Hi, just joined, still trying to get my 10- posts so I can make a WTB post. It's a long one, so don't get bored reading it. I'm looking to pick some chicken brains on this one..
Heres what I want:
A range flock of dual purpose type birds to provide entertainment, eggs, and meatjust like the millions of other people raising chickens.
Heres what I have:
A mixed assortment of Partridge colored hens- ranging from a lighter (buff colored) partridge colorto a real dark definite Partridge color. One hen is single comb, and lays white eggs, the others have either Rose combs or pea (its been a long time since I was up to par on my chicken lingo), and about half lay light green and half brown. The color patterns and body types are consistent, but the eggs are not. Im thinking that these hens came from two scenarios: A- they were purchased about 3 years ago as EE, or they are daughters of an old Partridge colored, white egg laying hen that we had. I dont remember what she was, but Im thinking I remember her being something like a Rose Combed Partridge Leghorn. For years, we used a couple of EE roosters on our hens, and kept back what pullets we produced and a new roo every year, this would make sense on our Partridge colored green layers with rose combs and the partridge colored white layer with a single comb (I think I remember a single combed EE rooster at one time), but it doesnt make sense on the brown eggers because this mating would be (white x green). Some of these hens have muffs and beards- which help confirm my EE theory.
I know that when I was in grade school, (15+ years ago), I had over 200 chickens and other poultry- from all kinds of breeds and crosses (just found my old Standards of Perfection too when I was moving into the new house). I do know one thing, I never had a single Partridge colored chicken until the one I mentioned aboveso they arent rocks or Wyandottes (I did have several SPW over the years). When I got into high school, I turned the chickens over to my mom, and we reduced to just enough to keep eggs on our table and the neighbors- then when I left for college I became 0% involved with the chickensuntil recently I got a portion back from my mom to start my flock with at my new house.
My current rooster is sired by a RIR, and appears to be dammed by one of the Partridge EE hens. He has a single comb, and a beard- but he was hatched early this spring- so hes not old enough to do anything yetnot even crow. My mom produced him from this set of hens and hers She only have one roo, so the RIR sire is for certain. He has more black than a normal RIR should.
I also currently have 3 chicks, which are about 8-10 weeks or so old. They would be half siblings to my current roo, being sired by the RIR. Im confident that 2 are hens, and one Im still on the fence over. One confirmed hen is a sex link black, single combed obviously from one of moms barred rock hens. The other for sure pullet is also black and rose combed; but has a beardI suspect her to be out of one of the partridge colored hens that I now have, but the black color Im not sure about. The 3rd and most questionable is a red bodied chick, rose comb, and appears to be a NH Red x RIRbut it has a rose comb; so I dont know. I checked its feathers last night, and Im still on the fence- comb doesnt do much good either; larger than the others, but still not a for sure roo. My mom also kept back 2 pullets that appear to be this same RIR x NHR cross, but also with rose combs.
My mom has about 10 hens, and the RIR roo. She has 1 or 2 that are the same as my hens, a couple of white rocks, a couple barred rocks, a golden comet, a black star, and one last NH Red (thats older than dirt), maybe one more that I cant think of right now. I think that mom gets about one white egg, and a few greens every day, but mostly browns; which makes perfect sense to me.
I guess what Im saying is that we have a unit of mixed and crossed up chickens, that we really have no idea about, other than we either purchased them from McMurry, or TSCor we raised them ourselves. I know that we have kept several EE roos over the years to up our potency of green eggs- but highly doubtful pure green egg layer.
What I am thinking
I would like to get a Cornish roo (and a couple hens of course) to add some meat into my culls and roos which have no other purpose than freezer meat. From what I have read, the Cornish hens also make good layers. I dont care about color on my butcher stock, so whether its dark or red and white really doesnt matter.
I also would like to get some hens for setting on eggs. Im thinking that a couple of Cochins (really loved them when I was younger) would do the trick. Again, I dont care about color, but from what I remember the buffs always wanted eggs back in the day. Had buff, black, white, and maybe one other color. I would also like to get a pair of banty hens, but Im not sure what breed. I have probably tried 50 bantys in my day, and could never find one that would do a good job of setting, prob had 10 breeds. Brahmas would set, but not very often.
I also wouldnt mind some different colored eggs from the EE brand.
I remember that our RIR and BO hens were always some of the best we've ever had- but sometimes they seem just so 'average'.
Im really not interested in buying a new set of chickens every year- just doing my own hatching and retaining. I dont care if I have purebred birds or not, just birds that fill my needs, and do a good job of doing so. Crazy colors would be well accepted, and Im not sure what I can get from my Partridge colored hens. Probably the most important thing is egg color (white discriminated against), egg size, and a high laying percentage. Meat qualities would rank next.
Edited to add:
I would like a layer that's fairly adaptable to climate, as our hens really slacked last week when the temps hit triple digits (from 7 for 7 a day, to 2 out of 7), and our winter's can be harsher (snow pretty much from Thanksgiving until April), cold in teens. We're in west central IL> I also wouldn't mind an easy keeping bird, as mine will be range chickens; not free range like my moms who roost in the sheds and trees at night; mine get penned up at night- and I'd like to be able to feed a limited ration (tight budget).
Man sounds like I want the perfect chicken, but I think a crossbred could do what I want!
