Every year (for the past three years) I have been debating about what kind of "free-range" chicken I want....
The MUSTS:
At least (sort of) rare (I don't want anything too common on my place)
and they have to be rare enough to allow me to sell their eggs as hatching eggs but not too rare that if I lose one or two occasion that I'll be unable to ever replace them
Very hardy--their coop will have no heat or insulation and we get well below zero here in the winters.
Rose comb or pea comb to prevent frostbitten combs
Something that forages well (they will be fed in the winters but on their own the rest of the time. We have hoards of grasshoppers every summer!
Good-natured roosters (I do not tolerate being ninja-kicked every time I walk out the door!)
Lay brown eggs (these will be sold as eating eggs to friends & co-workers to help supplement their winter feed bill)
I would like something that grows kind of fast--I have had Brahmas in the past and they just took too long to sex, lay or get meaty enough to butcher
Something with a good carcass--I plan on hatching out chicks each spring and raising 25 or so for meat
The two breeds I've been considering:
Dominique
RIR RCS
I tried the White Dorkings in the past with little success but I am not sure I want to give up yet........
The MUSTS:
At least (sort of) rare (I don't want anything too common on my place)
Very hardy--their coop will have no heat or insulation and we get well below zero here in the winters.
Rose comb or pea comb to prevent frostbitten combs
Something that forages well (they will be fed in the winters but on their own the rest of the time. We have hoards of grasshoppers every summer!
Good-natured roosters (I do not tolerate being ninja-kicked every time I walk out the door!)
Lay brown eggs (these will be sold as eating eggs to friends & co-workers to help supplement their winter feed bill)
I would like something that grows kind of fast--I have had Brahmas in the past and they just took too long to sex, lay or get meaty enough to butcher
Something with a good carcass--I plan on hatching out chicks each spring and raising 25 or so for meat
The two breeds I've been considering:
Dominique
RIR RCS
I tried the White Dorkings in the past with little success but I am not sure I want to give up yet........
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