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Post by mnjrutherford on Mar 13, 2014 3:20:50 GMT -5
I agree, they are lovely. I'm adding Orpingtons to our mix to increase size. Next generation will have Easter Egger or Orpington roos. I'll be selecting hatching eggs based on shell density, size, and of course, laid in the dead of winter.
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Post by johno on May 19, 2014 10:21:48 GMT -5
The plan is proceeding well. I have a decent flock of Ameraucanas and AmeraucanaXAraucanas, and just got 6 Pearl White Leghorn pullets. I know I have at least three roosters, so I can start breeding "Super Blue Egg Layers", as I have seen them named, as soon as the Leghorn girls are mature.
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Post by steev on May 19, 2014 19:18:04 GMT -5
Having, I think, fully doped out my re-configurable large poultry-run, I'm in sight of starting the flock of Black Jersey Giants that I want.
It occurs to me, though, that I can also, at less expense, start a landrace of free chickens offered online (also landrace rabbits, cats, and dogs, for that matter).
Protein is protein; Man does not live by gopher, alone.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 21, 2014 11:43:37 GMT -5
We were gifted a pair of Super Blues. I'm not overly impressed with the roosters temperament but I must say, the hens eggs are indeed a spectacular shade of sky blue. So, instead of maintaining 100 laying hens, we are now at 120 laying hens. Not a big deal, or at least it wouldn't be a bid deal if the darn things would lay eggs!
Our birds have taken a real nose dive in laying with the Orpingtons dropping off by a full 50% last week from the previous week. Predator stress?? Could well be. We've trapped a fox and several possums. Though SOMEthing is taking all the bait without tripping the traps for the last few evenings. Mike also pointed out that we haven't sighted a fox for 5 nights now. Potentially good news unless of course they are now "organized" and planning to tunnel in.
Steev, if man did live by gopher, you'd be rolling in dough by now wouldn't you? I like your plan with the BJG. Based on OUR experience, it's not a bad idea to start with a "breed" bird especially if you can afford it. Typically, it's not all that expensive to start out that way. However, a quick google says that maybe it won't be all that easy either.
Well... Iffn I was starting over with the knowledge I now have there are a few things I would get started on before hand.
1. Plant useful stuff AROUND the coop area. Thyme and mints would be on top of my list for basic medicinal and insect repellant qualities. A couple nice trees for shade and perhaps food... mulberry springs to mind because we have one and because it gets tent caterpillars which, when brought down with a stick or something, are a favorite treat for the birds.
2. STUDY FEEDING! Holy cow at the problems you get by feeding them with the least little error. 1/3 lb per bird per day unless you are using some sort of auto feeder in which case you can get away with 1/4 lb per day because they aren't scattering and "losing" food.
3. We have a piece of gutter running through 3 coops with a thingie that sits over it requiring the birds to stick their heads under the overhang to drink. This keeps the water clean and clean water is ESSENTIAL! If you are using pails or buckets, sit them on top of concrete blocks to keep it clean. If you put it on the ground they will instantly poo in the water and life goes to hell in a hand basket instantly thereafter. There is a float stop in the gutter (less than $15 at Tractor Supply) so the water level can be maintained without constant care.
4. Look into sprouted fodder. It's a lot of work, BUT it improves egg quality significantly. Especially through the winter months.
5. HOW are you going to deliver feed? Continuous? Daily portions? Buying equipment when you decide you don't like the system you are currently using sucks. Talk to lots of people FIRST. We have implemented a new system based on the need to eliminate the daily chore with only the brief experience of a single user. We may have to scrap everything. That's not good.
That's all I can think of right now. PLEASE feel free to ask all the questions you want because short of "The Dummies Guide to Raising Chickens" (which I highly recommend by the way), it's the best way to start off and expect reasonable success.
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Post by steev on May 21, 2014 20:27:19 GMT -5
Free-range gopher, rolled in dough=a pesty-pasty; a little onion sauteed in bacon grease to stuff the dirt-rat before baking it in a crusty overcoat; fit for a king, I've no doubt, not being a monarchist.
The reason I'm inclined to BJG is their apparent good parenting, amiability, and eventual size; less killing and processing for more food. I am fond of canned chicken soups, so bigger is better. I'm interested in turkeys for the same reason.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 22, 2014 7:44:42 GMT -5
Makes good sense to me. Yesterday, a local friend posted BJG hatchlings for sale. Just to let you know. If you choose to go the hatching route, it would be possible to get you some eggs. Safer and easier to ship than chicks.
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Post by steev on May 22, 2014 10:23:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 22, 2014 11:16:24 GMT -5
I've found that knowing people with chickens gives you a far better avenue into obtaining a broader range of breeds and breeding than simply looking around. Sort of like seeds... it's not what you know, it's who you know. And, the longer you work with the "Who" the more access you have to the "What".
