Greeting and some help!

[kyjohn68]

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The more research I do on the breeds, the more I'm looking towards Plymouth Rock breed, thank you for suggesting, they are a beautiful breed, and dual purpose...I'm so excited!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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Thanks.
I have to say that I like that big barn. You will be able to have lots of chickens in there. Barred Rocks are nice and so are the Black Australorps, and Delawares.

 

[Arielle]

Also consider the concrete--it holds a lot of water. IF you close up the coop, the concrete will absorb the moisture put off by the chickens and then contribute to a higher moisture level. You may want to seal it. My paint guy said a basic latex with at least an eggshell finish is water resistant.(ANd easy to clean!)

I too wanted high egg production; I also wanted easy-going birds as my life is hectic as it is and I have young kids; I used My Pet Chicken Selection Tool to assistant. THey are still young and not laying yet: blk austrolorp, RIR, black star, speckled sussex, and silver laced wyandotte. THe most friendly is the speckled sussex. SLW are very reserved; the others are in between.EVen the little fiesty blk star roo who keeps everyone in order initally objected to being handled but after catching him a few times, setting him on my sons lap over and over, within a half hour of repeating this he hops right up on my sons leg and sits. Like he's the boss! Then there is our EE, a large egg 5 days a week. Sweet and friendly.

Lovely old barn!

 

[dirtsaver]

Nice barn John. You will need to close it in to prevent drafts. Depending on how many chickens you want, I'd at least close in part of the covered area and maybe everything that's under roof.
Our girls did fine in our coop this winter and it was one of the worst winters we've had in Ky for a while.

As for breeds, I like our Black Australorps the best. Nice birds that are very easy to work with ,friendly and great layers. They may not lay quite as good as the production breeds but pretty close.

Larry

 

[lulumammato2]

I'm soooooo envious it's a beautiful barn. I was also noticing the floor, sand is really easy to clean and fairly inexpensive as a flooring option. Barred Rocks are supposed to be good layers and fairly docile.

 

[Judy]

I agree with any of the rocks, australorps, and speckled sussex. My friendliest birds are my black australorps and speckled sussex. Black Australorps hold the world's record for number of eggs laid in a year.

 

[kyjohn68]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm learning a lot. I'm cleaning everything up, and fixing holes here and there, I'll post more pics as I get some work done, I think I am going to paint the concrete on the lower walls, and sand was what i was thingking for the floor, right now it's just dirt, and it's very rutty and uneven, the neighbor told me that the old owner had a pig in there about 8 years ago...this old place has set vacant for 8 years, the house was built in 1865, and the barn is 1890's

To say the least, I have a MOUNTAIN of work to do on the whole place, but I'm getting chickens ASAP!

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Buff Orpingtons. They are my favorite breed. I have a sweetheart of a roo and the hens are very friendly. The chicks are the cutiest fuzzy butts you'll ever see. I have 19 one wk old chicks.

Love your barn.

 

[kyjohn68]

My dad used to have buffs when I was a kid, that's what he suggested as well, I can see now that I'm going to have a diverse little herd.

 

[annie3001]

nice barn! welcome to byc!

we have 3 rir and 1 plymouth rock. the barred rock is very docile and a good egg layer, i think you will be pleased with your bird choices that you will make.

i have a few other rare breeds, but of course that comes with different personalities. good luck and have fun!