Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[ronott1]

I wasn't aware that I was poo pooing people's ideas. The reason I gave more information is because sometimes people had not read my initial post and may not know all of the information I have given. I do try to thank people, but I got so many responses that I ended up doing the general thank you that you initially replied to. I didn't want to do a synopsis because my first post was just a few days ago.

I am not trying to be difficult, I am just ignorant in the ways of chickens. I am here to learn. I am also reading a book about raising chickens.

Thank you for your constructive criticisms. And another thank you to everyone else who has provided me with information!

We all start somewhere!

One BYC member that went from learning to doing recreated Heritage Delawares!

 

[Strevale]

We all start somewhere!

One BYC member that went from learning to doing recreated Heritage Delawares!

 

[bnjrob]

I wasn't aware that I was poo pooing people's ideas. The reason I gave more information is because sometimes people had not read my initial post and may not know all of the information I have given. I do try to thank people, but I got so many responses that I ended up doing the general thank you that you initially replied to. I didn't want to do a synopsis because my first post was just a few days ago.

I am not trying to be difficult, I am just ignorant in the ways of chickens. I am here to learn. I am also reading a book about raising chickens.

Thank you for your constructive criticisms. And another thank you to everyone else who has provided me with information!

A book is a great start. That's how I started because having egg layers as a little kid was nothing like what I do now with serious breeding for standard bred homestead birds. And there is a lot more to chicken keeping than many people think. Since you don't have a lot of experience and you are having the issues with sex/number, and you are new to chickens altogether, think again about getting a few birds from the feed store. I know you have these ideas of what you want, but with so many barriers right now - one big one being that it can be difficult to get quality birds in a specific breed sometimes - getting a few feed store chicks is a less expensive way to learn your husbandry skills. This will let you get your hands on chickens faster, and let you work out the kinks of things. If they die - they are easier to replace than those Buckeyes. It really sucks to have a lot of pressure on you to keep chicks alive that you know you can't easily replace. Plus you won't have the problem with more chicks than you want at a time if you order from some hatcheries. It will give you time to figure out what does and does not work for your flock - because every day a new variable occurs and you have to come up with a different plan. Once you have some experience under your belt, it will most likely be easier for you to transition to getting those Buckeyes that you want because you'll be ready for them instead of trying to not only figure out how to care for chickens, but how to get the ones you want as well. And too, by the time you think you're ready to tackle Buckeyes, they may be easier to find and more of your barriers with chickens may no longer be barriers.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A book is a great start. That's how I started because having egg layers as a little kid was nothing like what I do now with serious breeding for standard bred homestead birds. And there is a lot more to chicken keeping than many people think. Since you don't have a lot of experience and you are having the issues with sex/number, and you are new to chickens altogether, think again about getting a few birds from the feed store. I know you have these ideas of what you want, but with so many barriers right now - one big one being that it can be difficult to get quality birds in a specific breed sometimes - getting a few feed store chicks is a less expensive way to learn your husbandry skills. This will let you get your hands on chickens faster, and let you work out the kinks of things. If they die - they are easier to replace than those Buckeyes. It really sucks to have a lot of pressure on you to keep chicks alive that you know you can't easily replace. Plus you won't have the problem with more chicks than you want at a time if you order from some hatcheries. It will give you time to figure out what does and does not work for your flock - because every day a new variable occurs and you have to come up with a different plan. Once you have some experience under your belt, it will most likely be easier for you to transition to getting those Buckeyes that you want because you'll be ready for them instead of trying to not only figure out how to care for chickens, but how to get the ones you want as well. And too, by the time you think you're ready to tackle Buckeyes, they may be easier to find and more of your barriers with chickens may no longer be barriers.

Good points. Especially the book. I recommend Gail Damerow's "Chicken Health Handbook". A new edition just came out and is a must for any chicken owner.
For new owners of small flocks, "City Chicks" is a good book.

Keeping 4 hens in a small city coop is a world away from breeding chickens, meaties or 100+ layer flocks.

As the expression goes - "your results may vary". Every situation is different.

 

[bnjrob]

Good points. Especially the book. I recommend Gail Damerow's "Chicken Health Handbook". A new edition just came out and is a must for any chicken owner.
For new owners of small flocks, "City Chicks" is a good book.

Keeping 4 hens in a small city coop is a world away from breeding chickens, meaties or 100+ layer flocks.

As the expression goes - "your results may vary". Every situation is different.

