I want to be ready for Spring Chickens... well chicks :)

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Ridgerunner said:
Heather, it kind of depends on your goals. Why do you want chickens and how do you plan to manage them, especially how do you plan to feed them? It sounds like you are trying to get into sustainability. A major part of that is how much money you have to spend to feed them.

As far as pure efficiency, you can’t beat a broiler chicken though you have to buy the chicks. They are specially bred to be eating machines, packing on weight really fast. But they grow so fast they have to be butchered at a really young age. Since you have to buy the chicks they are not really sustainable, but they can be very efficient. There are some nuances too. Some people are much more effective at pasturing them than others. You can look into the Freedom Rangers instead of the Cornish X broilers too.

As far as egg laying, you can’t beat the efficiency of the hen specially bred to be commercial egg layers. Again you have to buy the chicks so they are not sustainable, but they are bred to lay a lot of large eggs. Their smaller bodies don’t give much meat, but that allows them to be really efficient at turning feed into eggs. They don’t have to use much feed to maintain a big body.

Then you have what we call the dual purpose chickens. They lay pretty well and have bodies big enough to provide a reasonable amount of meat. You can keep a rooster with the flock and hatch your replacement layers as well as birds to eat. Depending on your predator pressure, they may be able to forage well enough to pretty much feed themselves during the better months, but in Vermont you’ll need to feed them in the winter. That’s the model most small farms have used for thousands of year.

Which dual purpose breeds? Basically any of them. That’s why they were developed, to fill that niche. Chanteclers and buckeyes were specially developed for colder climates. Wyandottes have smaller combs which helps prevent frostbite in the winter. If I had to recommend a breed for you, I’d suggest you look at those first.
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Yes I think dual purpose breeds are what I am going to get. I am concerned about predators here. That is for sure. The neighbors dogs like to wander over here. I am unsure if I will have to worry about them but I am out in the middle of nowhere too so there is predatory wildlife also. I do know that I am not interested in commercial chickens though. I definitely want heritage birds.
 
Welcome to BYC! If your neighbor's dogs are on your property they will kill your ducks & chickens, you may consider talking to your neighbors about confining their dogs or keeping the chickens confined to their coop/run. Good luck to you.
 
That's actually why I recommend the Bielefelders. They grow very fast. That also means they will do well in the cold since they will feather fast. They are from Germany which is about the same temperature as the East Coast. Or if you live in the mountains, you might want to consider Hedemora. They are the most cold hardy birds in the world but they are small compared to most. I don't get a lot of snow here in Maryland (the Chesapeake Bay keeps the area warm), but my Hedemora as the first ones out to play in the snow.

Regardless of the breed, you will need to keep them in a heated brooder for the first 4-5 weeks until they feather out. I still recommend incubating eggs. They will take 21 days to hatch plus 4-5 weeks before they can go outside. So it be March before they are outside and Spring will be right aroudn the corner.
 
DCchicken said:
That's actually why I recommend the Bielefelders. They grow very fast. That also means they will do well in the cold since they will feather fast. They are from Germany which is about the same temperature as the East Coast. Or if you live in the mountains, you might want to consider Hedemora. They are the most cold hardy birds in the world but they are small compared to most. I don't get a lot of snow here in Maryland (the Chesapeake Bay keeps the area warm), but my Hedemora as the first ones out to play in the snow.

Regardless of the breed, you will need to keep them in a heated brooder for the first 4-5 weeks until they feather out. I still recommend incubating eggs. They will take 21 days to hatch plus 4-5 weeks before they can go outside. So it be March before they are outside and Spring will be right aroudn the corner.
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My husband might stick me in the coop if I try to raise them in the house lol
 
chknmamawanab said:
My husband might stick me in the coop if I try to raise them in the house lol
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The eggs won't make a sound for at least 19 days or so. Once he hears them, it will be too late for him to object. Just tell him all the money you will save not buying eggs at the store. You will, of course, have to lie about that last part.
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Congratulations on your new home. Study the forums, ask questions, plan and you will be successful in all of your poultry projects.
 

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