Chicken disposition etc.

[Ponyman]

I have just started the ball rolling in the figuring out what breed of chicken I would like to have along with learning as much as I can and with luck next spring I can actually start my Chicken raising adventure.

What I am looking for is a breed of chicken that is pretty laid back, isn't too aggressive and will actually tolerate handling if handled within reason at the beginning.

So far I am leaning towards the Buff Orpington but I would also like to hear others opinions on breeds you have raised. So folks what do you think of your Black Giants, Rhode Island Reds, Brown leghorns, Andalusians etc?

Also I am just curious as to how long the various breeds live and be productive. I basically am raising for eggs but may also include some for meat as well.

I am also thinking of getting some guinea's that will free range and hopefully help control the bug population. I know nothing about guinea's so any raising and keeping them alive information is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your time!

Ponyman

[jim]

We always had mixed breed Leghorns/Dominecker/Game chickens. Good chickens that would scrap when needed.

jim

[Ponyman]

D~

How did you like McMurrays? I am leaning towards them at the moment as far as a hatchery. I did like those Silver Laced Wyandottes as well as a few others.

Ok Now what are your opinions on chicken coops? I am really considering a cement floor and have even contemplating making the entire coop out of cement and cement block for sanitary reasons and bug reasons... are there any bad reasons for doing this?

OK One last question... I would like to do this as organically as possible so are there any organic feeds you have tried and when you first started what were some of the mistakes you made?

Here is my plan set in jello at the moment... building a chicken coop/garden similar to the John S story of a few years back. I am planning on it being also fenced in from the top to keep away predators (I have a nesting pair of hawks 100 yards away). I plan on not having any roosters in with the hens and making a separate chicken area for any rooster chicks I do get... then judge them on temperament and sadly harvest the most aggressive and keep one or 2 of the nice roosters so that if I do want to hatch chicks I can.

I imagine there isn't too much of an issue if I get different breeds of chickens... hens don't care right? Depending on aggressive tendencies in the first place right? What about putting the roosters together... will they spend all their time fighting if they have enough space? I just don't want to have to make more then one chicken coop!

Thanks... I am sure I will be asking all sorts of questions in the future!

Ponyman

[Ponyman]

Hi D~

Right now I am leaning towards having concrete for the floor and setting in wood posts and building the rest out of wood. I have a buddy who is a metal fabricator guru and I am thinking of semi designing nesting boxes that can be mounted on the wall and then unlatched so they can be tipped upside down so cleaning out the bedding isn't such a chore. He is a wiz and could whip up one in no time I am sure. That way you could hopefully just sweep to the back door and compost pile and hose things down if you want!

That is a good idea about adding a different breed every year so you know the age... so does egg production really slow down? Does it level off? So what is the real life span of an average chicken if left to die of old age? I know with cows in a dairy situation after they peak and start declining they are usually culled but could give many more years of pretty good milk production... so I have always thought that was a sad situation.

I had also not thought of having a tree or 2 inside the pen. It provides shade and protection and food... so what types of trees would you suggest? I have plenty of pine types and can easily get many fruits... would any be better say cherry rather then apple? Also if fruits are good could you also have say a raspberry bush in there as well?

Also has anybody ever tried using one of those automatic game feeders as a feeder for say scratch grains? I was thinking it could be used when you would go away for the weekend and you would know your chickens are being fed. Any problems with this?

Ok last bunch for now... what are a chickens biggest probelms as far as pests are... mites, fleas? What organically first can I use to control this, does it work well or do I just skip organic stuff for the comfort of the birds?

Ok I am sure I will keep asking questions... Thanks for your time!

Ponyman

[machinemaker]

My wife has ordered chicks from McMurry every year and we have had very good results. They usually send more chicks than we have ordered. I'd get one of their catalogs and find a breed that fits your environment.

[AlchemyAcres]

I have just started the ball rolling in the figuring out what breed of chicken I would like to have along with learning as much as I can and with luck next spring I can actually start my Chicken raising adventure.

What I am looking for is a breed of chicken that is pretty laid back, isn't too aggressive and will actually tolerate handling if handled within reason at the beginning.

So far I am leaning towards the Buff Orpington but I would also like to hear others opinions on breeds you have raised. *So folks what do you think of your Black Giants, Rhode Island Reds, Brown leghorns, Andalusians etc?

Also I am just curious as to how long the various breeds live and be productive. *I basically am raising for eggs but may also include some for meat as well.

I am also thinking of getting some guinea's that will free range and hopefully help control the bug population. *I know nothing about guinea's so any raising and keeping them alive information is greatly appreciated! *

Thanks for your time!

Ponyman


Assuming you're talkin' about a flock for personal use....eggs and meat...I'd highly recommend Salmon Faverolles...they're extremely docile....Buff Orpintons would be a close second...
I'd rotate out hens no later than 2 years old....


~Martin :)

[Ponyman]

Thanks for all the great info... I plan on rotating differen't breeds every year so I know who is what age... I think I am gonna start with the Buffs and then get a couple different breeds in following years. Depending on how good it goes I may construct 3 or 4 different chicken areas so I could maintain different flocks or different ages of the same breed if I really likes them. I like the plum tree idea so may plant some wild plums, raspberries and a pine tree or 2.

I am sure I will have questions in the future but thanks so much for all the good info. You have given me a lot of good ideas!

Ponyman

[AlchemyAcres]

I like the plum tree idea so may plant some wild plums, *raspberries and a pine tree or 2.

Siberian Pea shrub (high protein), sea buckthorn and mulberry are just a few of the other perennials that make excellent chicken feed.


~Martin :)

[Ponyman]

Over the weekend I had thought of Mulberry because it is so prolific and was wondering if it would put a purple tinge on the eggs! I hadn't ever heard of the Siberian Pea shrub. Where can you order that and sea buckthorn? And would it grow in Northern Wisconsin?

Ponyman

[AlchemyAcres]

All are quite hardy,especially the Siberian pea shrub....

http://www.sln.potsdam.ny.us/

~Martin :)