Tell me the truth

[speckledhen]

I have had several Wyandotte hens. I can tell you that my Barred Rocks and Orpingtons are far worse for poop stuck in the butt-fluff than the Wyandottes. In fact I rarely ever had to intervene with them. They are excellent layers, at least the three of mine were/are. I had three SLWs and two have passed on, but I have Violet still and three more youngsters coming along, two SLWs and one GLW. They have these sweet little girl voices unlike my other girls. I always called poor departed Lacy my "Yes-Girl". She would go around saying, "uh-hUH" all the time. I miss her and Lorelei. Anyway, I loved my Wyandotte sisters.

EDITED TO ADD: forgot to say that my girls were probably only 7 lbs. They were hatchery stock, not breeder stock.

 

[ChickenToes]

Australorps, Easter Eggers, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, all these do well in the winter.

 

[blue90292]

try to get a bird with a rose comb or pea comb instead of a straight comb. straight comb tend to get frostbite during winter.

 

[arlee453]

Got 2 silver and 2 gold wyandottes from Meyer. They are about a year old now. I really like them. They aren't quite as friendly as my dominques, but they aren't very flightly or spazmo chickens either.

They are pretty big girls, but I've never, not ONCE had any problem with poop sticking to their bottoms. Don't know where that comes from...

I like them. They lay pretty regularly, nice sized, pretty brown eggs.

 

[AllChookUp]

I have both Gold-Laced Wyandottes and Orpingtons. I love 'em both.

I just think the Wyandottes are prettier.

 

[pdpatch]

We got an assortment of broilers this year, and will never do it again.

Sex links are usually a hardy bird, the lay brown to tan large eggs and lay a lot. As meat birds they are not that great. Our came in at 2 to 2.5 lbs most were closer to 2 lbs. The also had a really bad disposition and drew blood from the others. Finally we had to separate them. Just about every one in the family got pecked by them to the point of blood being drawn.

Our Wyandottes that were meat birds this year were around 3 to 3.5 lbs dressed at 15 to 16 weeks. The seemed to be in the middle of the pecking order and did not have to bad a disposition. That is except for one, It seemed good at staring thing then running off and hiding once it got going.

RIR males Have a repitation for being agressive and they are. But If we kept roosters around it would be a RIR since they seem to take care of the hens the best.

We had three turkens the senior bird kept every else in line while they were house with the big group. He wasn't mean he just did not let the other fight to much before he stepped in. The turkens were also the easiest to butcher.

The Buff Orphingtons weren't to bad, But we did have a year old Rooster until this year. He was not to bad until you did something or moved wrong and set him off. The he would try to spure you.

As far as crowing it all depends on the birds, Generally which ever is the senior will crow the most.

 

[Duchesse]

It seems that the common denominators for most experienced "chickeners" are Australorps, Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Dominiques and Wyandottes.

All can be dual purpose, broody, withstand the cold and have a reputation for being good natured.

Based on what I've hear none of birds really get as big as the catalogs say.

It seems that on average I'm going to get a 3lb bird from the standard breeds at 15-16 weeks.

Those 9 -10lb birds

that the catalogs brag about and tout are the "ideal", but the "real" life product will be about about 3 lbs.

I need 3-4 lb birds at their maximum weight.

It seems I can order a breeding trio of standard sized chicks for my meat breeding/egg needs and a few bantams just to oooh and aaaah at.

Thanks everyone.

 

[fullhouse]

I like Delawares. The roos get big, fast. The girls are smaller and sweet. I got mine from a breeder. I gather hatchery Delawares are hit and miss.

 

[Chicabee19]

So glad to know I am not the only one with a few trepidations!

I looked at a bunch of chicken photo shoots and picked out the ones I felt warmly toward:

1) "Star" sex-link (reddish-gold in color)

2) White "Delaware" (looks like the typical run-of-the-mill chicken)

Both appear to be good layers and winter-hardy per their stats.

peace