no knowledge on chickens

[badfairy2007]

Hi! I'm have no or little knowledge of chickens so any advices would be a great help. I need to know what kinds of breed would be best that covers these needs:
1. they can live in hot or hard cold winter climate
2. laying eggs- white or brown
3.be great for 4-H ( I have kids)
4. friendly
5.food

We are starting a farm ( got to buy first) and looking for animals to raise as food, show, or to sell. I welcome any and all information you could give me on chickens including other farm animals. My e-mail is [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. I have (1 mother), (2 sons), (3 grandsons) living with me. This is for the 5 boys future.
Sheri

 

[BirdBrain]

Hi Sherri,
Welcome!!

You might try going to one of the hatchery web sites and looking around at their descriptions. Ideal Hatchery is in Cameron, TX http://www.idealpoultry.com/ and they have a good selection. They have a dollar minimum rather than a minimum number of birds (usually 25 at other hatcheries) that you have to order. It makes it real nice when you want less than 25. Privett in New Mexico also has a good selection. http://www.privetthatchery.com/ Lots of people order from McMurray. I love their catalog and they will ship one right out if you ask. http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

Every one will tell you what their favorite chickens are. We have had some cornish cross (meat birds) and some golden laced cochins, but what we REALLY want are some Buff Orpingtons because they are so pretty and gentle. They also go broody which is great if I don't want to do the incubator thing. My daughter is dying to have some Welsomers or Marans because they lay very dark brown eggs. One of our sons would dearly love some Easter Eggers simply because they lay colored eggs. I think a few naked necks (turkens) would be great too. They are as ugly (in a cute sort of way) as can be, but I hear they do well in heat and cold. Some breads tend to be a bit more fiesty than others and will pick on more mild mannered birds. You want to take that into consideration. Probably mixing a bunch of Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds and Buff orpingtons would not be the best way to start out. Buff orps tend to end up at the bottom of the pecking order.

When you have raised one round of birds and get the hang of it you might try ordering one of the hatcheries rare breed assortments and see what you get. You could get some really neat birds for show. Alternatively, you could order and assortment to begin with and then decide which type you want to show and then find a breeder that specializes in you variety.

Food...that depends on what you get. If you get broilers for food, start them out on broiler rations. Layers you start out on chick starter. The hatcheries web pages have "care guides" on their sites that are helpful also.

So there you have it. Just one opinion among, hopefully, many more to come.

 

[pegbo]

Hi there! For egg production I would go for Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Shaver Reds[kind of hard to find],Black Austrolorps. For meat birds McMurray Hatchery offers a pretty good selection of heavy breeds for that purpose. Now my Hubby just bought a pig for slaughter and would also like to buy a couple of beef cows. I know some people who are into goats for milk and cheese[also goat milk soap and candles]. Sheep for wool and meat, Turkeys for meat. Hope this helps.Also any of these animals are good for 4-H projects.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

My vote goes to Black Stars and/or Austarlorps for laying hens.

 

[greyfields]

I'd say black sex links would be a good choice, too.

 

[missusduray]

I just got my first birds and they are fabulous. They are Buff Orpingtons. I got 4, 3 hens and a roo from my mother in law for Mothers day. They are gentle and great around the yard. She has been raising them for a number of years and I know that they taste good should you decide to butcher, they lay eggs(mine do about one a day each) and they are pretty. They are kinda plain but they are super great around the kids. I dont know as much as the others on her but this is just my opinion.
Kristyne

 

[Alleyoops25]

First off hello Bad fiary. I to have kids in 4-H. And I do agree with Bird brian that every one has there personal perfrances when it comes to poultry. I have rhode island reds, black stars, cochines, brahmas, buff orpingtons, aracuanas, silkies, Barred rocks, and turkins. Qiute honestly most chickens can handle any type of weather provided they have adequate housing. And all chickens can be Kid freindly tame birds as long as they are messed with all the time from chick to adult. My duaghter is almost 9 and her favorite chickens are silkies, they are small birds,and are the fluffy Afro lookng birds. She also like the rhode islands , because of thier egg production. I geuss if I were you I would go to www.mcmurrayhatchery.com and order your self a catalog. They have about every imanagable breed of poultry and the give good descriptions as to what they are good for. You dont really have to select only one breed either, most people (espeacially here) have a collection of several different breeds. Its really up to you and you family , get your self a catalog and set down with your family and vote for the breeds you would like best.

 

[seedcorn]

Wyandottes are good layers, can handle cold (close fitting rose comb), easy temperment, many colors to choose from for 4H, they are large enough to eat. If friers are what you are after, buy cornish crosses.

 

[badfairy2007]

Hi! everyone.

Thank you for your responds to my ?????'s. You all have given me alot to think about and choices to pick. I will check out all the websites you have given me. -Sheri