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Post by steev on May 22, 2014 22:45:28 GMT -5
Yes, well, I don't just come here for fun, although I so do that, but I come for the expertise and access to material not commonly available. Even to me, it's obvious that this is a forum of serious workers concerned with the betterment of what they grow/raise, and thus the betterment of things for all.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 23, 2014 6:59:34 GMT -5
Indeed. I vehemently concur with your assessment. For me, this is the college education my folks only "said" they wanted me to have. Greater knowledge/wisdom, cognitive understanding, and functionality are the biggest things for me. I also appreciate the human network aspect. Some have passed on, but their seeds carry on. In memory of Grunt and Grungy right there, forever in my front yard as well as in my heart and mind.
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Post by reed on Aug 23, 2014 7:24:30 GMT -5
I guess I have been doing this land race thing with out really knowing it. On vegetables I just had a habit of throwing things together and keeping seeds of what ever comes out. My favorite is things that go wild, like dill, broccoli, tomatoes and beans. You find them coming up and transplant to rows.
With chickens I started out with Leghorns, Cornish rocks and Wyandottes that I got from McMurry Hatchery. I kept ten hens and a Wyandotte rooster (Bob). Somebody, if I remember right it was Mildred went broody so I let her have some babies. Next year I didn't want Bob to be the father of his own grand kids so I traded him for a Rhode Island Red (Stanley). He did his thing but got bad mean so we ate him. I'v forgotten the names and breeds of a couple others and now have a Black Austalorp, he's awfully nice, friendly and tame but real protective of his girls.
I just always switched to a different breed rooster because I keep such a small flock I was afraid they would be inbreed otherwise. I'v never had a problem with not having somebody going broody. Sometimes too many want too. You feel bad pushing them off the nest and taking the eggs. Any way, I guess I have a land race "of sorts", they pretty much fend for themselves, lay plenty of eggs and are rarely lost to coyotes or hawks.
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Post by philagardener on Aug 23, 2014 12:28:36 GMT -5
I think it is an excellent idea to avoid inbreeding in your home flock. Sounds like an interesting project! Good luck with it!
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Post by reed on Dec 21, 2015 10:18:36 GMT -5
Introducing Gladys Bob, my favorite new landrace  chicken, hatched this spring.  Her mother was (Dark Cornish x White Leghorn) her father, I think was (Colombian Wyandotte x Delaware) She looks like a Cornish with Wyandotte / Delaware feathers, she lays good sized off white eggs with brown specks. I like that she didn't get the Leghorn comb, don't have to worry about frostbite. Her husband next year is prearranged to be Black Australorp. Cornish are some of the best brooders and mothers I'v had. I hope she inherited that. |
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Dec 21, 2015 16:59:47 GMT -5
I have often wondered about the importance of culture to the survivability of poultry. By using the word 'culture' I am using it to mean the learned behaviors and social interactions that exist within a flock of chickens: Behaviors that are learned from the mother and from associating with other birds. It seems to me like their are huge differences in fitness between birds that are brooded by a hen and birds that come out of a chick factory. I wonder if it is even possible in this day and age to find chickens that have descended from an unbroken line of birds that retained the ancestral culture? I wonder how many generations it takes for a flock of chickens to re-establish some semblance of a stable survival-enhancing-culture? OK... So there are some wild species of birds in this area, grouse/Quail, that have never been domesticated. I suppose that it would be possible to switch eggs out in a nest and have the wild birds raise some chicken offspring. That wouldn't give them the ancestral chicken culture, but it might be closer to a viable culture than what they learn when starting in a chick factory and being raised with only peers. Interesting topic and thread. I remembered a video i saw awhile back where there was a man breeding chickens to have wild instincts again. In effect "undomesticating" them. I cant find the video, but i did find this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmHImv58_QgI think breeding chickens could be a fun project. Whether directed breeding or otherwise. I'd like to have Turkey's some day. I would breed the local wild Merriams Wild Turkey with the stunning Royal Palm Turkeys. If i ever got to that point i might branch out to chickens. |
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Post by richardw on Dec 21, 2015 19:19:27 GMT -5
Interesting topic and thread. I remembered a video i saw awhile back where there was a man breeding chickens to have wild instincts again. In effect "undomesticating" them. I cant find the video, but i did find this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmHImv58_QgThose wild chickens remind me of one of our mongrel landrace birds, every time it see ya its runs away flat out yet it still lays eggs where it supposed to and sleeps in the hen house No offense Joseph but cant seem to remove you from this quote |
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chicken, hatched this spring. 
