TOTAL NEWBIE QUESTION: What's the best 'starter' flock for a small woodland homestead?

[bs1234567]

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[crazychickenwom]

I have no idea about ducks or guinea but I would raise whatever you decide to get together, seems to only make sense.

For the chickens go for the buckeyes! They are a wonderful heritage breed, good for egg laying and meat, dark colored so easily hidden from overhead predators, and they are very cold hardy. I love mine, and while I am here in Ohio I am confident that they will do well in my semi - open air coop this winter.


Have fun deciding, I couldn't make up my mind at first so I got a little of a whole lot of breeds. That is an idea for you as well, go for broke, get a few of whatever appeals to you and see what happens.

 

[bs1234567]

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[Cheeky Chick]

Plymouth Barred Rocks are also a very hardy breed, excellent layers, and VERY friendly. Mine can't seem to stay off of me, and follow me around like puppies.

Orpingtons are another VERY friendly chicken, they're BIG, and soft, and great layers as well. I have one that will sit in my lap for an hour, nudge me if I stop stroking her, and doesn't flinch when my kids big her up and carry her around.

Good luck!

 

[bs1234567]

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[Mrs. K]

I would suggest, no roosters with a child that young. Roosters can be dangerous with toddlers. Even experienced chicken raisers have had occasional trouble with roosters, and with a small child it is eye level trouble.

I would also try a couple of each of the above mentioned breeds, having a composite flock, it makes id each bird easier, counting heads at night easier, and you get to see just which kind of chickens that you like. If there are only the three of you, you could easily get by with 4-5 hens, and have more than enough eggs.

Red Stars, are a hybrid, but they have always been robust, hardy chickens that lay eggs dependably, but not so good to eat.

Get a variety, get what you can, but just get some and get started figuring it out. You may not do it perfectly at first, but don't let it keep you from giving it a try.

MrsK

 

[texas75563]

Only been around since the 1970's the Bielefelder. I like everything I have read about them.

The Bielefelder is a new breed of German origin. It was created in the early 1970s, and a bantam variety appeared in 1983. They were seeking to develop a large, quiet, cold-resistant bird that was a good egg producer. This is an auto-sexing breed. They breed true, but chicks are sexable by color at one day of age. Among the breeds used to develop the Bielefelder were the New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red and Welsummer. The birds are recognised only in the Legbar color.

 

[RiddleMe]

I second the no roosters, I have a 2yo toddler and just had to cull my accidental rooster. I also couldn't decide on a breed when I started so currently have a "one of each" flock and really like it. Plus, it makes it really easy for my toddler to tell them apart. They are all pretty friendly, the friendliest one by far is my true ameraucana, she actually lets my toddler pick her up, with my black sexlink and barred rock running a close second. My buff orpington is also very docile, I wouldn't call her so much friendly as non argumentative.

 

[4CrazyEggs]

I have a small flock of 7. 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Plymouth Barred Rocks, 1 Buff Orp, and 1 EE. All good egg producers and live in CO. They have been great to watch and I am so glad that we mixed up the breeds. I have 4 kids from 10yrs-3yrs and they LOVE them. The Barred Rocks are DPs however I don't think we would eat or feed them to the kids. I am a hunter and butcher my own meat and am embarrassed to say that you grow attached. I am going to get some meat birds to satisfy that part. Plus they grow so much faster. We love to let them out in the afternoons/evenings and just watch them run and play and get those bugs! We now have a chicken scrap box next to our compost box. I say mix up the breeds for sure and get them the same age(young) whatever you decide. I wish we would have done this much sooner! Good stuff for the kids! Oh I did have a pullet peck my 3yr old in the eye(lid) when he was giving them a treat. This was not out of aggression just checking him out. No injury just a red mark but I am now more careful with him around them. Have fun!

 

[bs1234567]

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