LOL - "your results may vary". Ain't that the truth. And just when you think you have it all figured out, something happens and you gotta figure it out all over again differently. Having chickens is like being in school forever - you're always learning something new, scratching your head at something weird, and having more work than you thought you would have.

 

[thedragonlady]

How did the city council thing go? What was the results?

That is why I do not live in town. When it comes my way, I will go out farther.

Nothing on roosters that I know of .

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A general rule of thumb based on the 92 cities in my county. The wealthier an area, the less likely they are to have no restrictions on poultry, including roosters.
The poorest communities tend to disallow chickens. I guess they wouldn't want to be mistaken for a rich area.

 

[RedRidge]

A general rule of thumb based on the 92 cities in my county. The wealthier an area, the less likely they are to have no restrictions on poultry, including roosters.
The poorest communities tend to disallow chickens. I guess they wouldn't want to be mistaken for a rich area.

Did I read that right? 92 cities in one County?! :-0
Wow... We have 3 towns in our county... And sometimes I think it's too crowded. ;-P

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You read it right. That doesn't count the city of St. Louis which isn't part of St. Louis county.
Weird. Some large, some about 4 blocks long.
In the early 1800s the city and county got mad at each other and the city petitioned the state to split the county into 2 parts, St. Louis county and the county of the city of St. Louis. It got voted down but a dispute about voting in one precinct caused them to rule against the vote outcome and voila! here we are with a city and a county with no relations and as the population grew, everywhere there were a few people living, a new city was founded.
It's a mess. Fire protection districts and school districts, for the most part, don't reflect city boundaries.
As one might guess, with that many cities in such a small area there may be duplicate addresses.
A little over a week ago there was a fire. 911 sent the FD to the address in Ferguson MO. Trouble was, the house burning down was at an identical address in Florissant MO.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

A book is a great start. That's how I started because having egg layers as a little kid was nothing like what I do now with serious breeding for standard bred homestead birds. And there is a lot more to chicken keeping than many people think. Since you don't have a lot of experience and you are having the issues with sex/number, and you are new to chickens altogether, think again about getting a few birds from the feed store. I know you have these ideas of what you want, but with so many barriers right now - one big one being that it can be difficult to get quality birds in a specific breed sometimes - getting a few feed store chicks is a less expensive way to learn your husbandry skills. This will let you get your hands on chickens faster, and let you work out the kinks of things. If they die - they are easier to replace than those Buckeyes. It really sucks to have a lot of pressure on you to keep chicks alive that you know you can't easily replace. Plus you won't have the problem with more chicks than you want at a time if you order from some hatcheries. It will give you time to figure out what does and does not work for your flock - because every day a new variable occurs and you have to come up with a different plan. Once you have some experience under your belt, it will most likely be easier for you to transition to getting those Buckeyes that you want because you'll be ready for them instead of trying to not only figure out how to care for chickens, but how to get the ones you want as well. And too, by the time you think you're ready to tackle Buckeyes, they may be easier to find and more of your barriers with chickens may no longer be barriers.

Strevale - this is such good advice for the super small scale folks like you & I. This is exactly what I have done for the past four years (feed store and one "small brown layer mix" hatchery order). I have learned so much from brooding and raising 5 batches of chicks. And trust me - you can find good people on Craigslist for cockerels ( at lease in my area). Did I mention that all of mine have been "sexed 90% as pullets" and I had to re-home 5 cockerels? Four of them went to 4-H families and one went to a very honest person who said she was going to grow him out and then eat him. You know what - I wasn't a bit sad about this. She was honest and also he had such an "attitude" by 8 weeks - it was easy to wave bye-bye.

I've learned to deal with bullies, integrating multiple ages into the flock ( or not - haha and building a second coop/run), dealing with spraddle leg, pasty butt, vent gleet in a hen that had a really intensive molt, wing clipping in juveniles and a couple of full grown hens that could "hop" over the six foot fence, rescuing chickens from the neighbors dogs and my dogs, hawks dive bombing the runs and those are just some of the minor things.

I am going to try with heritage birds from breeders this year. Flock is sold to a couple that just moved onto a small farm and being delivered this weekend. Sold via Craigslist for enough money to pay for the eggs that I am getting. And if I only get one to hatch I will be going back to the feed store for a fuzzy little companion until I can get the breeds I want.

I completely understand where you are coming from in wanting to get such a great breed to start out, believe me I do, however, you may really want to consider trying a few feed store chicks. If you only get 3 - that still gives you room for 3 buckeyes if you can find them!
I wish you all the best and you have definitely come to the right place.

Lori