I'm joining in with the kudos for this thread. I'll be sticking with it from now on. Well, most of my experience is not first-hand yet, but here's the plan.
I'm with bj in that I'm too far south for the cold to be a big deal. So when I was doing my research I was looking for a breed known for its ability to take the heat (not dry heat sadly, but that famous Gulf Coast humid heat). So I chose Buff Minorcas from SHPC to try and start my heritage backyard flock. I'm aiming for a sustainable flock that I can eventually butcher most of the cockerels and the none-productive hens from. I'm positive on my just over 1 1/2 acres I'll never have a huge operation. But I would like to sell some birds to offset feed costs for my own eggs/meat birds.
So in just another month I should be receiving a batch of 50/50 BM's and assorted Orpingtons. I'm going to try raising the Orps as meaties through the summer in a simple movable pen with some basic facilities in it (a nest box or two, and some structure to get them off the ground at night). As for predators... Well, I know some sort of coyote/ wild dog can be a problem from my neighbor. Who thankfully is a chicken breeder! But he tells me he's had zero problems since he installed the red eye devices. And I have seen large birds around here but I'm going to try out a system of wires that will be attached to the tops of the posts of the fence. Basically fishing line with a lot of things on it to scare the big birds on it. We'll see how that goes. My neighbor doesn't have those problems because he only has exhibition birds in enclosed coops.
I love the idea of being able to help bring back an endangered breed while providing some good food for my friends and family. Thanks again for this great thread. I'll keep you all posted!
I'm with bj in that I'm too far south for the cold to be a big deal. So when I was doing my research I was looking for a breed known for its ability to take the heat (not dry heat sadly, but that famous Gulf Coast humid heat). So I chose Buff Minorcas from SHPC to try and start my heritage backyard flock. I'm aiming for a sustainable flock that I can eventually butcher most of the cockerels and the none-productive hens from. I'm positive on my just over 1 1/2 acres I'll never have a huge operation. But I would like to sell some birds to offset feed costs for my own eggs/meat birds.
So in just another month I should be receiving a batch of 50/50 BM's and assorted Orpingtons. I'm going to try raising the Orps as meaties through the summer in a simple movable pen with some basic facilities in it (a nest box or two, and some structure to get them off the ground at night). As for predators... Well, I know some sort of coyote/ wild dog can be a problem from my neighbor. Who thankfully is a chicken breeder! But he tells me he's had zero problems since he installed the red eye devices. And I have seen large birds around here but I'm going to try out a system of wires that will be attached to the tops of the posts of the fence. Basically fishing line with a lot of things on it to scare the big birds on it. We'll see how that goes. My neighbor doesn't have those problems because he only has exhibition birds in enclosed coops.
I love the idea of being able to help bring back an endangered breed while providing some good food for my friends and family. Thanks again for this great thread. I'll keep you all posted!
