INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

getting the big breeding pen that holds 15 sections....should have it this week...also getting a 100 jumbo brown quail eggs...hopefully...well see...just got some show quality barred rock eggs...so well see how they hatch....wow they are truly amazing...way different from hatchery stock...unreal

Thats exciting! DH loves the quail.. Its time to hatch and cull the older birds they have slowed way down on egg production. You will really like the big pen, its super easy to fill feeders and waterers. The trays do start to get brittle at about 2 years, I try to keep a few replacement trays on hand.
Look forward to seeing your heritage BR, I have seen some impressive roosters that were show quality, flat huge!

 

[Indyshent]

Thanks, I did check on them and they seem great except their size, they will eat more $$

I don't know if you're going to find this Xanadu chicken. Something good always comes at the expense of some other good quality.

In general:
1) Bigger chickens and some bantam breeds tend to be more docile and good with children.
2) Middle/lightweight Mediterranean breeds have great feed/egg conversion but are almost always flighty, wily, cunning, love free ranging and typically have aggressive roosters
3) Bigger chickens don't always lay bigger eggs (like Orpingtons vs Leghorns) nor do they lay more eggs than smaller chickens (Jersey Giant vs Leghorn)

If it lays huge eggs all the time and isn't terribly big, it's likely flighty and/or mean. It is certainly not likely to be the most personable, sweet natured, fluffy friendly girl or guy on your farm, and you'll likely have a very tough time trying to catch it. If it lays medium-to-jumbo eggs a bit less often, it's likely a bigger chicken but probably more docile, more attractive (and fluffy). If it lays a variable amount of small eggs, it's likely a bantam (which can still lay large eggs for their size and quite a number of them--particularly if the parent breed was an industrial strength layer like Leghorns and RIR).

Consider a mixed flock so that you get plenty of egg revenue but also personality and docility. Every chicken is different, and one person's experience with a breed is likely not to match yours. For instance, I had great luck with RIR, Gold Comet and ISA browns (all RIR or derived from them). My girls laid an egg a day and none were human aggressive or even bird-aggressive unless I was suddenly adding a newbie. They all had very distinct personalities, and the RIR were particularly fluffy, friendly and gorgeous--even our rather large (and hilarious) rooster. So far, my Welsummers are similar of personality, but the rooster is especially 'chill'.

Also, consider ducks. My ducks lay giant eggs all the time. I have Rouen, Pekin and Swedish Black that are currently laying (except the Swedish who's broody). I've heard of people getting mondo eggs twice a day from Pekins (no clue how they do it; maybe somebody had a freakishly good layer). My Pekin lays eggs that put chickens to shame. They don't fit in jumbo sized chicken egg cartons, matter of fact. They're great for baking and omelets. For feed conversion, I've heard lots of good things about other laying breeds of duck as well. Also, properly handled, ducks are nearly unbeatable pets, and *BIG PLUS* they can't really hurt you, even if they do decide to become aggressive. They will never draw blood on anybody ever (very much unlike aggressive chickens). Even though mine don't particularly like being handled, they're hilarious to watch, and their eggs are tasty.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I will have a covered run for my chickens, would I still need to shut the door at night or will they be ok?

Wanted to say

and our thread

 

[Bawk]

Thanks, I did check on them and they seem great except their size, they will eat more $$

I don't know if you're going to find this Xanadu chicken. Something good always comes at the expense of some other good quality. 

In general:
1) Bigger chickens and some bantam breeds tend to be more docile and good with children.
2) Middle/lightweight Mediterranean breeds have great feed/egg conversion but are almost always flighty, wily, cunning, love free ranging and typically have aggressive roosters
3) Bigger chickens don't always lay bigger eggs (like Orpingtons vs Leghorns) nor do they lay more eggs than smaller chickens (Jersey Giant vs Leghorn)

If it lays huge eggs all the time and isn't terribly big, it's likely flighty and/or mean. It is certainly not likely to be the most personable, sweet natured, fluffy friendly girl or guy on your farm, and you'll likely have a very tough time trying to catch it. If it lays medium-to-jumbo eggs a bit less often, it's likely a bigger chicken but probably more docile, more attractive (and fluffy). If it lays a variable amount of small eggs, it's likely a bantam (which can still lay large eggs for their size and quite a number of them--particularly if the parent breed was an industrial strength layer like Leghorns and RIR). 

Consider a mixed flock so that you get plenty of egg revenue but also personality and docility. Every chicken is different, and one person's experience with a breed is likely not to match yours. For instance, I had great luck with RIR, Gold Comet and ISA browns (all RIR or derived from them). My girls laid an egg a day and none were human aggressive or even bird-aggressive unless I was suddenly adding a newbie. They all had very distinct personalities, and the RIR were particularly fluffy, friendly and gorgeous--even our rather large (and hilarious) rooster. So far, my Welsummers are similar of personality, but the rooster is especially 'chill'. 

