Chicken problem AGAIN

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My S.O. likes those huge Brahmins, I want some golden phoenix.

A very popular breed for those in to self sufficiency is the Hyline Brown.

They're prolific egg layers - at first. They'll lay every day for about 3 years and they don't seem to have an off season, but then they stop laying while they're still young enough to be good eating.

And a tip about plucking an old German mate taught me - "At my age I have to watch my cholesterol and I'm not supposed to eat the skin anyway so I just peel them."

 

[TBRS1]

Just an extra idea - stopping the chooks from scratching out all your garden beds is quite easy. I also grew up with a chook pen in one corner of the yard.

Lay some wire mesh down over the garden beds, plants can grow through the mesh but animals can't scratch away at them. This is often also used to stop dogs from digging up lawns.

After what I've seen about eggs in the US and what it costs to buy them free range I think you should seriously consider getting them to lay in your yard. Beautiful fresh eggs with rich golden yolks instead of shed produced eggs that have been gassed to make the yoke at least turn slightly yellow.

And yes, they gas the eggs from shed raised chooks to give the yolk a little colour, they also do the same with citrus fruit using the exact same gas, pick the fruit while it's green then gas it to make the skin change colour so that it looks ripe - longer shelf life.

If it was MY land and MY chickens, I'd do those things, but, since it is MY land and somebody else's chickens, I don't think it is my job to make my land useful to them.

 

[Mary Terry]

I actually like chickens. My S.O. is after me to get the neglected coops back in order (on the agenda for early spring ).

My S.O. likes those huge Brahmins, I want some golden phoenix.

I like chickens, too, but not in my yard. We tend to favor the egg-laying breeds like Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns because they lay eggs the most consistently and live longer than the "show birds".

My sister has what I call "Martha Stewart chickens" - the fancy kinds with bright colors, wearing feathered pantaloons, feather topknots, and interesting feather arrangements. She also has a couple of giant tame turkeys and guinea hens. I expect her to bring home some ducks and geese any day. She loves her poultry and sells the eggs.

 

[TBRS1]

I like chickens, too, but not in my yard. We tend to favor the egg-laying breeds like Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns because they lay eggs the most consistently and live longer than the "show birds".

My sister has what I call "Martha Stewart chickens" - the fancy kinds with bright colors, wearing feathered pantaloons, feather topknots, and interesting feather arrangements. She also has a couple of giant tame turkeys and guinea hens. I expect her to bring home some ducks and geese any day. She loves her poultry and sells the eggs.

For people who have the space or set-up, and who also might enjoy a variety of easy to care for, colorful, and even exotic creatures, chickens are a fantastic choice.

Queen Elizabeth II was famous for raising fancy chickens - she was especially fond of Polish Bantams.

?

Since even fancy chickens (which aren't bread for egg laying) will give enough eggs for a family's daily needs, it's a win-win.

Bantam eggs are tiny. They show up in speciality markets as "quail eggs."

Actual quail eggs are about the size of a fingernail, though.

(auto correct says that "bantam" is really "batman." If I missed a fix, don't be confused )

Ducks are great. They will out lay chickens, and the eggs are noticeably larger. They also have less cholesterol.

A goose (notice the phrase "a goose," as in "one goose") is a good addition to a coop. The goose will treat the chickens like babies and take care of them, hence the phrase " mother goose."

 

[Mary Terry]

For people who have the space or set-up, and who also might enjoy a variety of easy to care for, colorful, and even exotic creatures, chickens are a fantastic choice.

Queen Elizabeth II was famous for raising fancy chickens - she was especially fond of Polish Bantams.

View attachment 147096

Since even fancy chickens (which aren't bread for egg laying) will give enough eggs for a family's daily needs, it's a win-win.

Bantam eggs are tiny. They show up in speciality markets as "quail eggs."

Actual quail eggs are about the size of a fingernail, though.

(auto correct says that "bantam" is really "batman." If I missed a fix, don't be confused )

We've had bantam chickens, too, over the years. My mother sometimes made deviled eggs with them - very cute little deviled eggs.

 

[TBRS1]

We've had bantam chickens, too, over the years. My mother sometimes made deviled eggs with them - very cute little deviled eggs.

LOL - always a hit at a fancy party. They look so exotic!

 

[JayCee]

Used to tend a small flock of Gambels quail . Completely wild,free range . and they would every so often leave a egg . After they were finished feeding . And it appeared .That the one time I found an egg it was huge for such a tiny bird . And was just unlucky , we also had a maurading neighbourhood Roadrunner . That hunted the eggs and babies for food . It was just luck ,I got to that egg first this one time. And they are as fast as the cartoon version . And it figured it was immune to being able to be hunted.Oopps some sharp eyed woman got it with a BB gun one day . The baby Quail queing up around the skirt of feathers of their mommy ,as the move about for food.Was Soo cute, The colour was so close and the were so tight around the mommy . It appeared it was just a very fat quail . Until you saw one accidentally miss que and dislodge from the skirt. and try to catch up. it was almost comical .