Ideas for breeds of chickens!

[rdcowman]

Rhode Island Reds, Chanteclers, Black Australorps, Wyandottes, & Easter Eggers are generally good layers and cold hardy breeds.

Great thanks! Were do you get your chickens?

 

[rdcowman]

Source?

You could try craigslist, but better bets might be from local or regional growers here on BYC. You could start with your state forum. My feelings are there are some folks who really know what they are doing and would have some excellent stock. Then there are folks who have hens and roosters who hatch chicks and that is about the nicest thing you can say about them. I would love to have the former.......but would not want the latter if they were free.

My birds came from hatchery stock. Several of those around. Cackle, Murray, etc. Our local feed store gets several hundred chicks a week in season from the hatchery, and we buy from the feed store. They will add your request to their order so they have what you want. My birds may not be show stoppers, but they are healthy and they eat bugs and lay eggs and that is exactly what I had in mind when I got them.

I've heard about Murray McMurray Hatchery! I just checked out there website. they have good prices! They only have chicks, right? Do you have any advice for raising baby chicks? I have read a lot of stuff for raising baby chicks! I feel like it will be a lot of work and money to have baby chicks.

Any Advice??

 

[Gray Farms]

Great thanks! Were do you get your chickens?

I buy from breeders all across the US. Either hatching eggs, chicks, or adult birds and have them shipped to me or meet them if they are in driving distance. Or I go to some of the poultry show and buy from other show breeders.

 

[rdcowman]

I buy from breeders all across the US. Either hatching eggs, chicks, or adult birds and have them shipped to me or meet them if they are in driving distance. Or I go to some of the poultry show and buy from other show breeders.

Cool! I might try ordering chickens or chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery this Spring! Have you ordered from them before?

 

[rdcowman]

I buy from breeders all across the US. Either hatching eggs, chicks, or adult birds and have them shipped to me or meet them if they are in driving distance. Or I go to some of the poultry show and buy from other show breeders.

What are your favorite breeds of chickens?

 

[Gray Farms]

Cool! I might try ordering chickens or chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery this Spring! Have you ordered from them before?

I would recommend Ideal first and Cackle second. The vast majority of the McMurray birds I've seen matured to be poor representatives of there breeds. And McMurray's prices are high for what you get. They've gone to quantity over quality. But I'll get down off my soapbox now lol.

 

[Gray Farms]

What are your favorite breeds of chickens?

Brahmas, Spitzhaubens, Sumatras, English Orpingtons, Swedish Flowers, Iowa Blues would be my top six.

 

[rdcowman]

I would recommend Ideal first and Cackle second. The vast majority of the McMurray birds I've seen matured to be poor representatives of there breeds. And McMurray's prices are high for what you get. They've gone to quantity over quality. But I'll get down off my soapbox now lol.

Ohh... Ok! I wondered about the prices!! I'll check it out! Thanks so much for your information that you gave me! I really appreciate it!

 

[rdcowman]

Brahmas, Spitzhaubens, Sumatras, English Orpingtons, Swedish Flowers, Iowa Blues would be my top six.

Were do you get your chickens? Are bantams and Orpingtons a good cold hardy good egg laying breed?

 

[rdcowman]

What breed would you guys recommend? What I'm worried about is that do I need to get the same breed of chickens that I have know? The chickens that I get this spring will they get along with my other chickens?