Selecting a Breed for your Chicken Flock

Different breeds of chickens have much different behaviors. Here we discuss our experience with different breeds and offer advice for your flock. All of our episodes can be found at http://allcreaturesgreatandfabulous.com/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• chicken
• farm
• poultry

[Mrkaan110]

im looking for a very broody breed. Any ideas



[victoryfarm]

@Mrkaan110 We look for the opposite trait. I do see on the McMurray blog they mention the broodiest are: Cochins, Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas, Dark Cornish, Buff Rocks. Youtube won't allow a link but if you google "most broody mcmurray" it will be on top. There are some good comments on the post as well.

[Illiasc]

Just as an FYI - Ameraucanas and Araucanas are two different breeds. The ones you have are mutts called "Easter Egg chickens" despite what your supplier said they were. True Ameraucanas only come in certain colors and only lay blue eggs, no green, and don't have green legs either. True Araucanas are very rare, have no tail, and no fluffy face.They also only lay blue eggs, and only come in certain colors. Also, Barred Rocks aren't always flighty nor broody. Depends on the strain.

[victoryfarm]

@Illiasc There continues a strong debate as well as conflicting definitions. Many say that Ameraucanas aren't a breed and the only accurate label is "blue egg layer." Hatcheries have adopted a common, though arguably incorrect, nomenclature. I've used it for simplicity. If you order an "Araucana" what we show is generally what you'll get.

No breed always exhibits one particular behavior but there are trends. A barred rock or RIR is far more likely to be broody than a red star.

[Illiasc]

@victoryfarm True, debate arises all the time, but Ameraucanas are indeed a true purebred breed. The birds sold as Ameraucanas in most cases are not though. True Ameraucanas aren't offered by hatcheries, but actually are a breed accepted by the American Poultry Association and even have a national Breeders Club. Same for Araucanas too. And there's also plenty articles out there that help tell the difference between those two and the mutts from hatcheries falsely called A(me)raucanas

[victoryfarm]

@angrynhpatriot I've seen different flocks do very different things -- but mine will travel a few hundred feet away from the coop. They will also happily dig up a neighbor's flower beds and poop on their porch. If this is a concern you may need to do a covered run or portable coop (chicken tractor) if you want grass fed.

[angrynhpatriot]

@victoryfarm sorry for another question....do they tend to take off or do they like to stay close to the coop or other chiks...thanks..i live almost downtown and am worried about chickens in the 5 way intersection

[victoryfarm]

@angrynhpatriot I had a book that said 5 foot would keep them in. One day while putting up a new fence I went in for lunch and came out to see three chickens perched on top of three of the fence posts. They will jump a 4 foot fence easily. 6 foot if determined. Clipping their wings can help that but it's considered inhumane.

[angrynhpatriot]

will a chicken jump the property fence or do they usually stay put...i have a 4 or so foot chain link ..what do ya think

[Bugie78]

@victoryfarm Ok thank u very much this will help in my reasherch. :)