Why do you have the breeds you do?

[Bug n Flock]

On cold snowy days he loved playing in the snow and then coming in and falling asleep on the electric blanket. <3 he also did not understand fans, and would try to swim in the moving air. Too cute

 

[Peppercorngal]

I had/have a egg sales business and my entire flock was destroyed by bears in Nov. 2017. (actually everyone in this vicinity lost their chickens to the bears that fall) In January 2018 I ordered a variety of chickens primarily for egg laying and secondly a few for "pretty". Out of my 28 hens about 10 have names. Now, I have decided that I want to have variety in the egg colors and added leghorns for white eggs, and bought some olive egger fertile eggs that are under my broody hen Maggie right now. I have lots of brown eggs of various colors from pink to very dark and 3 easter eggers for the blue. My husband is getting "concerned" that we have too many chickens. He doesn't understand Chicken Math!!

 

[Auntyjack]

I have Silkie Bantams because my little grandchild's landlord made her get rid of them. However, they have been prolific layers and are so friendly. I love to watch them sitting on children's laps. They have a sense of humour and are able to communicate with me quite effectively. I can always figure out what is wrong from their behaviour and special clucks. They are the cutest animals, with their fluffy tutus and funky hairdos. My chickens are old now and no longer lay but they have given such good service that I am happy to keep them in a comfortable retirement because they have won my heart. So Laynette, Layanne and Laydine, have a wonderful end to your lives and keep on munching pests and fertilising garden beds.

 

[Bookmole353]

DH and I just wanted a couple of hens as pets who lay breakfast. I underestimated how quickly and deeply I’d get attached. I have this thing where when I love something I get a bit obsessed. So I read all about breeds, eggs, food, healthcare, coops, and more. That’s how I found BYC. I started with a FBCM, 3 silkies, and a lavender Ameraucana. Fast forward and we have 10 hens, 2 Roos, and 6 ducks. Since they were always going to be pets I chose based on appearance, egg color, and history. So, why did you choose who you have?

I started with a variety! Mine was supposed to be just a “few” chickens too. 40 hens and 1 rooster later and one year. I am increasing my flock. At this time I have about 40-50 new babies with more coming. So beware, as my daughter-in-law says they are just like potato chips you can’t have just one!

 

[Bookmole353]

I just got my first Delaware chicks, I love them they’re so gregarious, I have them in an introductory pen with 17 others, there are 4 Delaware chicks. I will step in the coop where they are and all 4 will come running and get on my feet looking up at me. Sooo funny.

 

[Bookmole353]

I had/have a egg sales business and my entire flock was destroyed by bears in Nov. 2017. (actually everyone in this vicinity lost their chickens to the bears that fall) In January 2018 I ordered a variety of chickens primarily for egg laying and secondly a few for "pretty". Out of my 28 hens about 10 have names. Now, I have decided that I want to have variety in the egg colors and added leghorns for white eggs, and bought some olive egger fertile eggs that are under my broody hen Maggie right now. I have lots of brown eggs of various colors from pink to very dark and 3 easter eggers for the blue. My husband is getting "concerned" that we have too many chickens. He doesn't understand Chicken Math!!

I know what you mean they are a blast, I love mine. Just wish I had more room for letting them free range in a controlled area. All I can do is have a very large run. Mine get organic barley ( I get it free) and egg layer pellets.

 

[imnukensc]

I've got Barred Rocks: Friendly, great free rangers, excellent layers of large to xlarge eggs, and rarely, if ever, go broody.

 

[jsr5]

Well it started with Wife and I deciding we'd like to have several Egg layers. And for meat as well so we got Dual purpose chickens with egg laying being primary so RIR and BR. started with I think about 18 of em then next season chick days in the fall we ended up with about a dozen more. She acquired a few americana's and then her sister gave her a few too. I was really starting to enjoy the girls and liking their personality. So was with wife at the Farm Store and they had more chicks in. I got to messing around with em and noticed the little fuzzy toed ones. Immediatly thinking of Hobits. Well I had to have some and got like 6 a couple of them didn't make it and when the wife went to the store next She got me some replacements and more 6 more still had some losses but in the end I had 9 I of course was completely smitten with the little hobbitses. We had some predator issues the next summer. The hobbitses were safe but the free rangers were suffering. so we decided to hatch a dozen of our own eggs that went very well with out cheap incubator so we hatched a few more. That got me intrested so I started clollecting my little eggs. at 2 or three a day plus a momma egg
Oh did I mention the cripple legged mutt hen that as a juvenile was kept in with the Bantams since she was not going to do well with the big flock she was such a good mamma to the bantams we just kept her with them so I was collecting her full sized eggs fertilized by one of the 4 remaining bantam roo's One a black cochin roo was kicked out of the bantam coop for being a turd and was gotten by predators when we had our issues. so anyway I hatched 20 somthing of those eggs out of like 30 I put in the incubator I was putting them in a few every other day so I had a long staggered hatch. Probably won't do that anymore. But I have a whole buch of cute little mutt bantam and half bantams. So that how I ended up with what I ended up with. Also in the near future I"ll be going to Cackle Hatchery to pick up 25 more chicks. black cochin bantams, blue cochin bantams Pocelain d'uccle and mille fleur D'uccle and black silkies. I got silkies because I have 2 silkie roos from the first bantams. and they are just too cool to not have some hens and they are supposed to be good brooders. duccles and cochins because I have for hens two of each already and I just love love love the personallities. Cochin as such cuddle bugs and duccles are somtimes cuddle but so cute and quirky and such great comunicators. OK another rambling post from me but I love talking about our chickies. can't imagine not having our birds now. Can't wait for my banty babies to start laying I"ll have a ton of bantiy eggs.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I just got my first Delaware chicks, I love them they’re so gregarious, I have them in an introductory pen with 17 others, there are 4 Delaware chicks. I will step in the coop where they are and all 4 will come running and get on my feet looking up at me. Sooo funny.

I bought some Delaware hens from someone who moved. They had no food, no coop, and they were very wild! Now that they are fed and have a nice coop and lots of new friends they are great! They lay pretty almost pink eggs for me! I haven't found a breed of chicken that I don't like yet! Sneaker my curious and sneaky Delaware is my avatar!

 

[CuriousQueen]

I chose Barred Holland’s. I am looking forward to working with a breed genetically to try to bring back the breed’s qualities they should have. Suzanne (Coyle?) has been working with the breed for about 7 years and she has helped many of us get our stock. Recently talks of a Breed club have formed, so many are looking forward to working on that.
Issues she thinks we need to breed for are of course temperament (always), size and 6 point combs.
We are all excited to be joining her on her endeavors with this breed.