What to get?

[BrandonM]

I am getting chickens and turkeys very soon. What breed should i get?
Traits i need:
Needs to be able to free range
Fend for themselves
Would like to have a good mother
Cold and heat tolerant
Not noisey

*I am looking into dark cornish and barred rock for chickens and either bourbon red or chocolate for turkeys. What do you guys think?

 

[shaynasbrood]

I am really new to raising chickens, we have 17 hopefully pullets, not sure if there's any cockerels yet, since they're all only about 6 wks now, but we have 3 barred rocks, 3 speckled Sussex, 2 Rhode Island reds, 2 golden sexlinks, 3 black sexlinks, and 4 amerucaunas. But hands down our favorites are the barred rocks, they are soo curious and friendly and always have to jump on my husbands back if he is bending down fixing something. They all have quite the personalities and are all so funny. Since u mentioned about getting some BR's I'd say yes! Beautiful girls this is just my opinion!

 

[five is my dog]

I am getting chickens and turkeys very soon. What breed should i get?
Traits i need:
Needs to be able to free range
Fend for themselves
Would like to have a good mother
Cold and heat tolerant
Not noisey

*I am looking into dark cornish and barred rock for chickens and either bourbon red or chocolate for turkeys. What do you guys think?

i love my colombian rock chickens. they lay every day and are beautiful! cochins and silkies are the #1 mommys! if you want them to fend for themselves you are going to need a "manly" rooster. prefferably one with talons( if they have talons they are dangerous but better at protecting hens). you just have to be careful and carry a big stick. but if you don't want one with talons then they dont have a great chance of surviving an attack. i have a barred rock, leghorn, Rhode island red rooster with talons he is very good at protecting his hens.

I am not expierienced with turkeys but i have heard that midget whites are pretty good but i'm not sure. Good luck!!!

 

[chfite]

Where are you located?

Chris

 

[BrandonM]

I am located in Pennsylvania.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Game hens would fit the bill for chickens. They forage well, are predator savvy, lay well, are good mommas and tolerate heat and cold.

I had an excellent experience with my black Spanish turkeys, I didn't particularly care for my Bourbon reds though. My BS hens were great rangers. The hens were EXCELLENT mothers. I used those big girls to hatch gobs of chicken, turkey and goose eggs. The extra toms made us yummy turkey dinners. Good luck deciding!