Getting started - how many and which breed(s)?

[JennsPeeps]

When I picked our chicks in May I didn't know what I wanted, other than that I wanted 3 female chicks. From the selection, I picked 1 each RIR, Plymouth Barred Rock, and a black-sexed link.

I thought that the BR or RIR would be my fav. Not by a looooong shot. That little sex-linked is a fantastic little girl. She's sweet and friendly. The BR is a close second, though she only loves us because we bring food. The RIR is skittish - I just hope she's a good layer.

We also have a cochin bantam - not terribly friendly but good for the other birds.

If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with the same selection. The sex-link and BR as great girls but I couldn't handle 4 like them.

 

[ILoveJoe]

Quote:
I used that to narrow down my selections. I wanted docile birds that lay different colored eggs.

 

[MamaSteph]

Quote:
That's good to know because I was just trying to decide whether to get a couple Black Stars or not, since I couldn't find the kind of info on them as I could on the other breeds. I will keep your experience in mind.

Quote:
I went back this morning and tried it again and it was actually very helpful. It only gave me about 3 birds that I didn't have on my list and so I took a look at them to see why I hadn't researched them yet.

After reading all of your very helpful replies, I decided to start out with a laying flock of about 20 next spring and hold off on any meat chickens until the following year. And instead of getting only 2-4 different breeds, I decided to get 2 each of about 10 different breeds so I can see which ones I like and dislike. I want two of each in case something happens to one of them and in case personality traits are peculiar to that chicken, and not the whole breed, but mostly because I don't want 20 different breeds of chicken right now.

I haven't quite narrowed it down to 10 breeds yet, but here's what I do know. I don't want white eggs, not sure about light-colored ones. I want docile chickens that are cold hardy and will be okay outside in good weather, but will also be okay spending the winter mostly inside. I also want to be getting a fair number of eggs throughout the winter, so it would be nice if a good percentage of them were good winter layers.

Here's my list so far:
I definitely want Black Australorps, White Delawares, EEs, Buff or Blue Orpingtons, New Hampshire Reds, RIRs, and White or Barred Rocks (That's 14 birds total.)
I am considering getting Black Stars, Wyandottes, Faverolles, Brahmas, Sussexes, Dominiques, Langshans, Jersey Giants, & Barnevelders (They're listed by how much I like them.)
After researching them, I've decided I don't want Andalusians, Campines, Leghorns, or Phoenixes.

Unless I am convinced to do otherwise by further research or input, I will probably get the 7 breeds I listed as well as Black Stars, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, and Salmon Faverolles. Either that, or I will just get 14 for the first year and add more in subsequent years.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Is he saying this from *knowing* what the costs and carcass size/type is from "dual-purpose" chickens? If so fine, but if he has not raised (=paid for) and eaten so-called dual purpose chickens before, it would be a REAL good idea to get just a few and see how he likes the result before committing to a larger longer-term project.

Just a thought,

Pat

 

[MamaSteph]

Quote:
He does not have any first-hand experience with raising chickens. And, not only does he want "dual-purpose" chickens, but he also wants bantams. I don't think he really understands how much more money/time/energy it will take to get anywhere near the same amount of meat as we would from a couple dozen Cornish Xs. We discussed things a bit more this weekend and I found out that he thought that I wanted to have a completely self-sustaining operation (no clue where he got that from). Having cleared that up, I think it might be easier to sway him away from what he wanted before.

 

[shareneh]

I just started raising chickens this spring and I have enjoyed every day. You will need a lot of things before your chicks arrive so it's good you are planning ahead. Start up can get spendy. I would suggest to you that since you are up north like me find chickens that have smaller cones and waddles to avoid frost bite in winter. Also, when you make your chicken coop don't skimp on the insulation. One night in the frost can weaken or kill a chicken. They don't have enough sense to take care of themselves that way. Also make sure your coop and fencing are as predator proof as possible. Your chickens will attrack lots of attention and you can't be with them all the time. After they grow up they are a lot easier to take care of so enjoy the ride.

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
Has he said why he wants bantams? To dissuade him you could always quote feed prices for birds that are mostly nice to look at. (I'm paying about $15/50 lb bag of chick starter). I don't think there's a lot of meat on a bantam and the eggs are kind of small.

I am a little further north of you and this is my first year of chickens. I also wanted a self-sustaining free ranging dual purpose flock but wanted to start small. I researched all last winter and ordered my birds in April. (I already had one year of 6 ducks under my belt so felt a little more confident than being a complete poultry newbie.)

I got 6 straight run barred rocks from Townline Hatchery in Zeeland and 3 guineas (for bug patrol and warning system). I also got 10 meat chickens (free with the bag of feed at my local feed store) which I kept in a pen the garage for 8 weeks till I got the local Amish to butcher them for me. (I don't recommend the garage, a chicken tractor or out building would be better. They STUNK!)

Only 4 BRs survived and only one of them turned out to be a pullet. So much for my free ranging meat/egg dual purpose flock! So, to compensate I ordered more birds from a hatchery with more variety.

My whole plan was to winter over maybe 12-15 birds, culling the extra roos, to find out if that's the right way to go, or if we preferred more Cornish X meat birds for next year. And by spring I'd have a nice rooster and some layers to begin hatching chicks.

I wanted a big meaty bird, with very little comb to avoid possible frostbite problems, plus ones "made" for cold weather. I wanted Chanteclers (bred in Canada) but they were already sold out so I went with Buckeyes (bred in Ohio) and a few gold laced wyandottes which are also a big bird (and very pretty) with a small (rose) comb and supposedly very hardy.

So this time I ordered 25 st run, got 27 and they all survived. (We wont even get into the guinea mania which has since possessed me, that is a whole 'nother story!) The chicks came late in July (earliest I could get) so these babies aren't going to be sustaining themselves much before Thanksgiving!

I think I've got a point in this somewhere

Oh yeah.

I intended to start small and I guess chicken wise I'm still fairly small, though I wish the chicks were older going into winter. I recommend going with a few birds this time of the year, in fact suggest to your husband that he hold off on his bantams till spring to find out how easy/hard it is to keep chickens over the winter. (I figure big birds retain heat better than little ones.) Argue to his intelligence, they like that.

I also am with the crowd that likes to order a nice bunch of each kind rather than only a couple of each breed to see better how they interact, what their personalities are like, etc. Thus far my rocks are quite fun, but my GLW and buckeyes are only in the cute fluff ball stage still.

I hope all these differing replies haven't confused you utterly, I'm starting to re-confuse myself.