Here I Be and There I Go!

[Kaitlyn Eileen]

Birds are lovely, especially chickens I use to have over 100, but I had loads of space to range them on. I miss that big flock. Down to just two hens at the moment (Sussex and an OEG LF)

So glad that lovely bird didn't injure herself. It's so sad when they fly into glass windows and doors and do.

Indeed so, they're certainly top!
I'm sorry to hear that you no longer have that amount. It's enjoyable having a large flock but if your current two are just as friendly, that's just as wonderful! I hear the OEG's are good birds and I've considered adding them to the flock! Would you recommend them?

It is and as much as I like having natural light come in, the windows can be treacherous to those poor things. I'm really happy she was okay, too!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Glad she recovered!

 

[BarredBuff]

Indeed, haha! Quite the busy place over here. Well, I've always had Buffs and they've been the first breed I ever owned. My mind juggles if I should get some Lavenders' in my next (future) order of chicks. Orpingtons are wonderful!



Hello and thank you! Indeed so, there's a few here and a few there... turn your head... oh, look, another chicken! Haha.
That's wonderful, how many birds do you currently have if you don't mind I ask?

Currently, I have 20 hens and a rooster, a tom turkey, and a gander. The numbers have dwindled since I left the homestead and returned in May.

This fall, I plan on raising a batch of broilers to can up and stock in my pantry. Then, in the spring, culling the current laying flock and sending them to the pantry to replace with some young birds. Probably White Plymouth Rocks and Buff Orpingtons. Also, adding some turkeys and more geese. If I time it right, I may raise another batch of broilers to keep the pantry full.

 

[Kaitlyn Eileen]

Currently, I have 20 hens and a rooster, a tom turkey, and a gander. The numbers have dwindled since I left the homestead and returned in May.

This fall, I plan on raising a batch of broilers to can up and stock in my pantry. Then, in the spring, culling the current laying flock and sending them to the pantry to replace with some young birds. Probably White Plymouth Rocks and Buff Orpingtons. Also, adding some turkeys and more geese. If I time it right, I may raise another batch of broilers to keep the pantry full.

Wow, what a collection! I have 22 chickens (20 hens and two roos) and a male Guinea hen. I've thought of getting some poults sometime in the future or even some ducks, we'll see what it'd oughta bring.

Sounds like a very good plan and I hope it all goes as you'd like. I hear that the white rocks are good birds for meat and disposition so let's hope that if you get them, they live up to the expectation. What breed have you had the best of luck with for meat?

 

[BarredBuff]

Wow, what a collection! I have 22 chickens (20 hens and two roos) and a male Guinea hen. I've thought of getting some poults sometime in the future or even some ducks, we'll see what it'd oughta bring.

Sounds like a very good plan and I hope it all goes as you'd like. I hear that the white rocks are good birds for meat and disposition so let's hope that if you get them, they live up to the expectation. What breed have you had the best of luck with for meat?

I have raised several dual purpose breeds before with some success. They ate too much for what they gave though. I usually raise a Cornish-Rock cross--- you get the most bang for your buck. They have a big harvest for little time and feed. They grow super fast and do better in cooler temperatures.

 

[Kaitlyn Eileen]

I have raised several dual purpose breeds before with some success. They ate too much for what they gave though. I usually raise a Cornish-Rock cross--- you get the most bang for your buck. They have a big harvest for little time and feed. They grow super fast and do better in cooler temperatures.

Well, then, I'm glad you've had good luck with them! If I ever considered doing meat birds down the road, I hear that the Cornish and the rainbow broilers are good. They're most popular in my area of Maine although I've never owned the rainbows of which I've heard are good for eggs and meat.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Hi Kaitlyn. Your flock sounds kind of like mine. We also have lots of different kinds, 1 or 2 of each: orpingtons, barred rock, black austrolorp, a partridge rock, 4 EE's, silver wyandotte, golden comets, and a few more.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ya'll have made me start thinking about what breeds I have out there. I have Lavender and Black Orpingtons, a pair of Coronation Sussex, a Blue Salmon Faverolle rooster and two regular Salmon Faverolle hens, a few Barred Holland hens and a Barred rooster (that's not pure bred but he IS barred!), and... ummm… a Naked Neck hen and pullet, and various crosses of all the above. Most of the purebreds are getting some age on them. I need to hatch some purebreds to carry on the lines.

