[Ag-eq] Choosing Hens

[Susan Roe]

Nella,

I know what you mean about not wanting to buy eggs when the hens slack back. 
That is why usually around the first of November I tell Matt stop selling 
and the rest of the eggs are ours.  I don't let anyone here eat them unless 
they are being used in recipes or Matt's bread.  That is why I had 1 dozen 
eggs ready when Ms. Ruby called, but I just couldn't say no to her.  LOL

Susan
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nfoster at extremezone.com>
To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Choosing Hens


>
> 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.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
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>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
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