- Jun 3, 2014
- 1
- 0
- 65
Just getting started with raising chickens, but I did raise ducks from fertilized eggs about 45 years ago. (I could tell they were fertilized by the poop all over 'em.) (That's my last little yolk - I promise!) We were driving around in the country north of Conway, AR when my wife saw some cute chicken houses complete with strange chickens for sale. She thinks I can build most anything so I started looking into it and found this great site. Since we live in Conway, which permits residents to have chickens, I think I'll satisfy a bit of my "buy a farm" longings by starting out with 6 or 12 chickens. I read a thread about pinioning yesterday and that seems like a good idea but now I'm agonizing over the "banty or full size" decision. Are maybe 8 full size chickens roughly equivalent to a dozen banties? Mostly the chickens will be for amusement, but I don't mind getting a few eggs, too. I'm inclined toward day old chicks, perhaps four each of 3 breeds, and cull the cockerels as "game hens". Any particular breeds that are not for newbies, or just get whatever suits me? Thanks in advance for any advice. 
Last edited:
and Welcome To BYC! X2 on check out the chicken breed charts, and the BYC Breeds section for member reviews on a lot of breeds. Most of the heavy brown egg layers are pretty easy to get along with. For housing most people seem to figure 2 bantams = 1 standard bird, though bantams are supposed to be 1/4-1/5 the size of the standard bird (most are larger). They do lay big eggs for their size, 30-40 grams. Chickens usually are not pinioned (I think there is one hatchery that does list it), usually ducks/waterfowl are pinioned.
