2, chickens are not that fussy about friends, but if you like the Hamburg type, they do come in several colors, other similar small breeds are Egyptian Fayoumis, Buttercups and Campines. You might also like to check out the Texas thread for your chicken keeping neighbors https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/44/texas
 
Thank you all for the encouragement and great advice. Barraak is a little unhappy with me currently because I whipped a coup with run together for her about 3x5. This was a win win for us because Barraak used our back porch high in the open rafters as her roost of choice. Her new tractor type home does not fit her criteria with the new indoor perch about 2 feet high. Currently building a 14 x8 chicken yard and coup combo. The wired lid is pitched and will go from 6 to 8 1/2 ft. Need to explore roost options which will hopefully make the little bird happy.
 
Update #2. The above stated docile and less flighty for the additional chickens is looking quite attractive. Orpington Buff, Australorp, Dorking, and the Win--sorry the name escapes me. The breed that I can not remember does begin with a W is large docile and in the silver speckled would compliment Barraaks coloration.
 
Update 3--we live in the county not city but in a residential setting. The ability to turn the girls loose in our 4 foot high fenced yard while home would be a plus. We need the other to st a good example for Barraak.
 
Is the name - silver laced Wyandotte? Chickens are flock animals and happier with buddies around them. Free ranging is popular if you can accept the loss of some birds to predators. Everything loves chicken and predators are out day and night, on land and diving out of the sky. If I were a chicken I'd be afraid to leave the coop
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BTW most breeds can sail over a 4 ft. fence.
 
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