- Apr 27, 2014
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Well, I have been trying for years to gradually get my family and kids into learning about growing our own food and I have always wanted to have chickens for eggs.
I have finally confirmed I am allowed chickens in my housing association with some guidelines. No roosters (which is fine by me), and a small number to not bother our neighbors. This should not be a problem as we have many acres to deal with.
I have some questions I am hoping some more experienced keepers could help me with.
My possible area: It is fenced in for my dogs (english mastiffs, who should love the chickens.) However, in this area, I would block off some for the chickens since we are part of thousands of acres of woodland and have lots of fox, raccoons, and the occasional coyote. I would also put a house for them for evening time.
Now I live in near Cincinnati Ohio and it can get really hot and really cold. So I need birds with tolerances. My yard has tons of shade, so the heat should not be too much of an issue.
The hens should be a good layers most the year. Any extra eggs will go to neighbors who may help wit the chickens.
The hens will also need a good friendly personality since we have tons of kids around and they will all want to help feed and play at times with them. Helping neighbor kids understand what they do is part of the teaching and respecting of all animals.
I would like the hens to be able to forage for food in the yard. We have lots of land and great bugs and berries and such to eat, so the more they forage the better for them.
I would like them to not be very flight able. So the smaller birds may be good.
Most important for me is foraging, egg laying and friendly.
I have looked into a few breeds that may fit the bill and found the speckled sussex, silkies (even though they are known to brood), australorps, orpintons, cochin.
Any recommendations? This will be our first experience and my my kids are really excited (two 7yrs olds and an 11yr old). My husband is not keen on the idea, so what can I do to convince him?
I hope to get only 3 or 4 for now.
Thanks.
I have finally confirmed I am allowed chickens in my housing association with some guidelines. No roosters (which is fine by me), and a small number to not bother our neighbors. This should not be a problem as we have many acres to deal with.
I have some questions I am hoping some more experienced keepers could help me with.
My possible area: It is fenced in for my dogs (english mastiffs, who should love the chickens.) However, in this area, I would block off some for the chickens since we are part of thousands of acres of woodland and have lots of fox, raccoons, and the occasional coyote. I would also put a house for them for evening time.
Now I live in near Cincinnati Ohio and it can get really hot and really cold. So I need birds with tolerances. My yard has tons of shade, so the heat should not be too much of an issue.
The hens should be a good layers most the year. Any extra eggs will go to neighbors who may help wit the chickens.
The hens will also need a good friendly personality since we have tons of kids around and they will all want to help feed and play at times with them. Helping neighbor kids understand what they do is part of the teaching and respecting of all animals.
I would like the hens to be able to forage for food in the yard. We have lots of land and great bugs and berries and such to eat, so the more they forage the better for them.
I would like them to not be very flight able. So the smaller birds may be good.
Most important for me is foraging, egg laying and friendly.
I have looked into a few breeds that may fit the bill and found the speckled sussex, silkies (even though they are known to brood), australorps, orpintons, cochin.
Any recommendations? This will be our first experience and my my kids are really excited (two 7yrs olds and an 11yr old). My husband is not keen on the idea, so what can I do to convince him?
I hope to get only 3 or 4 for now.
Thanks.
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you have a beautiful set up that chickens should love. TwoCrows gave you some great links to check out. Besides the already mentioned Australorps, Orpingtons, Buckeye and Sussex, a couple others you may want to look at are Delaware and Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. Silkies and Cochins make great pets, but they are both really broody and egg production is pretty low, the Silkies also often need special care because of their feathers. When you have narrowed down your choices, check out the Breeds section for BYC member reviews on the different breeds.
