Small flock considerations

Date sort Score sort
writerdeman

writerdeman

Hatching
10 Years
Apr 29, 2009
5
0
7
Northern Michigan
Hi,
So nice to "meet" you. I'm looking forward to using this group and hopefully adding something to it.

My husband and i just retired, and although we've had chickens and done 4-H with our kids in that area, a lot of time has passed.
We are getting ready to order again with my grown son, and I'm debating which breed(s) to get. We only want about 6-8 chickens, all told. Our ten acres is sided on two sides with with woods, so bobcats and other things are nearby.

I need:
*A very cold-hardy breed,
*I'm thinking rose combs so the combs don't show frostbite, (it gets down to -35 below 0 here)
*a breed that can take care of itself where predators are concerned (at least to some degree); so no completely docile, laid back types, I guess, but I'd like to be able to handle and make friends with them--also I have two small grandkids.
*hopefully beautiful and not-your-average-plumage,
*I have an interest in keeping old breeds going, though don't have time to get too involved in a breeding program,
*have had past success with breeds that roost high to avoid predators
*I'd like fairly large eggs (at least medium!)
We have:
A great chicken house and are fairly experienced.

So far, I've come down to Dominiques,
Silver Leghorns and Black Langshans. It seems like they would fill the bill. Would these be a good choice?

What about Hamburgs or RC Brown Leghorns? Ancona's or Andalusians, Wyandottes? We are ordering from Murray McMurray.
I love the way all of the above LOOK.

What do you think??? I'd love to hear from those of you who've got plenty of experience.
I've raised: Orpingtons, Brahmas, Silver Leghorns, Australorps, 1 R.I.Red, Cornish X, Sp Sussex (1)--got dead right away--predator

Hope this doesn't boggle you down with TMI, (too much information). Thanks in advance to those who might dare to advise me on this!
 
welcome-byc.gif

From california
You have come to the right place with your questions
Breeds with small combs do best in cold weather.
 
Wow, thanks everyone, for the warm welcome!

I checked out the Saffles site and saw your Wyandottes. Pretty interesting colors, aren't they? And these are considered native and originated in Wisconsin, from what I've read. You have some great-looking birds.

I'm leaning hard toward the Dominques, right now. Can someone tell me, and this is where I'm really ignorant, how do I keep a good strain of Dominiques going? I've read conflicting things about this. One source says they are better layers when another breed is introduced...but how can that be? Don't you need to keep the line pure in order to keep reproducing true to form? (I'll call this question ONE)

Another thing I'd like to know is, will one rooster be too much for the 6 or 7 hens I plan to get? (Question TWO)

Thanks once again!!
 
Hi! You might find this info in the forums titled managing my flock, or chicken behaviors -- what I do is use the search tool in the same way I use google - it is simply *amazing* how much information is available here! I've seen folks ask that question before - and seen some folks answer 1 roo for 10 hens -- I only have hens so I am just recalling what I have read. I am sure other folks here are much more in the know on roo/hen ratios! Good luck!!!
frow.gif
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom