On March 9th I bought ten baby chicks at the local ranch supply. They were likely hatched March 4th. Next week I purchased ten more locally I had to do purchase my chicks this way because I did not get on the stick because I waited to long to do mail order. On September 4th I gave ten to a friend to refresher her laying flock. What I learned most of all this year is no matter what I expect in mortality, don’t compensate for it. You can easily end up with more than you want. This year’s flock includes:
Australorp
Purchased: two Last tried in 2012. Never had great luck with these as layers.
- Eggs:
- Broodiness:
- Size:
- Molt:
- Demise: One went to my friend
Barred Plymouth rock
Purchased: 3 A favorite breed for us
- Eggs:
- Broodiness:
- Size:
- Molt:
- Demise: Two went to a friend.
Buff Orpington
Purchased: 2
- Eggs:
- Broodiness:
- Size:
- Molt:
- Demise: Lost one to a fox raid. We had a fox in the hen house situation and lost chickens this year. Visit the post about this for more details.
Columbian Wyandotte
Purchased: 1
- Eggs: not sure which ones they were.
- Broodiness: n/a
- Size: average to larger bird
- Molt: n/a
- Demise:
- Evaluation: She was too white and odd woman out this year.
Silver laced Wyandotte
Purchased: 1
- Eggs: not sure which ones they were.
- Broodiness: n/a
- Size: average to larger bird
- Molt: n/a
- Demise:
- Evaluation: just what I expected. am thinking Wyandottes are the right bird for me.
Gone – Update 10/18/2014
Easter Egger
Purchased: 2 Never been particularly friendly, or great layer, but I love the colored eggs what can I say?Evaluation – they were beautiful and early layers, but they aren’t really meaty enough of for us.
- Eggs: small and early
- Demise: Both went to a friend.
New Hampshire Red
Purchased: 1 a new first for us.
- Eggs: not sure which ones they were.
- Broodiness: n/a
- Size: larger bird
- Molt: n/a
- Demise: Went to my friend
- Evaluation: Comb and waddles too big to keep in unheated coop in Montana. I will stay away from the reds in the future.
Speckled Sussex
Purchased: 2
- Eggs: not sure which ones they were.
- Broodiness: n/a
- Size: smaller bird
- Molt: n/a
- Demise: Went to my friend
- Evaluation: Their body is just too small to serve as a dual purpose bird. As much as I enjoy them, I think I will not be doing them again.
Partridge Rock
Purchased: 1
- Eggs: not sure which ones they were.
- Broodiness: n/a
- Size: smaller bird
- Molt: n/a
- Demise: Went to my friend
- Evaluation: Their body is just too small to serve as a dual purpose bird.
