Help choosing a flock to manage..

[Red Mangrove]

I hate being a downer, but I do want to relate my experience. I just went through my first batch of 4 (2 Australorps and 2 Rhode Island crosses). They had a 9x12 pen you can see in my profile images. No free-ranging, but we made A LOT of effort to provide enrichment. 7 months later, I have no chickens. They all turned on each other, likely from being stuck in close proximity.

If I was in a suburb type area I think opening the coop door during daylight hours would potentially resolve all of this. With proper fencing, a few Brahma hens and chicken-proofing the backyard they would have a nice area to wander around

 

[thecatumbrella]

If I was in a suburb type area I think opening the coop door during daylight hours would potentially resolve all of this. With proper fencing, a few Brahma hens and chicken-proofing the backyard they would have a nice area to wander around

Our previous home in the suburbs would have been PERFECT for chickens for exactly this reason. Had the fenced in backyard and everything.

The woods of NH are truly "live free or die" for a flock. I wouldn't even have a small dog out here unsupervised. I'm sure Florida's even more wild. At least things hibernate up here!

 

[wrathsfarm]

This just popped up.
Lancaster close to you?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/aloha-chicks-for-sale.1607414/#post-27390123

 

[tsgarvey]

This just popped up.
Lancaster close to you?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/aloha-chicks-for-sale.1607414/#post-27390123

About an hour and forty. Appreciate it.. I'd like to find some young hens tho..

 

[tsgarvey]

If I was in a suburb type area I think opening the coop door during daylight hours would potentially resolve all of this. With proper fencing, a few Brahma hens and chicken-proofing the backyard they would have a nice area to wander around

We have the space to let them roam for a bit and would like to. Would need to figure how to go about that tho. We do have a resident hawk or two that I believe was watching me build my coop Like I said.. I have a pup that I feel will be a good guardian with a little training. Or.. I suppose I could build a nice chicken tractor to move about the yard. What would be an adequate amount of time to let them free range.. an hour? Why did you specify brahma hens?

 

[tsgarvey]

OK, so nothing extreme. That means you can have pretty much everything. The Mediterranean breeds are built for a warm climate, so maybe not those (even though there's really no issue, besides them being at a slightly higher risk for frostbite). Sussex, brahma, their bantam versions, australorp, EE, Ameraucana, their bantam varieties, would all work great

Okay... Thanks!

 

[tsgarvey]

Unless you plan on cycling out birds every few years, for optimal production you may want to consider spacing out the age of your flock, like start with 3 birds and add another 3 in maybe 2-3 years, when laying from the first group starts to decline a bit.

If you have a plan for cycling out the whole batch and need production from 6 hens, then disregard the above - no reason not to get the entire group at once.

If you absolutely cannot handle culling a rooster one way or another, then getting sex linked or auto sexed breed birds would allow you to start with chicks and avoid males, otherwise you would need started pullets to ensure you don't get stuck with a boy.

This sounds like a good idea.. thank you!

 

[tsgarvey]

I think it's nice to have a selection, only if your not planning to breed then you should get the same breeds if you will breed them.

Variety is the spice of life.. words I try to live by. No plans to breed.. thanks

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello all.. hope everyone had a nice holiday!

We are new to chickens and need help on how to decide which breed(s) of chicken to get. Just recently finished our coop/run that has enough space for 6 comfortably. At this time we are only interested in egg production and do not want a rooster. I was planning on skipping the chick raising process and look for young hens.. but would this be a mistake? Is it better if we raise them from chicks so they become accustomed/friendly to us or more easily trained to the surroundings? Are some breeds easier than others to handle? Are there any that are more proficient layers in the winter? Our thought is to get 2 each of 3 different breeds. Does this make sense?

The most popular choices I see out there are Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Australorp. Is this the direction we should go as newbies?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated! Thanks....

Get cold hardy chickens cause you live in PA. Good cluck, err, Luck!!

 

[tsgarvey]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will have plenty of chicks in the spring, I specialize in sexable breeds/hybrids that lay lots of pretty eggs. I have some more specialty breeds also, but my "typical" first-time chick buyer gets some of each of these:
- Cream Legbar (blue eggs)
- Opal Legbar (blue eggs, lavender feathers)
- Gold Welbar (dark brown eggs)
- Silver Welbar (dark brown eggs)
- Gold Olive egger (dark green eggs)
- Silver Olive egger (dark green eggs)

6 breeds/colors, 2 each of 3 different colored eggs, with all the chickens looking slightly different to facilitate naming them, and all are very simple to sex as chicks, ensuring no roosters. All the chicks are vaccinated for Marek's Disease, which is quite prevalent in our area, readily preventable but incurable once symptoms occur.
These are all friendly, calm breeds that are bred to be layers, but not to wear themselves out in the first year as the commercial hybrids tend to do. I have had 5 year old Legbars still laying really well. They are quite tolerant of heat and cold, just good all around chickens. I have pictures of most of these on my website: welbars.com.
I am near Pottstown in Chester County. That may be a substantial drive for you, but much of it would be through some very pretty parts of PA. Lancaster County in the springtime is enchanting (IMO).

Thanks for chiming in.. Appreciate the info. If I can't find anything a little closer.. I'll consider the road trip.