tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post719259104690505583..comments2023-11-02T05:18:38.925-05:00Comments on Antiquity Oaks: Chicken changesDeborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-87541440588430144552013-02-09T08:26:20.816-06:002013-02-09T08:26:20.816-06:00This my second year with chickens and first on our...This my second year with chickens and first on our 'new' 40 acre farm. <br /><br />So I have some experience and have talked and talked to people and read and read about chickens. I have found that adding some breeds to your flock for the purpose of hatching your eggs is a good idea. Now those birds might not lay as well as other birds but in the end they pay their way by being good mothers. <br /><br />To that end we have ten Light Brahmas on the way next month. We decided to go for a dual purpose breed that also tends to be very good mothers. Added to it is their size which for the kind of chicks we'll hatch shouldn't cause problems to the the hatching eggs.<br /><br />To that end I also understand that both Silkies and Cochins are very good broody hens. Cochins don't tend to lay very well and Silkies are bantams so they hatch a smaller number of large eggs.<br /><br />I understand from my readings that many of the traditional breeds have been bred for a long period of time more for show than their once dominant production. So if you want to increase or get more production you'll most likely have to set up a breeding program and try to select for higher egg output and winter paying in your stock. That's your best bet other than comb breeders and find the ones that have kept good production stock. <br /><br /><br />Chris D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-91456211711724109412013-01-26T08:43:59.401-06:002013-01-26T08:43:59.401-06:00From what I understand Ameracaunas are not winter ...From what I understand Ameracaunas are not winter layers, even with the supplemental lighting. Mine would outlay my speckled sussex (which are winter layers) in the warmer months but completely stop when the weather gets cold. I always have a Ameracauna hens, just because I love the color of their eggs. I have had chickens for years and just recently discovered that some breeds are winter layers and some are not. <br />Heather in PAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-27760284835575274732013-01-25T10:31:03.105-06:002013-01-25T10:31:03.105-06:00Our Ameracaunas never produced much, either. We h...Our Ameracaunas never produced much, either. We have one left, and she took a two month hiatus, laid the day before yesterday, and was laying this morning when I was out watering. Very disappointing. Want to try leghorns this year, but will probably stick with Red Stars. Mary Ann https://www.blogger.com/profile/08136211832739830031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-10112177273544459712013-01-25T09:45:28.658-06:002013-01-25T09:45:28.658-06:00I'm hoping to finally track down some Chantecl...I'm hoping to finally track down some Chanteclers this year. They're a Canadian variety so they're cold hardy, plus I like the heritage aspect. We've had heritage chickens before, but not Canadian ones. <br />I have found suppliers in other provinces, but I'm not willing to pay $200 to have chicks flown in. <br />We're going to slaughter our existing chickens this spring. They're 2.5 years old and barely produced eggs at all last year.mwaddellhttp://www.salayviewfarm.comnoreply@blogger.com