I had some Guineas and I miss them. How do you tell the males from the females? I mean, I know if ya get eggs - ya got a hen, lol. So, do you know a male just by the LACK of eggs?

 

[sumi]

Indeed so, they're certainly top!
I'm sorry to hear that you no longer have that amount. It's enjoyable having a large flock but if your current two are just as friendly, that's just as wonderful! I hear the OEG's are good birds and I've considered adding them to the flock! Would you recommend them?

It is and as much as I like having natural light come in, the windows can be treacherous to those poor things. I'm really happy she was okay, too!

We emigrated from South Africa to Ireland 3 years ago, so the birds all had to go I miss them still! I had some lovely, lovely birds in that flock, but they mostly ended up at good homes.

The OEG's are awesome! I had a cockbird and found him a handful, but manageable and the hens are amazing. Wonderful mothers, good layers, great broodies. They (male and female) fight something fierce with other birds in the flock when provoked and the males will likely kill others if confined to the same space, but it's their nature and much of what is around today is bred to fight (I don't do that, I just keep them for yard candy). If you can work around that fighting urges they are amazing to have around.

 

[Kaitlyn Eileen]

Hi Kaitlyn. Your flock sounds kind of like mine. We also have lots of different kinds, 1 or 2 of each: orpingtons, barred rock, black austrolorp, a partridge rock, 4 EE's, silver wyandotte, golden comets, and a few more.

What wonderful breeds!! Yes, the flocks do sound very similar! I've considered having BRs before and hear they are wonderful birds. Are they anything like the Partridge Rock? I love the Partridge Rocks But they can get skittish and timid often.

Ya'll have made me start thinking about what breeds I have out there. I have Lavender and Black Orpingtons, a pair of Coronation Sussex, a Blue Salmon Faverolle rooster and two regular Salmon Faverolle hens, a few Barred Holland hens and a Barred rooster (that's not pure bred but he IS barred!), and... ummm… a Naked Neck hen and pullet, and various crosses of all the above. Most of the purebreds are getting some age on them. I need to hatch some purebreds to carry on the lines.

I had some Guineas and I miss them. How do you tell the males from the females? I mean, I know if ya get eggs - ya got a hen, lol. So, do you know a male just by the LACK of eggs?

Wow, what the collection! I absolutely love blue Faverolles and I really wish I can have some one day. What beautiful birds and I'm sure the crosses are real pretty considering the breeds you've mentioned! Well, to tell a male Guinea from a female, although its like tellling the genders of bats, the females tend to have more of a lump on their back like the featheres are raised. Make any sense? Here's an example, I find it's the best way for me at least!

We emigrated from South Africa to Ireland 3 years ago, so the birds all had to go I miss them still! I had some lovely, lovely birds in that flock, but they mostly ended up at good homes.

The OEG's are awesome! I had a cockbird and found him a handful, but manageable and the hens are amazing. Wonderful mothers, good layers, great broodies. They (male and female) fight something fierce with other birds in the flock when provoked and the males will likely kill others if confined to the same space, but it's their nature and much of what is around today is bred to fight (I don't do that, I just keep them for yard candy). If you can work around that fighting urges they are amazing to have around.

I'm very sorry to hear that! It's a shame when you have to remove brids from the flock, especially when they're good birds, but don't have enough room or you're doing a big move. I'm very glad that they got to good homes though!!

Oh, I'd be looking for broodies, I mostly hatch from hens instead of incubators. And I do hear a lot of folks say that the OEG's make wonderful Mothers, which is great! Ah, I see, it can be tricky having a bird that's bred to fight-- but some of my sweetest birds have been from a rougher flock. I find that if you try your hardest and raise them right, they'll do just fine! I appreicate you sharing your view of the OEG's, who knows... maybe I'll be posting about them in the future and they'll have a spot in my flock!