Your opinion Best Backyard chicken breeds? free range, friendly, docile, good egg layers and color

[Trish of the Coop]

Speaking only on what I have - I have 3 lovely girls and all are very different. Houdini- Ameraucana- she is inquisitive, active, good with the others, occasionally mouthy, doesn't mind people but is happier just to do her own thing.
Nugget -Easter Egger- quiet, docile, low energy (not unhealthy, just calm), eats like a horse.
Gidgette- black sex link- the only way I can describe her is *puppy-like* curious, very talkative, always under foot, comical.

I dont know that these are standard for thier breeds but that is how mine behave. Best of luck to you.

 

[Birdielee]

Yup, we have lyme here. I didn't realize it started in america! It's very prevalent in other countries in europe such as poland, germany and switzerland. The UK doctors like to pretend it doesn't exist here

Yeah, there's pretty bad denial here, too. It started in Lyme, Connecticut. On the Atlantic coast, northeast of new york city

 

[Birdielee]

Thanks for telling me how to put my location

 

[connieconnie]

Diagnosing Lyme disease has been a challenge here too! We have plenty of ticks, several kinds, and difficulties getting tested.
Then, at least here in Michigan, the ONLY test run for tick borne diseases in people is for Lyme disease, unlike what we are doing for dogs, where at least three of the common tick borne diseases are tested for, along with their heartworm testing.
We don't look for logic here...
Mary

It's the same here! They believe dog's get lyme and other tick borne diseases and treat them immediately, but don't believe people can get it ... even though the dogs can Exactly, their missing the logic You would think doctors, as scientists would be interested in the improvement of their testing and the diagnosis of disease! The UK testing is really behind, they are doing very old fashioned and not very reliable testing, without looking to improve it. Germany have more advanced testing, but I think they do have some good places in the US that test as well.

Interestingly, I think covid-19 has raised a lot of issues with testing reliability. Hopefully they'll improve all testing after it

Thank you Mary, I'm glad someone agrees with me!

 

[connieconnie]

Awe. I have a retriever who thinks he's a herd dog. And right now mine are still babies so I still bring them outside into a small pen and bring them back in my house at night. My little little ones haven't been out yet bc here in NC it hasn't been getting warm enough to where I'm comfortable letting them out yet. But here in a couple days were going up to the 80s and 85 so they will definitely be out in the pen and I'll let my bigger babies range for a little bit.

Cute! We have a bird dog breed and a herd dog breed so that's going to be interesting!

I'll try and do what you're doing when the weather is good as I think the chicks will get bored in their brooder and they're getting more adventurous and curious, I think they would like to scratch and explore outside more! They are only a week and a half, so been putting a hot water bottle out with them if they want to warm up

 

[connieconnie]

Yeah, there's pretty bad denial here, too. It started in Lyme, Connecticut. On the Atlantic coast, northeast of new york city

I've learnt something new! How the hell did the ticks spread so far! It's also kind of shocking that they have denial where it originated!

 

[connieconnie]

Speaking only on what I have - I have 3 lovely girls and all are very different. Houdini- Ameraucana- she is inquisitive, active, good with the others, occasionally mouthy, doesn't mind people but is happier just to do her own thing.
Nugget -Easter Egger- quiet, docile, low energy (not unhealthy, just calm), eats like a horse.
Gidgette- black sex link- the only way I can describe her is *puppy-like* curious, very talkative, always under foot, comical.

I dont know that these are standard for thier breeds but that is how mine behave. Best of luck to you.

What a cute flock they sound the sweetest! I hope mine will be as sweet, entertaining and docile as yours!

 

[Folly's place]

Lyme disease was first DIAGNOSED in the Lyme, Conn. area. I don't know how widespread it actually was. And ticks, with their several diseases, do travel, north because it's warmer, and everywhere because we travel, and so do our animals.
Here in the USA, hurricane Katrina caused rescue groups to transport MANY dogs to new homes all over the country, including their heartworm disease and tick diseases. Good for those individual dogs, not so good from a disease standpoint. We still see this today, with pets shipped from southern states north, especially. They may be tested for heartworm, but usually not for those tick diseases.
Mary

 

[Trish of the Coop]

What a cute flock they sound the sweetest! I hope mine will be as sweet, entertaining and docile as yours!

The biggest thing I have noticed is they are alot like any other animal... the more time you put into them, the more rewarding they will be. If you are gentle and friendly with them that's how they turn out. I'm sure the flock you end up with will be the same.

 

[connieconnie]

Lyme disease was first DIAGNOSED in the Lyme, Conn. area. I don't know how widespread it actually was. And ticks, with their several diseases, do travel, north because it's warmer, and everywhere because we travel, and so do our animals.
Here in the USA, hurricane Katrina caused rescue groups to transport MANY dogs to new homes all over the country, including their heartworm disease and tick diseases. Good for those individual dogs, not so good from a disease standpoint. We still see this today, with pets shipped from southern states north, especially. They may be tested for heartworm, but usually not for those tick diseases.
Mary

Wow, so dogs might have been the spreaders! I have several dogs, but actually caught it when doing a wild meadow study at uni. I think mice might be a major carrier of disease as well how did you come to know so much about it? Did you or someone you know get it?