South Carolina

[pinkwindsong]

out to Amy Nadine and anyone else..

Colt wants a little flock of something all his own. tried to take my barred rocks.. I dont thing so... hahha.. but I would like to get him started on something just for him.. he really enjoys the thrill of going out gathering eggs and making himself breakfast or dinner.. so Im thinking standards... then I have the jerk neighbor and he has barred rocks and RIR's so dont want the same breeds up in the barn by his property.l ( I have caught him several times, literally hiding in the trees, on his side of the fence looking at my chickens.. ( be a man, grow a pair and say hello and ask me..., ya know.. ) anyway so I was thinking something on the rare side that not many have that would also give him another boost of pride.... One of Colts main problems is he has NO self confidence he has no sense of accomplishment and I thought getting him a little flock of his own, small enough that he can handle the upkeep but large enough to have that sense of ownership type thing.. they cant be fru fru.. need to be a mans chicken..hahha. any suggestions of a breed that would be good for a teenager to start out on something special..

I also gave thought to ducks maybe fancy ducks or egg laying ducks? can you show a duck? he would really like to show...something....

suggestions very appreciated.
( he lost interest in the BB's I think they were just too small for him- he likes the big heavy birds, Of course I now Adore my little pair of BB bantams.. hahha

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[Joycats]

Quote:
What about marans or orpingtons or Jersey Giants? They are big and bold.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

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What about marans or orpingtons or Jersey Giants? They are big and bold.

How funny, when I saw Pink's question I thought of Jersey Giants and Orpingtons too! Marans are just too difficult right now for show but some nice Jersey Giants -- or with Orpingtons he has a bigger selection of colors!

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
What about marans or orpingtons or Jersey Giants? They are big and bold.

How funny, when I saw Pink's question I thought of Jersey Giants and Orpingtons too! Marans are just too difficult right now for show but some nice Jersey Giants -- or with Orpingtons he has a bigger selection of colors!

You're right, I wasn't thinking about showing. I was just thinking of BIG, FRIENDLY birds. I love the orpingtons and JG's. They are calm and easy going and my blue orps are show stopping beautiful. But those black jersey giant roos are really gorgeous birds too.

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

You don't think Colt would want a Leghorn assortment? I admit I think my whites are the blondes of the chicken world, but by God, they lay about every day AND the eggs are bigger than their heads!

My oldest, the surly teenager, says the Leghorns' floppy combs are "cool". She doesn't like most of my chickens but there is something about these stupid birds that appeals to her.

We just got the Meyer Hatchery catalog this week and they have a Leghorn assortment. Just a sleepy suggestion from one teenager's mother to another!

 

[Joycats]

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I love my leghorns, their eggs are huge and they are small birds that don't eat a lot. But just so you know they lay white eggs, most people seem to want brown eggs.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

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I love my leghorns, their eggs are huge and they are small birds that don't eat a lot. But just so you know they lay white eggs, most people seem to want brown eggs.

I'm tagging on to Joy's message again--Leghorns do not set/brood do they? It might be nice for your boy to be able to set some of his own eggs too, under his own hens? Just a thought and Jersey's or Orp's would both set for him. Just a thought....

Of course I do not have either of those breeds but would like to try some of both in the future--when I have more time and pens.

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
I love my leghorns, their eggs are huge and they are small birds that don't eat a lot. But just so you know they lay white eggs, most people seem to want brown eggs.

I'm tagging on to Joy's message again--Leghorns do not set/brood do they? It might be nice for your boy to be able to set some of his own eggs too, under his own hens? Just a thought and Jersey's or Orp's would both set for him. Just a thought....

Of course I do not have either of those breeds but would like to try some of both in the future--when I have more time and pens.

Leghorns don't go broody and they are flighty. Depending on how you keep them, if you don't let them free range you'll need a covered pen to contain them. They're lightweight and they can fly high. The JG's and Orps are both heavy birds and pretty much stay put behind a 4' fence. The orpingtons are wonderful mothers. I let a buff orp hatch all of my peachicks this summer and she's still trying to cover them at night even though they tower over her now. LOL I haven't had a JG go broody yet, this is my 3rd year with them. I also have salmon favorelle's that I love, love, love. They are very sweet birds and make great pets. They lay a decent sized egg too. Oh - guess what else I have that a boy might like.....La Fleche chickens. They have horns!! Check them out sometime.

 

[Joycats]

Here's a very young La Fleche roo. The comb/horns get bigger as they age and they look pretty cool.

For those of you who were asking, here's a pic of my crele bantam wyandottes.

And this is a crele roo, crele hen, partridge hen and barred hen.

 

[pinkwindsong]

Wow looks like Orphingtons and or Giants are the community top choice 9along with Leghorns . but he flighty next to a jerk neighbor might not go over well if they cross into his yard. - I don't foresee it happening but it could then he would have some rude rotton commit about contain your animals.. ) boy this is a terrible time of year to look for birds for presents isn't it bird wise.. Are there some breeders here in the upstate or would I order from a hatchery? If a hatchery I guess I would have to get him a gift card for spring hatches.
I do agree that having a breed that would a low him to hatch out his own clutches would be a good thing. another aspect to take pride in. and boost his confidence level.. So i think leaning toward the orphingtons.


next thing I need for him is a "shop class" any ideas where I can sign him up for classes on wood working or beginner carpentry..

Colt has ADHD.. not a good academic student, which worries me for his future..( he is smart as a whip. his verbal, hands on and memory skills are off the chart good. but gets extremely frustrated when it comes to school book-work. yes he reads and writes of course but thats not going to be where his future is .. he will be in something hands on, skilled, something to show for what he's done, kind of career. I know hes young but If I could get him interested in building, say coops, for his chickens , where maybe, he made them good enough to sell his excess coops.. he would build more confidence in himself. and a little business for himself with a idea of perhaps carpentry or architectural type career. I know many a man that build houses, barns and buildings for a living and make a decent living at it..


I really do appreciate ya'lls input.. It means a lot to me.. thanks

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