The last 5 years I basically have either picked up a few of each breed at the local store or ordered a handful of this, a handful of that. I give away the old (3 yrs.) hens to family who still likes the old hens for soups/stews and move in the new hens in their place. I think this is how many people who have a hobby flock do things but I really want to start breeding and hatching to get away from hatchery chicks. Not a closed flock per 'se but close to it.
I have decided to work on some heritage breeds, Hollands and Buckeyes.
Most of my egg customers (other than little kids) prefer white and brown eggs. I want a winter hardy breed, one that is docile and fun for kids to be around. These two breeds seem to fit my need.
I have 2, 9'x15' pens in my barn right now. Each one has nesting boxes and roosts. I have about 20 in each pen most of the time and each has access to a 30'x65' grass/alfalfa outdoor run.
Here is a pic of the oldest pen:
And here is a pic of the left half of the pen I built last year:
And the other half:
As long as I am at it, here is half of the outdoor run. It is divided into 4 paddocks for "rotational grazing".
Yes, I am grazing rabbits in 1/4 of it right now
So I think I have a nice setup for chickens. The pens only take up 1/4 of the barn right now. I have room to expand and separate.
What I need to figure out is the transition between going with 2 pure breeds and keeping my existing egg customers satisfied, setting up pens for breeding the best of the best, having a grow off area for the ones that don't make the cut (culls for the freezer) and arranging the new breed laying hens to take over for my existing flock. (I hope that makes sense
)
So in the first stage, I need to contact a breeder and get what? Day old chicks or should I spend the money to buy adults so that I have eggs asap? Would buying someone's seconds be good enough for egg/meat production and buy a hand full of someone's quality breeding stock to eventually phase out the "seconds" and my existing flock?
Is it a good idea to tackle 2 breeds at once? Am I really just over thinking this?
(This is getting too long) Please explain how YOU did it and what YOU would have done differently (or did do differently the second time).
Thanks - Chris
I have decided to work on some heritage breeds, Hollands and Buckeyes.
Most of my egg customers (other than little kids) prefer white and brown eggs. I want a winter hardy breed, one that is docile and fun for kids to be around. These two breeds seem to fit my need.
I have 2, 9'x15' pens in my barn right now. Each one has nesting boxes and roosts. I have about 20 in each pen most of the time and each has access to a 30'x65' grass/alfalfa outdoor run.
Here is a pic of the oldest pen:
And here is a pic of the left half of the pen I built last year:
And the other half:
As long as I am at it, here is half of the outdoor run. It is divided into 4 paddocks for "rotational grazing".
Yes, I am grazing rabbits in 1/4 of it right now
So I think I have a nice setup for chickens. The pens only take up 1/4 of the barn right now. I have room to expand and separate.
What I need to figure out is the transition between going with 2 pure breeds and keeping my existing egg customers satisfied, setting up pens for breeding the best of the best, having a grow off area for the ones that don't make the cut (culls for the freezer) and arranging the new breed laying hens to take over for my existing flock. (I hope that makes sense
So in the first stage, I need to contact a breeder and get what? Day old chicks or should I spend the money to buy adults so that I have eggs asap? Would buying someone's seconds be good enough for egg/meat production and buy a hand full of someone's quality breeding stock to eventually phase out the "seconds" and my existing flock?
Is it a good idea to tackle 2 breeds at once? Am I really just over thinking this?
(This is getting too long) Please explain how YOU did it and what YOU would have done differently (or did do differently the second time).
Thanks - Chris