Re: Introduction and Questions

> in thread news:1132227506.898368.121860@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
> "ROYNEU" <royneu@xxxxxxx> whittled the following words:
>
> > Hi folks, my name is Roy. I just started reading this group day before
> > yesterday. Seems like some helpful people here.

Hi Roy, welcome to the group!

> > I have been researching the internet in preperation for setting up a
> > "backyard" flock of chickens and a turkey or two.

do you want to raise the turkeys, too? (I'm asking because chickens
sometimes carry a parasite called _histomonas meleagridis_ which doesn't
harm them, but if turkeys get infected it causes blackhead disease.

> > Haven't decided yet on free range vs. coop
> > and fenced area yet. Maybe some of both.

I don't know what it's like where you live, but here in Europe chickens
definitely have to have a coop for the nights where they are shut up and
safe from night time predators. I have a run attached so I can keep my
young birds in there to prevent the cats from catching them. The adults
are allowed to roam the village, and they love it.

> >
> > I am looking toward the Orpington's mainly because of their egg count
> > to weight class.

Have you considered broodiness? As a rule of thumb, the meatier breeds
will tend to get broody more easily, which means a drop in egg numbers,
whereas the flightier breeds don't get broody as often, sometimes even
are non-sitters, and therefore better layers.

> > Right now I am partial to the brown egg layers. That
> > may change later.

Well, there's no difference in taste between a white or brown or blue or
green shelled egg, (at least I've never tried what the shells taste like
;-) What does make a great differerence is freshness and the feed -
whether they get formulated pellets only or are allowed to supplement
their feed with grass and insects and worms from the garden.

In fact, some of the oldest breeds are nearly extinct today because
consumers prefer brown shelled eggs! The Sicilian Buttercup is one
example, a beautiful bird which used to be a famous layer. A few
enthusiasts still keep them in America:
<http://www.geocities.com/americanbuttercupclub/>

> >
> > Here are my questions: Do you think I am making a mistake limiting my
> > choices on the first go around? Should I get a variety the first set of
> > birds I get to make my choice for the long run?

Maybe it is easier to put them in the freezer if they all look the same
- you can get rather attached to a hen you can identify easily ;-) Some
are real characters....


May I just add the thought that a lot of the values you might be looking
for, like egg numbers, age of maturity, docile temperament etc. are not
necessarily found in all birds of a certain breed, but often rather
depend on the strain your birds come from. It mostly depends on what the
breeder you buy them from selects for.

So, you may find a strain of let's say RIR that you find disappointing,
but birds from another unrelated strain may be exactly what you were
looking for. Orpingtons, e.g. have a reputation of being docile, but if
a breeder tolerates aggressive cockerels (they have been known) you will
get an aggressive Orpington strain in a short time.

Same goes for egg numbers etc. It always pays to go and have a look at
the parent flock, if possible, and a chat with the breeder about his
priorities in selection of breeders.

I've found friends this way :-)

Nuele (D)

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