Backyard Chickens & Bees

I went with my neighbors to get new chicks today to replenish the ones that have been lost over the past year to raccoons, the inability to get along with the new flock, or the butcher knife (for the two roosters). Last year we got 11 chicks to go along with the two that were already established in the coop (Emily and George). Over the course of the year, we have dealt with roosters, raccoons, and having to give away Emily and George because they were attacking the younger ladies and had a taste for blood. At the end of it all, we had six hens remaining: one Light Brahma, one Rhode Island Red, and four Barred Plymouth Rocks. They’re all good producers, laying almost an egg a day each, even in the winter (granted, this was a very mild winter here in the Pacific Northwest). But, we wanted to increase the flock count and our overall egg quota, so we ended up going back to the Urban Farm Store and bought 12 new chicks! Pictures first, then I’ll write about what breeds we got (a wide variety, again!)…

12 new chicks for 2010!	12 new chicks for 2010!
12 new chicks for 2010!	12 new chicks for 2010!

The twelve chicks are all generally high producing layers, so we should, once they are all laying, have about a dozen to 18 eggs per day! We’ll have to use these for bartering with other neighbors.

Anyway, we got twelve chicks, two of each of the following breeds (descriptions are taken from the McMurray Hatchery site):

• Silver Laced Wyandottes – The Silver Laced is the original Wyandotte and the other varieties were developed from it later with crosses on other breeds. It is an outstanding example of American poultry breeding ingenuity and is one of the most beautiful breeds we offer. It is colorful, hardy, and productive. The broadfeathered, smooth fitting plumage is sharply marked. The general appearance is silvery white and lustrous greenish black as each feather is edged in a contrasting color. The close-fitting rose comb and good body size are valuable assets for winter laying. Cold weather doesn’t seem to bother them at all as their hardiness and vigor keep them laying straight through the winter. They lay a nicely shaped, good sized egg, varying from light to rich brown and will set some. This is another excellent variety for exhibition. Baby chicks vary from almost black to light silvery gray and many have contrasting light and dark stripes on the back.
• Silver Spangled Hamburgs – These are one of the snappiest, most alert breeds on the poultry list. Of rather small size, with light but sweeping, graceful outlines, they are elegant and beautiful. They have a kind of bright cheerfulness about them when foraging over open range and they love this kind of situation. Their origin goes back beyond the memory of man in both England and Holland and they were such prolific layers of white eggs that a common name for them was “the Dutch Everyday Layer.” Although egg size is medium they are small eaters and cost less to keep than most breeds. The lustrous greenish black spangles on silvery white plumage give them a perky polkadot look. With neat rose combs, white ear lobes, leaden blue shanks and toes, these are excellent small birds for both beauty and utility. Baby chicks are a silver gray with parallel dark and light stripes on the back.
• Light Brahmas – One of the two breeds already in the flock, the brahmas are great layers, not too broody, and quite docile. This is also Matt and Kristin’s daughter Claire’s favorite (she wanted to get four, but we ended up going for more diversity and only got the two).
• Black Australorps – This breed originated in Australia developed from Black Orpingtons imported from England; and the emphasis of the breeding program was on egg production without sacrificing too much in size and meat quality. Some sensational results were made in the Australian program, and one hen set a laying record of 364 eggs in 365 days. Introduced into this country in the 1920′s, they have become useful and popular and are certainly one of the best layers of light brown eggs of all the heavy breeds. A flock of Black Australorps with their glossy black plumage which has a greenish-purple sheen and their larger than average bright red combs make an unusually handsome sight. They are big birds, cockerels weighing 6 to 8 pounds at maturity and pullets 5 to 7. They have a pinkish white skin and plump bodies which dress out nicely once the birds have their final plumage. Pullets mature early and many will be in production between 5 and 6 months of age. They are quiet, gentle, and stand confinement well. Baby chicks are black with a good deal of white in the underparts and small white patches around the head and wings. We have handled this breed for years and think it is one of the best of the heavy breeds.
• Buff Orpingtons – These are also big birds, which can get up to 10 lbs at full maturity (at least, that’s what we heard at the store)! Also a good cold-hardy bird, they should lay all through the winter months (although if future winters are like this last year, that won’t be any problem at all!).
• Rhode Island Reds – These ladies are great layers and seem to get along well with all the other birds. So we got two more.

This will bring our number up to 18 chickens, and with luck, we’ll be able to maintain that number (I’ll write more on chicken integration and raccoon-proofing at a later date). We already have one each of the light brahmas and Rhode Island Reds, but since all the others are equally regarded as high producers, we’ll definitely have a lot of eggs in the next year or so. As with the last batch from 2009, the kids next door have named them all. I’ll get a list up, but I’m sure you would have guessed by now that the Hamburgs are going to be named “Hamburger” and “Hot Dog”.

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