I would like more info on how dominate the green, white, and brown shell colors breed on when mated to each other.
Heres what I want:
A range flock of dual purpose type birds to provide entertainment, eggs, and meatjust like the millions of other people raising chickens.
Heres what I have:
A mixed assortment of Partridge colored hens- ranging from a lighter (buff colored) partridge colorto a real dark definite Partridge color. One hen is single comb, and lays white eggs, the others have either Rose combs or pea (its been a long time since I was up to par on my chicken lingo), and about half lay light green and half brown. The color patterns and body types are consistent, but the eggs are not. Im thinking that these hens came from two scenarios: A- they were purchased about 3 years ago as EE, or they are daughters of an old Partridge colored, white egg laying hen that we had. I dont remember what she was, but Im thinking I remember her being something like a Rose Combed Partridge Leghorn. For years, we used a couple of EE roosters on our hens, and kept back what pullets we produced and a new roo every year, this would make sense on our Partridge colored green layers with rose combs and the partridge colored white layer with a single comb (I think I remember a single combed EE rooster at one time), but it doesnt make sense on the brown eggers because this mating would be (white x green). Some of these hens have muffs and beards- which help confirm my EE theory.
I know that when I was in grade school, (15+ years ago), I had over 200 chickens and other poultry- from all kinds of breeds and crosses (just found my old Standards of Perfection too when I was moving into the new house). I do know one thing, I never had a single Partridge colored chicken until the one I mentioned aboveso they arent rocks or Wyandottes (I did have several SPW over the years). When I got into high school, I turned the chickens over to my mom, and we reduced to just enough to keep eggs on our table and the neighbors- then when I left for college I became 0% involved with the chickensuntil recently I got a portion back from my mom to start my flock with at my new house.
My current rooster is sired by a RIR, and appears to be dammed by one of the Partridge EE hens. He has a single comb, and a beard- but he was hatched early this spring- so hes not old enough to do anything yetnot even crow. My mom produced him from this set of hens and hers She only have one roo, so the RIR sire is for certain. He has more black than a normal RIR should.
I also currently have 3 chicks, which are about 8-10 weeks or so old. They would be half siblings to my current roo, being sired by the RIR. Im confident that 2 are hens, and one Im still on the fence over. One confirmed hen is a sex link black, single combed obviously from one of moms barred rock hens. The other for sure pullet is also black and rose combed; but has a beardI suspect her to be out of one of the partridge colored hens that I now have, but the black color Im not sure about. The 3rd and most questionable is a red bodied chick, rose comb, and appears to be a NH Red x RIRbut it has a rose comb; so I dont know. I checked its feathers last night, and Im still on the fence- comb doesnt do much good either; larger than the others, but still not a for sure roo. My mom also kept back 2 pullets that appear to be this same RIR x NHR cross, but also with rose combs.
My mom has about 10 hens, and the RIR roo. She has 1 or 2 that are the same as my hens, a couple of white rocks, a couple barred rocks, a golden comet, a black star, and one last NH Red (thats older than dirt), maybe one more that I cant think of right now. I think that mom gets about one white egg, and a few greens every day, but mostly browns; which makes perfect sense to me.
I guess what Im saying is that we have a unit of mixed and crossed up chickens, that we really have no idea about, other than we either purchased them from McMurry, or TSCor we raised them ourselves. I know that we have kept several EE roos over the years to up our potency of green eggs- but highly doubtful pure green egg layer.
What I am thinking
I would like to get a Cornish roo (and a couple hens of course) to add some meat into my culls and roos which have no other purpose than freezer meat. From what I have read, the Cornish hens also make good layers. I dont care about color on my butcher stock, so whether its dark or red and white really doesnt matter.
I also would like to get some hens for setting on eggs. Im thinking that a couple of Cochins (really loved them when I was younger) would do the trick. Again, I dont care about color, but from what I remember the buffs always wanted eggs back in the day. Had buff, black, white, and maybe one other color. I would also like to get a pair of banty hens, but Im not sure what breed. I have probably tried 50 bantys in my day, and could never find one that would do a good job of setting, prob had 10 breeds. Brahmas would set, but not very often.
I also wouldnt mind some different colored eggs from the EE brand.
I remember that our RIR and BO hens were always some of the best we've ever had- but sometimes they seem just so 'average'.
Im really not interested in buying a new set of chickens every year- just doing my own hatching and retaining. I dont care if I have purebred birds or not, just birds that fill my needs, and do a good job of doing so. Crazy colors would be well accepted, and Im not sure what I can get from my Partridge colored hens. Probably the most important thing is egg color (white discriminated against), egg size, and a high laying percentage. Meat qualities would rank next.
Edited to add:
I would like a layer that's fairly adaptable to climate, as our hens really slacked last week when the temps hit triple digits (from 7 for 7 a day, to 2 out of 7), and our winter's can be harsher (snow pretty much from Thanksgiving until April), cold in teens. We're in west central IL> I also wouldn't mind an easy keeping bird, as mine will be range chickens; not free range like my moms who roost in the sheds and trees at night; mine get penned up at night- and I'd like to be able to feed a limited ration (tight budget).
Man sounds like I want the perfect chicken, but I think a crossbred could do what I want!
I would like more info on how dominate the green, white, and brown shell colors breed on when mated to each other.
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