Planning for spring- Which breeds?

[Chic_girl]

Hello! I have a couple opinion questions for all you BYC'ers.
Sometime in late Feb./ early March, I plan on buying several LF chicks to add to my bantam flock. I am only thinking of getting four birds, for two reasons: 4-H showing and decent egg-layers.


If I get only hens, how well do you think they will get along with with my bantam Brahmas and Polish?
I want hens that are friendly, calm and good layers. I was thinking Barred Rocks. Any other breed suggestions or opinions?
The 4-H poultry show is in Mid-July. What time would be the best time to get the chicks, so they will be fully feathered by fair?
I may free-range my large fowl, but not my bantams, due to bantams being bite-size for predators. Good idea or bad?
Are there any Barred Rock Breeders in Ohio, that are either close enough to Columbus for pick-up?

I want decent show-birds, but the only places I know of for chicks are Eagles Nest Hatchery and Ideal Poultry. I have had bad experiences with disqualifications from birds at both hatcheries, and the coloring of their birds is rarely ideal.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[WooingWyandotte]

You can purchase birds anytime of the year, though earlier is better than later. You could check out a local feed store, or unless your planning on showing at the fair, you'd need to buy from a breeder. There are a lot of friendly breeds, but in my experience, Brahmas are the most personable. As long as you spend a lot of time with your pullets, they become very friendly; though with all breeds that is not true.

If you want your birds fully-feathered by mid-July for the fair, I would suggest purchasing them as soon as possible, even then they may not be fully-feathered. It depends on the breed you buy.

I free-range my bantams on half an acre of cleared woodland, as long as I leave the dog outside I'm comfortable with leaving them to eat. They seem to know their boundaries. We live in a very rural area, where predators abound, so I have to be careful when I let any of the birds free-range. What you are comfortable with for free-ranging your birds? Go with that and learn as you go.

I don't live near Ohio, so I couldn't say if there were any BR breeders, but I can say that if you want to show, never get it from a hatchery. Buy from a breeder.

That's my advice!

 

[chickendales]

as long you buy bird from a hatchery there not going be show quality need buy birds from a breeder
you have find breeder that hatches all year round

 

[chickendales]

or that well sell you hatching eggs

as long you buy bird from a hatchery there not going be show quality need buy birds from a breeder
you have find breeder that hatches all year round

 

[Chic_girl]

Thank you for your replies! Hatching eggs would be nice, because I could get birds from across the country

.

Except for several factors... I've never hatched anything! My Brahmas don't stay broody long enough for the eggs, and I don't have access to an incubator. Also, I don't know how to sex day-olds, and eggs are always straight-run!

I have always wanted to try though, so thank you for the suggestion, Chickendales!

 

[chickendales]

you buy cheap incubator from tsc they work ok for a beginer

Thank you for your replies! Hatching eggs would be nice, because I could get birds from across the country

.

Except for several factors... I've never hatched anything! My Brahmas don't stay broody long enough for the eggs, and I don't have access to an incubator. Also, I don't know how to hatch day-olds, and eggs are always straight-run!

I have always wanted to try though, so thank you for the suggestion, Chickendales!