[Ag-eq] Choosing Hens

Fri Nov 9 00:13:52 UTC 2012

Susan, like you I buy older chicks, for the same reasons.  Also I only want a
few at a time and some of the hatcheries make you buy 25 or 50 chicks.  So far
I've purchased all my chickens from private breeders.

I can't really laugh at Ms. Ruby since I recently had the same conversation with
my hens.  I'm only getting 8 to 10 eggs a week instead of 20.  I sure hope I
don't have to buy any.

Nella

Quoting Susan Roe <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>:

> Nella,
>
> I believe there is at least one more breed that lays the dark brown eggs.
> My problem is the hatcheries either only ship firtal eggs or day old chicks.
> Neither of which I have the facilities to handle because I do not have power
> to any of my coops.  That is why I only take chicks between 4 and 8 weeks
> old, which also means I pay more than day old chick prices.
>
> We are considering stripping out our 10 by 20 foot garage/storage building
> for chicks and/or a small egg incubater since there is power in there.  The
> building has never had a vehicle in it, it has a cement floor, 4 electric
> plugs, inside and outside light and is right next to the cabin.  There would
> be no heat or air and there are no windows, but that would not be necessary
> because the chicks would be confined to a rectangle pin, open at the top,
> with a heat lamp on and hanging on one end while the other end would give
> the chicks enough room to cool off away from the heat lamp.  Like I said, it
> is just another option we are tossing around to expand our chicken breeds
> because we are very limited when we buy older chicks.
>
> Time will tell!
>
> I have to tell you a funny.  We have an elderly lady just down the road in
> her upper 80's and her name is MS. Ruby.  She has been getting eggs from us
> for quite some time.  She called and left a message that she wanted a dozen
> eggs and if possible, she wanted 2 dozen eggs.  Well, this is the time our
> hens stop laying and I'm lucky to get 3 eggs in 7 days, but we happened to
> have just 1 dozen ready.  We had also stopped selling for the year and were
> just keeping the eggs for ourselves.  I told Matt just to take them on to
> MS. Ruby, but let her know there would be no more eggs this year.  He did
> just that, but when he came in the cabin, he was laughing and told me that
> Ms. Ruby said for him to go and tell our hens that this was no time to stop
> laying because she had too much holiday baking to do, so get busy and start
> laying.  You just have to smile at Ms. Ruby, she's such a doll!
>
> Susan
> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 10:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Choosing Hens
>
>
> >
> >
> > Susan:
> >
> > Isn't there another breed that lay the really dark brown eggs?
> >
> > I thought I read about one, but will have to look for the information
> > again.
> >
> > Like you, I don't like paying to much for my hens.
> >
> > Nella
> > Quoting Susan Roe <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>:
> >
> >> Nella,
> >>
> >> I am seriously thinking about the Americana and Aricana hens that lay the
> >> colored eggs, but I'm not sure of the egg size.  I believe they lay
> >> medium
> >> to large eggs.  All of my hens lay verrying shades of brown eggs because
> >> that is all my customers want.  LOL  There is a breed called Welsamer
> >> that
> >> lays chocolate brown eggs.  I'd like to try them out, but they are
> >> classified as rare here in the U.S., but plentiful in the Netherlands
> >> area.
> >> For a trio, two adult hens and one adult rooster, they have been selling
> >> for
> >> $75.00.  I don't think so!
> >>
> >> Susan
> >> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> >> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 5:44 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Choosing Hens
> >>
> >>
> >> > Susan:
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for the information about the different breeds.  I really like
> >> > my
> >> > Barred
> >> > Rocks; they are very gentle and good layers.  I will have to see about
> >> > getting
> >> > some of the Black Stars.
> >> >
> >> > Have you ever had any of the breeds that lay colored eggs?
> >> >
> >> > Do all of your hens lay brown eggs?
> >> >
> >> > I recently read about a breed called Mini Pearls or White Pearls; they
> >> > are
> >> > small
> >> > white hens that lay white eggs.  They are suppose to handle the heat
> >> > well
> >> > and be
> >> > good layers.  I can't remember what breeds are crossed to make them.
> >> >
> >> > There are so many breeds of chickens that sound like they would be fun
> >> > to
> >> > have,
> >> > that I have to control myself or I would have to many!  My property is
> >> > in
> >> > the
> >> > city limits, so I can only have up to 18.
> >> >
> >> > Nella
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Quoting Susan Roe <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi Nella,
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> I have not tried the Red Stars before, but maybe you should try the
> >> >> Black
> >> > `> Stars because they are smaller than the Red Stars.  Below is the
> >> > write
> >> > ups
> >> >> that comes from Eden Farms where I get my chickens.
> >> >>
> >> >> I already have the following hens from them:
> >> >> Barred Rock
> >> >> Buff Orpington
> >> >> 1 loan Black Australorp
> >> >>
> >> >> Barred Rock
> >> >> Barred Rocks are a hardy American breed with a striking black & white
> >> >> feather pattern. They are good layers of light brown eggs, and will
> >> >> occasionally decide
> >> >> to "set" (hatch) their eggs. The hens have bold personalities and tend
> >> >> to
> >> >> rule the roost. Males are sometimes aggressive but very beautiful,
> >> >> with
> >> >> more
> >> >> white in their feather patterns than the females. Quite bright and
> >> >> adventuresome, Barred Rocks make excellent foragers and are one of our
