NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

Saw this before on another thread, eventually they got them back.... I prefer not to get updates so I haven't experienced it...

 

[Beer can]

White j giants are doing great, so are the red sussex packing peanuts, all are super rambunctious! Running around like road runners! Was super scary after three giants died and a sussex, figured all of them were lost... Everyone else and me super happy

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Egg muffins

 

[tao chick]

I separated 3 cockerels out of my 7 12-week olds. I'll grow out these three before process time. The remaining 4 birds are 3 pullets and a cockerel. The dynamic has changed so much already. One of the pullets joined the flock later but this change has allowed her to integrate better. The cockerel has always been the prettiest and the nicest, so I'm hoping he learns that his job is to provide for and protect the ladies. If I can get away with it, I'll keep him.

I have to order chicks. I'm thinking of getting faverolles. Do any of you have any? Where'd you get them? I worry about introducing new germs to my flock. Reviews, recommendations, advice?

 

[Metella]

I loved the look of Faverelles - and I have a really good track record with all my birds ... but the Favs Pyxis and I got together - hers died very soon - my was really weak in a cold spell - had to bring it in for it to survive and it died the next year - so I have found them not hardy at all - not saying this just from our experience - but many other consider them not very hardy.

So if you get Favs - just be aware you may need to build them a really special coop and fuss over them a lot .... Too bad - I love the salmon coloring !!!

 

[tao chick]

I loved the look of Faverelles - and I have a really good track record with all my birds ... but the Favs Pyxis and I got together - hers died very soon - my was really weak in a cold spell - had to bring it in for it to survive and it died the next year - so I have found them not hardy at all - not saying this just from our experience - but many other consider them not very hardy.

So if you get Favs - just be aware you may need to build them a really special coop and fuss over them a lot ....  Too bad - I love the salmon coloring !!!

Thank you for the info! I really need cold-hardy breeds, so maybe I'll skip the faverolle.
Is there a place that I can sort breeds based on certain characteristics?
Is the Easter Egger the only dual-purpose, cold-hardy, bearded, feather leg, small pea or single comb bird? My current flock is EE and Orpington crosses (barnyard mix).

 

[boskelli1571]

Thank you for the info! I really need cold-hardy breeds, so maybe I'll skip the faverolle.
Is there a place that I can sort breeds based on certain characteristics?
Is the Easter Egger the only dual-purpose, cold-hardy, bearded, feather leg, small pea or single comb bird? My current flock is EE and Orpington crosses (barnyard mix).

Hendersons' chicken chart - google it. It's a great source of breed info. - cold/heat tolerant, good/bad layer, broody/not etc. I used it to streamline my chicken choices.

 

[Gramma Chick]

White j giants are doing great, so are the red sussex packing peanuts, all are super rambunctious! Running around like road runners! Was super scary after three giants died and a sussex, figured all of them were lost... Everyone else and me super happy

So sorry ...they probably had a defect of some kind ...Glad the rest are okay ..
We expect Pictures you know

 

[rancher hicks]

I separated 3 cockerels out of my 7 12-week olds. I'll grow out these three before process time. The remaining 4 birds are 3 pullets and a cockerel. The dynamic has changed so much already. One of the pullets joined the flock later but this change has allowed her to integrate better. The cockerel has always been the prettiest and the nicest, so I'm hoping he learns that his job is to provide for and protect the ladies. If I can get away with it, I'll keep him.

I have to order chicks. I'm thinking of getting faverolles. Do any of you have any? Where'd you get them? I worry about introducing new germs to my flock. Reviews, recommendations, advice?

I suggest you research breeds. Many times folks get breeds based on looks and then post "my birds aren't laying" or something similar.

Decide what it is you'd like to get out of your birds. Meat? Eggs? Meat and Eggs? Friendly ? Don't care? Breeds have personalities, with a few exceptions. Different strains/lines are better than others. Some breeds go broody more often, some rarely do. Heritage lines of some do better. Some lines are "Commercial".

Some breeds were designed for specific reasons. The Wyandottes have a smaller comb and hence suffer little frostbite there. Brahmas and such are heavy and better in the cold. Buckeyes were specifically developed for the cold.

I borrowed Stories Guide to breeds before getting my first 25 chicks. 3 each of 8 different breeds. Then I whittled it down to less breeds. I now have only one of those breeds. With the exception of Frenchy a bantam frizzle who is 71/2 yrs old.

As previously stated there are exceptions to the rule in everything but most individuals run true to the reputations.

I hope when you decide on breeds "one" of those will be an endangered breed and that you will keep both hens and roosters.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thank you for the info! I really need cold-hardy breeds, so maybe I'll skip the faverolle.
Is there a place that I can sort breeds based on certain characteristics?
Is the Easter Egger the only dual-purpose, cold-hardy, bearded, feather leg, small pea or single comb bird? My current flock is EE and Orpington crosses (barnyard mix).

Heavens no. As stated Wyandottes are good. There are Rosecomb Rhode Island Reds. My C. Rocks have a smaller comb. Brown Leghorns too come in a Rosecomb variety.

EE's are a hybrid line though not a "true" breed they are very pretty in the yard.