I have had chickens for many years and always had white leghorns. They were good layers, a larger meat bird but not real setters. I have an urge for trying a different line. I would like suggestions please? We are in the south where we see quite a few 100+° days and yet in winter the temps dip to below freezing frequently.
More hot than cold so I would like them to withstand hotter temps.
I think our heat is harder on a larger bird.
Although the white or lighter colors can probably do better in summer.
Maybe, a smaller bird too, which would require less supplemental food. I do have an acre under fence for them to forage during daytime.
A breed with the natural instinct to set "not" bred out of them.
And I only want a small flock ~ maybe a half dozen and a rooster not necessary.
Any experiences or suggestions you can offer will be appreciated please.
TIA ~ pod
Shopping for breed suggestions... please?
pod, if youre looking for a good laying bird, i would suggest what i have..golden comets, some call them red star..they are a great bird, not real noisy, excellent layers of large brown eggs..i have raised them for years, and i just love them..
just one suggestion, im sure there are many others..
cindy
You can always get a silke or two to set the other eggs. They will hatch any kind and raise them like their own. (even ducks and turkeys in my yard).
Barred Rocks --not too far off the standard Plymouth, but great dual purpose birds.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/chickenBreeds.aspx
There's another link that lists the different chicken breeds. Let me think....
I have the Welp Hatchery catalog and they list which breeds do well in the heat: New Hampshire Red, Sicilian Buttercup, Rhode Island Red, Dark Brahma, Light Brahma, Buff Brahma, Dark Rhode Island Red, Black Sumatra, Brown Leghorn, White Leghorn, Black Minorca, Buff Minorca, Rose Comb Brown Leghorn, Eqyptian Fayoumi, Blue Andalusian, and the Silkie Bantams.
Now out of that group they're suggestions for the best egg layers are: Dark Rhode Island Red and Rhode Island Red. Both lay brown eggs.
Keep in mind this is a list of just the chickens that they sell.
Thanks for so many suggestions... I need to do some research on the size and availability of these birds. Many of these I've not heard of...
Thanks for that link Sue. I am off to check it out. Does anyone have other sites I can check out these bird suggestions?
BTW ~ does anyone have any experience with Buff Orphintons? I think that is spelled correctly.
Buff Orps -or Orpingtons. Yes, a few do -not me though...wait patiently and hopefully someone will appear...I'm thinking it was Catscan who really liked them, but surely...
I've had buff orpies. They are nice all round birds and good layers, but only had one who would set long enough to hatch.
This reminds me. I was told Ameracaunas are good at setting. Anyone have any experience to concur?
I only wish...need to get some of those...
Well, I thought that was dumb when I posted no rooster but wanted setters... lol Need to rethink that one!
There are what some would consider 'inherent difficulties'...lol. Been there, done that...
Actually not dumb at all hens will set without a rooster and if they do you could shove some fertile eggs under them.
Well that's why we got our first rooster --one hen wouldn't stop settin'
How did the roo stop the hen from setting????
They hatched!
OH!!! heheheheheheh!!!
LOL!
I guess why I said rooster not necessary, a neighbor that lives thru the woods a couple hundred yards away has way too many roosters. I chuckled when Cindy said the Golden Comets were not too noisy. Noise we already have and it won't bother our neighbor! I enjoy hearing them but don't think DH will care to hear it right under the bedroom window...
Years ago, I was given a couple of Arucanas (sp) but really don't remember much about them other than the pretty blue eggs.
Need to check with the two local feed stores and see what birds they normally get in every spring.
I just noticed the sticky links at the top of this forum and need to read thru them too.
There's a really good page there that gives comparisons of all different breeds -a column for type(meat -layer-dual purpose), egg color, egg quantity +++
I think this will make for a great thread..
lets tell the personalities of our birds from living with them vs book.
Frans- I really agree with that! Sounds like we could get some really good info. going.
ok, I got it started, Your opinions on Your Breeds..
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/949779/
Thank you ~ that is a thread I will follow!