> >> >> favorite breeds.
> >> >>
> >> >> Buff Orpington
> >> >> A calm, laid-back English breed that loves hatching eggs and taking
> >> >> care
> >> >> of
> >> >> the chicks. Hens are a soft golden color and lay large, light brown
> >> >> eggs.
> >> >> Roosters
> >> >> are a brilliant, shiny gold with flowing tails and lovely crowing
> >> >> voices,
> >> >> and are almost never aggressive. If a sweet, live-and-let-live
> >> >> temperament
> >> >> is
> >> >> important to you, this breed tops the list!
> >> >>
> >> >> Red Star
> >> >> This is a hybrid breed, with Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn
> >> >> parentage.
> >> >> Hens are light auburn in color, with some white or gold highlights.
> >> >> They
> >> >> are
> >> >> excellent layers of big brown eggs, and have friendly temperaments.
> >> >> Roosters
> >> >> are mostly white, with a dark red "saddle" mark on their backs.
> >> >> Because
> >> >> they
> >> >> are hybrids, a male and female Red Star will not hatch Red Star
> >> >> chicks,
> >> >> so
> >> >> most people choose this breed strictly for their exceptional
> >> >> egg-laying
> >> >> ability.
> >> >>
> >> >>  Ameraucana
> >> >> Often called the "Easter Egg Chicken", because these attractive hens
> >> >> lay
> >> >> eggs in pastel shades of blue, green, and olive. The eggs are darker
> >> >> colored
> >> >> when
> >> >> the hens first start laying, and lighten gradually as the birds age.
> >> >> The
> >> >> yolk and white are normal color and taste just like other eggs,
> >> >> although
> >> >> some
> >> >> of our customers say they can tell a difference. The birds themselves
> >> >> come
> >> >> in a beautiful array of patterns and colors, including solid white,
> >> >> but
> >> >> their
> >> >> legs and feet are always olive green or blue. Most Ameraucanas have
> >> >> muffy
> >> >> little beards that make them look like Muppets. Ameraucanas do not
> >> >> typically
> >> >> hatch their eggs, but there are exceptions. These chickens are lots of
> >> >> fun
> >> >> for kids, and perfect for anyone who wants something different.
> >> >>
> >> >> Black Star
> >> >> This is a hybrid breed, with Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock
> >> >> parentage.
> >> >> Their color can range from completely black to varying degrees of a
> >> >> pretty
> >> >> golden
> >> >> lace pattern (up to approximately half gold), with a beautiful
> >> >> green/purple
> >> >> iridescence on the darker feathers. They are curious, people-oriented
> >> >> chickens
> >> >> and excellent layers of big brown eggs, but do not usually decide to
> >> >> incubate their eggs and hatch chicks. Black Stars are one of the
> >> >> smallest
> >> >> breeds listed
> >> >> here, although they are considerably larger than bantams. Because they
> >> >> are
> >> >> hybrids, a Black Star hen and rooster will not produce Black Star
> >> >> chicks.
> >> >>
> >> >> Rhode Island Red
> >> >> A well-known American heritage breed that is one of our most popular
> >> >> types.
> >> >> These calm, full-size hens are good layers of big, brown eggs. The
> >> >> hens
> >> >> are
> >> >> not known for being good setters or mothers, but there are occasional
> >> >> exceptions. Rhode Island Red roosters are a dark, shiny mahogany color
> >> >> with
> >> >> a beautiful
> >> >> green iridescence on their tails. Unfortunately, many males of this
> >> >> breed
> >> >> have aggressive tendencies.
> >> >>
> >> >> Blue Marans
> >> >> This French breed is relatively new to America, and is still quite
> >> >> rare.
> >> >> Marans lay eggs that vary from very dark brown to lighter brown with
> >> >> dark
> >> >> brown
> >> >> speckles, and belong to a class of poultry known as the "Chocolate
> >> >> Eggers".
> >> >> The eggs are the darkest in color when the hens have first started
> >> >> laying
> >> >> (around
> >> >> the age of 6 to 7 months), and gradually lighten in color until the
> >> >> birds
> >> >> take a short break from laying. When the eggs resume, they will again
> >> >> be
> >> >> a
> >> >> very
> >> >> dark color. The varieties we have are blue, which is a lovely smoky
> >> >> gray,
> >> >> and Blue Splash, which is white with flecks of bluish gray. Hens are
> >> >> quiet,
> >> >> well-mannered,
> >> >> and make very good setters. Marans are a large breed; hens weigh 6 to
> >> >> 7
> >> >> pounds, and roosters top out at 9 to 10 pounds. Due to their extreme
> >> >> size,
> >> >> Maran
> >> >> roosters (although gentle and mild-mannered) should not be kept with
> >> >> smaller
> >> >> breeds of hens. Because of their rarity in Virginia, as well as our
> >> >> limited
> >> >> supply, Marans cost about twice as much as most of the other breeds of
> >> >> chickens we have for sale, but for the collector or serious hobbyist,
> >> >> a
> >> >> couple of
> >> >> these stately hens are a fun and beautiful addition to the flock.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> Ag-eq mailing list
> >> >> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> >> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> >> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> >> Ag-eq:
> >> >>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Ag-eq mailing list
> >> > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> > Ag-eq:
> >> >
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/dogwoodfarm%40verizon.net
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ag-eq mailing list
> >> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> Ag-eq:
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ag-eq mailing list
> > Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Ag-eq:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/dogwoodfarm%40verizon.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ag-eq mailing list
> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ag-eq:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
>