IA here

[lizdelc]

Hello neighbors!

Newbie here. . I'm just south of Grundy Center. Anyone close by?

I have been reading up, planning and hoping for several years now. I finally have a good space for chickens in an old hog house. I will be fixing it up over the winter in hopes of getting started this spring.

I am looking into primarily heritage breeds- icelandics, orpingtons, wyandottes, and- of course- Iowa blues. I haven't settled on anything for sure just yet though. I probably won't be entirely sure until they are here. I would love for you all to share your wisdom!!


I am hoping for a flock that can be self sustaining- meaning that they will raise young every year. Yes, I am planning on a rooster.
As such, I would also love some information on local butchers. I haven't found too many. I am specifically hoping for someone who won't use bleach in the cooling water.

I plan to free range as much as possible, though we certainly have predators. Raccoons and wood chucks have been chased out of our little acreage more than once. What have been your experiences? Particularly, what has worked best for you?

I will have a coop that is about 24x8 inside. It's only part of the building, but perhaps I will add some ducks or turkeys down the road.... A girl can dream anyway.

That's probably waaaay more than you wanted to know about me, but I have learned so much from all of you already I wanted to be sure to say hello!

 

[karimw]

Hello neighbors!

Newbie here.

. I'm just south of Grundy Center. Anyone close by?

I have been reading up, planning and hoping for several years now. I finally have a good space for chickens in an old hog house. I will be fixing it up over the winter in hopes of getting started this spring.

I am looking into primarily heritage breeds- icelandics, orpingtons, wyandottes, and- of course- Iowa blues. I haven't settled on anything for sure just yet though. I probably won't be entirely sure until they are here.

I would love for you all to share your wisdom!!


I am hoping for a flock that can be self sustaining- meaning that they will raise young every year. Yes, I am planning on a rooster.
As such, I would also love some information on local butchers. I haven't found too many. I am specifically hoping for someone who won't use bleach in the cooling water.

I plan to free range as much as possible, though we certainly have predators. Raccoons and wood chucks have been chased out of our little acreage more than once. What have been your experiences? Particularly, what has worked best for you?

I will have a coop that is about 24x8 inside. It's only part of the building, but perhaps I will add some ducks or turkeys down the road.... A girl can dream anyway.

That's probably waaaay more than you wanted to know about me, but I have learned so much from all of you already I wanted to be sure to say hello!

I live near Belle Plaine and raise Iowa Blues. I have a few odds and ends of other breeds, as well as heritage turkeys and Muscovy ducks. We had to improve our fencing to keep the fox out and now have a Great Pyrenees that keeps most predators away. I free range all but the birds in the breeding pens and even had 3 turkeys raise babies out in the pasture. It's been a good year for us!

 

[ENor70]

Hello, all:

I am new to this board and to chickens. I am from the center of the Tall Corn State, and am looking forward to learning about raising chickens . . . and eating fresh eggs.

I've been reading a lot (a lot) and am about to start construction on a coop and run. That said, I was wondering about your thoughts concerning breeds for Iowa? I am considering two or more of the following: Barred Plymouth Rocks, Blue Orpingtons, Iowa Blues, and Buckeyes. They will be primarily, though not exclusively, for eggs and brooding. But, if the numbers increase dramatically I may occasionally butcher a few. I'd like to have 15 to 20-ish birds continuously . . . I think. I have 5 acres, and 90% of it is grass pasture that will be shared w/a 1/2 dozen sheep and a Paint. I'd like the chickens to be 'free-range', if possible.

Any suggestions/comments on these breeds, and how they might mix and match, or my completely misplaced thinking, are very welcome.

I'm glad to have found the Iowa board. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[TysonDSMIowa]

Hello, all:

I am new to this board and to chickens. I am from the center of the Tall Corn State, and am looking forward to learning about raising chickens . . . and eating fresh eggs. I've been reading a lot (a lot) and am about to start construction on a coop and run. That said, I was wondering about your thoughts concerning breeds for Iowa? I am considering two or more of the following: Barred Plymouth Rocks, Blue Orpingtons, Iowa Blues, and Buckeyes. They will be primarily, though not exclusively, for eggs and brooding. But, if the numbers increase dramatically I may occasionally butcher a few. I'd like to have 15 to 20-ish birds continuously . . . I think. I have 5 acres, and 90% of it is grass pasture that will be shared w/a 1/2 dozen sheep and a Paint. I'd like the chickens to be 'free-range', if possible.

Any suggestions/comments on these breeds, and how they might mix and match, or my completely misplaced thinking, are very welcome.

I'm glad to have found the Iowa board. Thanks in advance for any help!

Those breeds are good, I am in Des Moines and getting barred rocks, buff orphingtons and road island reds. The Iowa Blues are good too of course. Though I don't know much about Buckeyes.

 

[ENor70]

Thanks, Tyson.

I would like to find some older Iowa Blues and a mish-mash of other egg layers for this Fall, then be more specific with breeds/roosters this Spring. Any Iowa folk recommend a place to pick up Blues?

Thanks for any info.

 

[karimw]

I have Iowa Blues. You can check them out on the Iowa Blue thread in my signature.

 

[ENor70]

I have Iowa Blues. You can check them out on the Iowa Blue thread in my signature. 

Hi KariMW. Thanks for the reply. Beautiful birds! Do you sell any of them?

 

[karimw]

I am hatching a few chicks now, but no adults available at this time. I know Emily at Rosewood Farms had some trios for sale. She is ottbjumper06 on BYC.

 

[ambe0487]

Hello everyone! I'm new to chickens but have had ducks for a few years. I live in a suburban lot in Urbandale (Des Moines). I currently I have 3 rouen ducks and 5 chicken eggs on day 19 of lockdown. Lots of pacing going on here! I would love to hear if anyone has new chicks available to add to the babies I should have before the end of this week. I originally had 12 eggs in the incubator but the other 7 weren't fertile.

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

Best of luck!