The Front Porch Swing

[BCMaraniac]

I can't find this thread. I would love to read it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/868086/best-chicken-for-the-apocalypse

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: LOL brings out one of those stories for my Vignette....

In a desert Town that has a post office a grocery store a restaurant a historic hotel and about two hundred homes you get to know everyone that pokes his or her head out the door.

One such fellow is Norm. He wears a Cowboy had and a bola tie flannel shirts in the winter and cotton shirts in the summer. His cowboy boots are well worn and his face shows the time hes lived on this earth. He writes poetry and songs and histories about the town. He was born there more than 80 years ago.

I was in the restaurant and spoke to him as he came in and he nodded and smiled. He sat at his usual spot the waitress brought him his coffee. I started chatting with him... I love his stories and when I have drawn him out is when I ask him about the book he wants to write....

After a minute he looked at me and in a booming voice so the whole restaruant could hear..... "I SUPPOSE YOU THINK WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION....' he pointed to his ear... No hearing aid... I had to laugh.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

I have new chicken equipment - $2.00! Now I can catch these little boogers. lol

LOL.... LOVe it. I bought a Bait and landing net at Walmart. I left it where the goats could nibble on it so some of the holes are a bit larger than I would like but it still caught grown chickens When I restring it I am going to use a finer mesh like yours and make it deeper so when the bird goes in the mesh will help keep them from struggling.

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

@Sarah... I better let some more experienced folks tell you about choosing a rooster. I just go by the meatiest looking, best build physically, and do they act like they would be a good provider for the hens which I figure will lead to a good protector too. I have several different breeds of roosters. The Aussie was a great flock leader but he decided he hated me so we got to where we couldn't get along anymore. As far as meaty, calm, pretty - I love my Buckeyes!

 

[sarahsunshine]

@Sarah... I better let some more experienced folks tell you about choosing a rooster. I just go by the meatiest looking, best build physically, and do they act like they would be a good provider for the hens which I figure will lead to a good protector too. I have several different breeds of roosters. The Aussie was a great flock leader but he decided he hated me so we got to where we couldn't get along anymore. As far as meaty, calm, pretty - I love my Buckeyes!

Hmm... will have to read up on buckeyes.. haven't seen any around here.

 

[lovingmyhens]

I don't believe I have ever read a romance novel... but I have looked at the pictures of the men on the covers. ha!

AHhhh Fabio!!!!

 

[enola]

He sure does have purty hair, at least.......

 

[lovingmyhens]

LOL brings out one of those stories for my Vignette....

In a desert Town that has a post office a grocery store a restaurant a historic hotel and about two hundred homes you get to know everyone that pokes his or her head out the door.

One such fellow is Norm. He wears a Cowboy had and a bola tie flannel shirts in the winter and cotton shirts in the summer. His cowboy boots are well worn and his face shows the time hes lived on this earth. He writes poetry and songs and histories about the town. He was born there more than 80 years ago.

I was in the restaurant and spoke to him as he came in and he nodded and smiled. He sat at his usual spot the waitress brought him his coffee. I started chatting with him... I love his stories and when I have drawn him out is when I ask him about the book he wants to write....

After a minute he looked at me and in a booming voice so the whole restaruant could hear..... "I SUPPOSE YOU THINK WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION....' he pointed to his ear... No hearing aid... I had to laugh.

deb

oh my gosh that is hysterical!

 

[perchie.girl]

And now for a more exciting topic....

With all you guys hatching and incubating, I'm just antsy to get some chicks!!!! Can't be soon enough! And then I want them to get big and go broody - so I can have more!!!! And so I can eat some fresh chicken!!!! Oh... please, oh please!!!

I have plans already for 6 marans (ordered), and an equal number (as yet determined) barred rock, Light Sussex, Mistral Gris (meat), Barred Rocks, Production reds, and Ameraucaunas... There is a production hatchery not too far that will fly them for cheap, and I can pick them up. I can't wait!!! And I'm thinking about getting some Cornish crosses later on (a couple months later).

Not sure how many I should order, and that's where you guys come in (yes I'm asking for your 2 cents!)

The plan is to have chickens for meat and eggs, and a couple for fun (Marans). Some of these breeds are layers (Ameraucaunas, Sussex), heritage meat (Sussex, Barred Rocks, Mistral Gris), and then some are combos to play around with egg colour (Olive eggers - Maran - Ameraucauna cross)..

I'm thinking (yes, I know it does happen on occasion!) that I might get 10 of each (56 chickens? I was only planning to start with 20 for a flock!).. but really that math works out right because I'll probably have at least half as roos, right? And half of 56 is about 20, right?

Your Hatchery SHOULD be able to sex those chicks. so specify how many males and females of each you want. Only necessary for the egg layers not the meat birds. If they can then order just the quantities of each that you want. If not then Your logic is good.

So now comes the questions:
1) Should I get them all at the same time?
Yeah and Nah... Yea because brooding them all at the same time would be getting it all done at once.... But Nah because I tried it once almost 50 We are talking dander and shavings and cleanings and mowed over feeders and waterers.... Unless you have a nice big space to brood them up Id just stick to twenty or so at a time.

2) And should I keep them together with the cornish crosses too just so we can see the size comparison (notice I 'accidentally' did not include the cornish crosses in the chicken math?
I think you did.... but Keeping them separate would be what I would want to do just because from what I hear they are eating monsters and may push out your others feed wise...

3) and would I put them all in a brooder together? Or should I keep the Cornish and Mistral (fast growing meaties) together and the others together?
OH I answered that one on question two.... so the solution when running them together is to band them so you can ID the cornish.

Aside:
Oh, and Cornish crosses are not GMO - or how are people defining GMO? In my books, most domesticated species are selected for - selecting for various traits like friendliness, colour, size, broodiness (or non), egg-laying frequency, rate of growth, etc... GMO, in my books refers to those species that have had their genes spliced artificially.. i.e. fish DNA in tomatoes....
You are right... GMO is Genetically Modified Organism..... Chickens are not Genetically Modified. They are slectively bred. Big difference

deb

 

[Ms Jellybean]

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