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Time To Start Thinking About Chicks!

01/15/2013

4 Comments

 
When we made the jump into chickens, we decided on two breeds of egg layers; Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Buff Orpingtons.  Both breeds had good reputations for being pleasant birds who would raise their own young and lay a lot of eggs.  We bought ours from Estes Hatchery in Springfield, Mo, because they were close, as well as a small, family owned operation, which appealed to us.  I recommend Estes highly.  Our birds arrived healthy, and grew well.

If I were to order more chicks, I would choose the Barred Rocks.  They have been more more friendly, while the Orpingtons are not, at all.





This is how we set them up in our basement, until they were big enough to go outside. 
 


Comments

T
01/15/2013 2:29pm

I had both of those breeds before and I thought the Barred Rocks were much more friendly than the Orpingtons also. My Orpingtons were very flighty too.
I also love the Jersey Giants, I have those and Delaware right now. The Deleware aren't very friendly either.

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Tina
01/16/2013 10:17am

I do like the giants, a lot, have thought about gathering one or two toward the chicken yard, Dominiques too. Once my Buffs are gone, not sure what direction I will go with my birds. Of course, I would like to have a couple of buff turkeys, and a couple of geese, and maybe some Muscovies...........:)

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julie
02/17/2013 11:12am

Please ,please tie your heat lights to a upper support that can't reach/fall anything that can catch fire. I know of a farm and all the animals that perished....

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Tina
02/18/2013 9:37am

Julie, this photo was two years ago, our first little group of chickens. This little broody box was in our basement, where we spent a lot of time with the birds.

I am with you, though, I am terrified of heat lamps and fire. When I moved the lamp in the photo, I used an additional clamp to secure it, as the clamps on the lights really aren't that great. Sine I learned that, we always use additional clamps and/or zip ties to make sure they can't fall.

Thank you for the warning; heat lamps can start fires, and they can burn animals as well if they are too close. I'd like to replace all my metal ones with plastic lamps from Premier 1.

Tina

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