NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

I wish I got rose comb brownleghorns, though the straight comb ones I have suffered no frostbite this super cold winter. Dick Horstmans has rose comb RIR. I forget the line you'd have to check the heritage RIR thread, there is a line of rose comb RIR that is a hundred yrs old and reportedly better layers and faster growers than anyone else's. They are available also.
I'm not scared of the big combs, like everyone said ventilation and no drafts is the key. And with roos making sure the can't dip their wattles in the water in the winter, worst frostbite pics I've seen was from that. I'm switching to a five gallon bucket waterer with chicken nipples heated with a bird bath heater this winter.

 

[Pyxis]

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).

Well easter eggers aren't a real breed, so they are not guaranteed to be anything. Most are not feather legged, and I don't know that I'd call them dual purpose really either. If you are looking for a dual purpose breed with a pea comb, feather legged, and cold hardy, brahmas are what I recommend. They are one of my favorite breeds and are usually very sweet, docile, and they are huge birds so the extra males are definitely good to eat. Plus they are broody so you can keep a self-sustaining flock of them.

 

[Beer can]

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

Need to get new better pics, at work right now.
White j giant

Red sussex

My only black langshan, it's huge compared to the rest, wish they sent the fifteen I ordered, or even the four they claim they sent, guess they can't count....

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I have red white and black in the flock already . Any suggestions on a breed to give me a new color? I say 5 more now I just have to sneak them in without getting cough by hubby.

 

[akaruby]

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).

My Cochins are cold hardy, very docile and sweet. They do go broody, so that's something to keep in mind. They get a long great with all my flock of EEs, silkies, ISA browns...they are lower on the totem pole though.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have red white and black in the flock already . Any suggestions on a breed to give me a new color? I say 5 more now I just have to sneak them in without getting cough by hubby.

I'd go with a Brown, blue or lavender.

 

[Beer can]

I have red white and black in the flock already . Any suggestions on a breed to give me a new color? I say 5 more now I just have to sneak them in without getting cough by hubby.

Most go for different egg colors. You go for the colors of the chickens? You want these then Lol!

 

[tao chick]

I keep forgetting about EE not being a breed. Faverolle, Ameraucana and Aracauna have the muff, beard, feather-leg combination that I really like.

Brahmas are on my short list. As are Marans for egg color. My goal is mostly eggs with edible roosters (truly dual-purpose). I wouldn't mind broodiness, but because I would like to keep my family in eggs, and I'm not sure we can keep a rooster or continue to buy hatching eggs, I'm still undecided on whether it's important to me to decide based on broodiness (not too much not too little). Cold hardiness is very important. I'm not heating the coop which is an old barn. Not flighty. When I read flighty or skittish I usually stop researching. So, docile and social is good too because I have 3 kids and live in town. The EE roo from the flock I got my chicks from is awesome. He doesn't crow constantly. He is more mellow than the Orpington roo was.

I've been on Henderson's chart. I've read reviews on MPC, BYC, and several other online sites. There is conflicting information sometimes so just when I think I have it figured out it all changes. I truly value local opinions and information. So, thank you!

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Pretty much all done. Need to get some more mesh to fix the pop door, but have it safe for now. Also need to get a bigger tarp, but for now I have a little one that I put over the roost bar.


Snowball was strutting around for the first time. I think that he likes all the room

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Pretty much all done. Need to get some more mesh to fix the pop door, but have it safe for now. Also need to get a bigger tarp, but for now I have a little one that I put over the roost bar. Snowball was strutting around for the first time. I think that he likes all the room

Structure looks great! And the turkeys look so happy!