Raising your own chicks, where to get started

[HeatherLynn]

Ok so I bought my last batch with mixed results. Some of those results are in the freezer right now actually. This all got me thinking that maybe I would be just as well off having a breeding pair and raising my own chicks. Just as likely I guess to get roosters but I would have more control or feed, environment, and general health this way also.

My husband has picked out a coop and run design that he will build me on my parents farm if I want to do this.

My question is where to start. I don't even know what breed I would like honestly. I get lured by looks, egg color. You name it I am tempted. I want a good egg layer, I plan on raising my roosters for meat because I can't just kill a baby chick cause its a boy it should have some life I think. Don't want anything overly aggresive or difficult to raise because I am still a bit new to all this.

So what would you suggest. I don't plan on having these in with my other chickens in town. Anti Rooster ordinance!! Couple hens and one rooster?

Looking for any and all suggestions. Even suggestions saying avoid this breed.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I started out buying buff orpingtons pullets from our local feedstore. They are a calm docile breed (important because I have young children), beautiful, and decent egg layers. They were my first chickens and I really thougt that I would like just enough eggs to feed our family of four.

If your main goal is to have eggs then ordering pullets is the way to go.

If you'd prefer a dual purpose flock then you'd probably need to do a bit more research. A breed that lays a reasonable amount of eggs and is easily sexed at hatch would be the way I'd go. That way you could brood the pullets and cockerels separately and perhaps feed the cockerels a diet to increase growth before processing time. Barred rocks immediately come to mind, but I'm sure others will have better suggestions.

Good luck!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll include these sites to help you start your search.

My Pet Chickens
http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx

Feathersite
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html

The Henderson chart
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

For what you are proposing, I'd sugest any of the dual purpose breeds. The ones that come to mind are the Sussex, Delaware, Australorp, Orpington, any of the Rocks or Wyandottes, Dominique, and Buckeye. I'm sure there are others. New Hampshire Reds and Rhode Island Reds are other possibilities. You can also consider the sex links. Some people thnk of them as egg laying birds only but they are crosses of the dual purpose birds and can be considered dual purpose.

You could try the Americauna for the egg color but I don't think they get as big so are not as good for a meat bird.

If you are hoping for a broody hen as opposed to hatching in an incubator, I'd give strong consideration to an Orpington. It is possible for the others to go broody but it seems to be more likely with an Orpington.

If you are not planning on showing the chickens, there is no reason you could not get different breeds and cross them. After a couple of generations of the crosses, you could come up with some interesting colors and patterns on your chickens. From your post, you seem like the type of person that would enjoy the mystery of not knowing what the grown chicks would look like.

Good luck!

Editted for spelling

 

[PunkinPeep]

Well, i'm certainly no expert, but i love my buff orps. They're fun, and they're pretty.

They're dual purpose birds, and decent layers (or so i've read).

I'm also thinking about raising my own - for eggs and meat, and i'm thinking of putting a plymouth rock rooster with them. From what i've read, this would have good results.

 

[HeatherLynn]

I was thinking of hens that would go broody. These birds would be separated from my normal egg layers since the rooster will be in with these ladies. My goal is to provide my own chicks so I would not need to bring outsiders in.

I have some egg layers right now that are buff orpington and rhode island red. No clue how these layers will do since they have not started yet. I do want to raise my own chicks for egg laying and meat so a duel purpose would be best.

Right now just doing my research. I would love to raise the barred rocks but I have had such rotten luck getting any hens.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Barred rocks seem like a good choice! Although I think buff orpingtons are more likely to go broody than rocks.

The Henderson chook chart that Ridgerunner suggested is an excellent place to compare breeds.

 

[lotzahenz]

I also was considering which layer flock would be best for me and my family and decided on the Rhode Island Reds. They are one of the best layers, a good size, extremely calm and friendly, and lay a nice big brown egg. They lay right thru KY winters, have a smallish comb (hens) or if you want production only go with the RIR crosses called sex-links, but their eggs are lighter colored, birds are not as heavy it seems. You could breed your own sex-links. If broodiness is what you need, raise up a couple silkies for mothering, they never seem to stop sitting. I think the "research" and "shopping" for breeds is part of the fun, deciding on ONE breed is the hardest part.

Best of Luck, HenZ