Also, consider ducks. My ducks lay giant eggs all the time. I have Rouen, Pekin and Swedish Black that are currently laying (except the Swedish who's broody). I've heard of people getting mondo eggs twice a day from Pekins (no clue how they do it; maybe somebody had a freakishly good layer). My Pekin lays eggs that put chickens to shame. They don't fit in jumbo sized chicken egg cartons, matter of fact. They're great for baking and omelets. For feed conversion, I've heard lots of good things about other laying breeds of duck as well. Also, properly handled, ducks are nearly unbeatable pets, and *BIG PLUS* they can't really hurt you, even if they do decide to become aggressive. They will never draw blood on anybody ever (very much unlike aggressive chickens). Even though mine don't particularly like being handled, they're hilarious to watch, and their eggs are tasty.

Great info. . Ah it is hard to decide.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@Bawk It is tough starting out to pick the breed you want. I keep seeing new breeds and I get excited all over again! Since I mostly keep a free range flock aside from the EE and lavender orps, I look for hardy, predator smart chickens. I keep 2 bantam breeds, Old English and Modern Game bantams. The OEGB are very good free ranging, but I keep them confined since they are so tiny! My MGB have a large parrot type cage in the garage, and do not go outdoors without supervision and warmer temps.
Large fowl chicken, I have a big mix, SLW, RIR, BR, WL, "red " production layers and several mixed breed birds. Sometimes I think I like the mixed birds the most, every one of them has an unusual personality all their own. My largest egg laying breed are my beilie girl and the production reds, 3 oz eggs are pretty much what they give me.
Pet breeds, I love my lavender orpington. Roosters are super friendly, all of them are lap chickens. Love the color and personality! I have a few EE girls thats favorites too. I have several RIR girls that wont hesitate to sit on your knee and ask for a treat too.

 

[leslea]

Poor lil girl! Fingers crossed, I think she will heal up just fine.

I would shut them in.

Nice, you will love the quail breeder pen. Really easy to clean up and very little waste with the feed tray. Quail love to sling food everywhere

Are you getting more of the breeder pens, or going with something else?

Thank you! She was out of the coop a lot more yesterday. I did snap a cute pic of the guinea hen settled down beside her.



She seemed like she was foraging a little more. I'll keep giving her eggs, just in case!

Great info. . Ah it is hard to decide.

It is so hard to decide! Last year I spent months researching my first chickens. I ended up with bantam everything. Glad I got two of everything because I lost one chick and another turned rooster. That still left me with four hens...but four bantam hens laying didn't give me enough eggs, so this year I ordered another 6 chicks. This time four of them are large fowl. I think they are all hens this time (keeping my eye on one, will know for sure in a week).

I don't know what your yard is like, but for me, personally...after having done this for a year...if I had a bigger yard for the birds to free range in, I would have more chickens, I think. We have acres of woods, but they never go over the fenced portion that makes up our backyard, and I can't leave the gate open because our dogs would run off and get in trouble. If it would not be so unfeasible to leave those gates open, maybe I would have a dozen more birds...they just bring so much joy and I really enjoy trying the different breeds on for size.

Have fun!

 

[hoosiercheetah]

My sister is gifting me two white leghorns and a welsummer. They're 4 weeks old, and she says they're pretty well feathered-out. I'm going to put them in my brooder corner in the garage. Do you think they'll need heat, or are they old enough to do without?

 

[ChickCrazed]

I don't know if you're going to find this Xanadu chicken. Something good always comes at the expense of some other good quality.

In general:
1) Bigger chickens and some bantam breeds tend to be more docile and good with children.
2) Middle/lightweight Mediterranean breeds have great feed/egg conversion but are almost always flighty, wily, cunning, love free ranging and typically have aggressive roosters
3) Bigger chickens don't always lay bigger eggs (like Orpingtons vs Leghorns) nor do they lay more eggs than smaller chickens (Jersey Giant vs Leghorn)

If it lays huge eggs all the time and isn't terribly big, it's likely flighty and/or mean. It is certainly not likely to be the most personable, sweet natured, fluffy friendly girl or guy on your farm, and you'll likely have a very tough time trying to catch it. If it lays medium-to-jumbo eggs a bit less often, it's likely a bigger chicken but probably more docile, more attractive (and fluffy). If it lays a variable amount of small eggs, it's likely a bantam (which can still lay large eggs for their size and quite a number of them--particularly if the parent breed was an industrial strength layer like Leghorns and RIR).

I agree with all of this. You have to compromise somewhere. I would also second (or third) the previous recommendations to look at the Bielefelders. They lay JUMBO eggs and are a super docile and sweet dual purpose bird. They are also gorgeous!! I would say most (if not all) of the breeds that convert food easily are going to be on the flighty end and on the smaller side. I have heard good things about the Dominiques, but I think you are going to have to seek out a reputable breeder. A hatchery bird will not conform to the breed standard and you will end up with a small and flighty leghorn looking bird with Dominique coloring (in my experience).

 

[SallyinIndiana]

My sister is gifting me two white leghorns and a welsummer. They're 4 weeks old, and she says they're pretty well feathered-out. I'm going to put them in my brooder corner in the garage. Do you think they'll need heat, or are they old enough to do without?

heat from 7/8pm till the morning chill wears off. the heat can be gradually reduced each day as the chick ages and the weather warms. Now is a great time to be transitioning chicks off of heat.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

heat from 7/8pm till the morning chill wears off. the heat can be gradually reduced each day as the chick ages and the weather warms. Now is a great time to be transitioning chicks off of heat.

Thanks!