We originally ordered another breed but hatchery ( Meyer in Ohio ) called to say they didn't hatch out and
gave us choice of several other breeds and we picked Barred Rocks - so glad we did!
We have a flock of 27 birds that we've raised since day olds ( three roosters and 24 pullets ). We keep them
exclusively indoors in a large very well ventilated coop with large windows and we feed them lots of organic
greens, fruit, herbs, wildflowers, vegetables and grasses that we grow here on the farm in addition to their
Purina Premium Layer Pellets, Purina Flock Block and Purina Scratch we also supplement with Oyster Shell
for extra calcium and since they don't have access to the outdoors we also give grit.
We only keep them for eggs but this breed is also known as a good meat bird as well. I am always amazed
when I read on here about other BR owners having such 'touchy feely' relationships with their BRs because,
it has been our experience ( not too vast as these are the first chickens we've ever raised from day old and
the only breed we've had any experience with at all ) that they are intelligent, curious, friendly - but not to
the point of being touched or held - and not aggressive - even the roosters. We've never 'played' with ours
or tried to 'peoplize' them so maybe that's the reason they are not 'cuddly' with us but that's not what we
were going for.
We've never had a problem with them 'biting' as the previous poster has but they do sometimes peck at us
when we change the water or put in the feed but less now that they are older than previously.
We had heard that BRs were good layers but these have far surpassed our expectations. We began getting
our first eggs - small ones at first - right at 20 weeks. Once they started they have been proverbial egg machines
with us getting 20-24 eggs DAILY from the 24 pullets. Our eggs are a very pretty soft brown - almost pinkish tan
color and some even have little darker speckles in them - very pretty and large.
We sell our eggs directly from the farm for $4 dozen and $5 for 18 and sell hatching eggs as well $6 for 18.
I grew up in Louisville so I know how 'brutally' hot and humid Kentucky can be in the summer. North GA is getting
hotter every year and it stayed in the upper 90's for much of the mid to late summer here and we didn't lose
one chicken from the heat. We are not as concerned about winter and cold as BRs are known for doing very
well in cold weather.
I have a terrible time trying to post photos here but if you would like to see what our chickens look like you can
visit our pages on the Real Time Farms website where we are listed as Mountain View Farms in Ellijay GA and I've
posted more photos than anyone would ever be interested in seeing of our BR chickens at various stages of their
life and development since we got them March 15th.
www.realtimefarms.com/user/mountain-view-farms
If you did choose BRs I doubt if you will be disappointed in them - they are a wonderful breed and are a 'Heritage'
Breed too which we like and so do our egg customers.
