I feel as though today actually felt like spring had arrived. We still have big patches of snow but it is melting quickly. We walked around today and mapped out some new runs. We have to finish the LF Cochin run first - hopefully by end of the week. My splash roo - "Robin" - is doing his business with his black pullet "Cher" even though she has not started laying yet. We have a few more young ones to add - 2 are Mottled and Frizzled - very excited about that.
We are also modifying the existing hen house by splitting it and giving the Heritage Delawares one side and a very large run to themselves. They have been wintering in the barn and eager to get out.
We are also building a run for the new additions - Cream Legbars - really excited about them as well! Will be a just a breeding quad. I just love the egg color!
The Silkies are moving out of the cottage to the barn with new inside pens and outside runs.
The cottage will be modified into the Bunny Barn and we can expand our NZ Cali breeding program and get started on Jersey Woolys and Dwarf Hotots. I have both here ready to go but winter was just too cold for little babies!
I have added Wheaten Americaunas and a couple Marans to the laying flock for a colorful eggs basket.
Looking forward to building some raised beds - that area is still fully blanketed in snow though.
We are a micro farm! A great way to live a farm life on a small amount of land. Striving for a self sufficient homesteading lifestyle seasoned with a heavy dose of convenience. We are rearing 3 rambunctious boys and raising rabbits and Pekin ducks. We are kept entertained by our rescued Olde English Bulldogges - Blaze and Raven. We hope you will be amused and enlightened as well as we traverse everyday life and micro-farming.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Best Chicks to Start With
What are the best chicks to start with? I am asked this question a lot. The answer is: why do you want chicks? I know - answer a question with a question. However, it is necessary to answer a few questions before the best chick - for you - can be chosen. So here are a list of questions and options.
Is the priority egg production? If so, there are many prolific egg layer breeds out there. White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, White and Barred Rocks for example. There are also hybrids that are bred for an egg a day production. I am personally an advocate of purebreds and even better Heritage breeds.
Looking for a beautiful egg basket? There are several breeds of chickens that lay gorgeous colored eggs. Americaunas lay a pastel blue egg, OliveEggers (this is a cross bred bird specifically for getting these colored eggs) provide a darl olive green egg, Cream Legbars lay an almost robins blue colored egg, EasterEggers (another cross bred) will give pastel pink, blue and green eggs. Marans come in different color varieties and all give a dark brown almost chocolate shade egg. Marans come in Black Copper, Birchen, Blue and Buff just to name a few. If you want white eggs you can look at the White Leghorn and LF Polish.
Do you want both eggs and possibly provide healthy chicken for your family freezer? This is where Heritage dual purpose breeds comes into play. I personally like Heritage Delawares - we raise them. They are fast growing and great egg layers and wonderful meat birds. Another option is the all purpose and cold hardy Buckeye. My good friend over at Wee Acre Farm raises them. Both these breeds are on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy list as threatened. I like the feeling of making a difference in farming's history by helping conserve these breeds.
Do you want eggs and eye candy? Maybe you don't need an "egg a day" but still appreciate fresh farm eggs and would like something really pretty and/or fun. Large Fowl Cochins and Crested Polish are a couple very fun options. You can also get them "frizzled" which means the feathers all curl creating quite the site.
Do you like a smaller size chicken? Then the world of Bantams is at your fingertips. There are so many Bantam breeds. We raise Silkies here and love them for many reasons. The egg is small but very usable. They are the "poodle" of the chicken world. They are very sweet in temperament and still hardy for winter coldness. Bantam Cochins are another bantams that many love. They are a ball of feathers all the way down to their toes. They come in many fabulous colors. If you are wanting even smaller then the d'Uccles are a one way to go as well as Olde English Game. There are so many bantam options.
Is climate of concern? Up north freezing temperatures are of great concern as well as the heat waves of the south. Keep this is mind when choosing a breed. Large combs for example are more likely to get frostbite in winter than a rose comb for example.
This is just to get you started. There are multitudes of breeds of chickens to choose from and depending on who you are talking to - everyone has their own personal favorites for good reasons. Research carefully each breed you are interested in and then find a local breeder to talk to and ultimately purchase from. Try to obtain chicks from a farm that is focused on quality over quantity to insure good health and the traits you are wanting from that particular breed.
Is the priority egg production? If so, there are many prolific egg layer breeds out there. White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, White and Barred Rocks for example. There are also hybrids that are bred for an egg a day production. I am personally an advocate of purebreds and even better Heritage breeds.
Looking for a beautiful egg basket? There are several breeds of chickens that lay gorgeous colored eggs. Americaunas lay a pastel blue egg, OliveEggers (this is a cross bred bird specifically for getting these colored eggs) provide a darl olive green egg, Cream Legbars lay an almost robins blue colored egg, EasterEggers (another cross bred) will give pastel pink, blue and green eggs. Marans come in different color varieties and all give a dark brown almost chocolate shade egg. Marans come in Black Copper, Birchen, Blue and Buff just to name a few. If you want white eggs you can look at the White Leghorn and LF Polish.
Do you want both eggs and possibly provide healthy chicken for your family freezer? This is where Heritage dual purpose breeds comes into play. I personally like Heritage Delawares - we raise them. They are fast growing and great egg layers and wonderful meat birds. Another option is the all purpose and cold hardy Buckeye. My good friend over at Wee Acre Farm raises them. Both these breeds are on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy list as threatened. I like the feeling of making a difference in farming's history by helping conserve these breeds.
Do you want eggs and eye candy? Maybe you don't need an "egg a day" but still appreciate fresh farm eggs and would like something really pretty and/or fun. Large Fowl Cochins and Crested Polish are a couple very fun options. You can also get them "frizzled" which means the feathers all curl creating quite the site.
Do you like a smaller size chicken? Then the world of Bantams is at your fingertips. There are so many Bantam breeds. We raise Silkies here and love them for many reasons. The egg is small but very usable. They are the "poodle" of the chicken world. They are very sweet in temperament and still hardy for winter coldness. Bantam Cochins are another bantams that many love. They are a ball of feathers all the way down to their toes. They come in many fabulous colors. If you are wanting even smaller then the d'Uccles are a one way to go as well as Olde English Game. There are so many bantam options.
Is climate of concern? Up north freezing temperatures are of great concern as well as the heat waves of the south. Keep this is mind when choosing a breed. Large combs for example are more likely to get frostbite in winter than a rose comb for example.
This is just to get you started. There are multitudes of breeds of chickens to choose from and depending on who you are talking to - everyone has their own personal favorites for good reasons. Research carefully each breed you are interested in and then find a local breeder to talk to and ultimately purchase from. Try to obtain chicks from a farm that is focused on quality over quantity to insure good health and the traits you are wanting from that particular breed.
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