Can anyone give me their opinion on starting my flock ?

Chris · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:32 pm

Hi there,

As a new comer, I planning on asking some pretty basic questions. So here goes;

I want to start with no more than 6 chickens. If I have my way I think I would like to get a mixture. Say an Australorp, a red ......, a wya....*what you suggested Tahir and some others. So, like a red one, a white one, a black one etc...but is it Ok to have a mixture like this? Do the different breeds get on OK or is this too 'multicultural' for them to cope? Ie - I mean in terms of behaviour traits etc.? :?:

Should I get chicks and bring them up ? I would be worried they are too little to be on their own and they might be too much to look after when I am starting out ?

Am I better to get adult chickens of the same type when I start ?
:-?

Any other helpful hints ? I understand you are just giving me a personal opinion so don't panic, I will just consider all the info I can get and make up my own mind.

Thanks
Nice to have a brouse around the site and see how excited you all are about your animal friends.
Cheers
Chris

Ajacksonno · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:58 pm

Chris wrote:

Hi there,

As a new comer, I planning on asking some pretty basic questions. So here goes;

I want to start with no more than 6 chickens. If I have my way I think I would like to get a mixture. Say an Australorp, a red ......, a wya....*what you suggested Tahir and some others. So, like a red one, a white one, a black one etc...but is it Ok to have a mixture like this? Do the different breeds get on OK or is this too 'multicultural' for them to cope? Ie - I mean in terms of behaviour traits etc.? :?:

More than one breed is certainly ok :-D

If they're all just hens for laying they should be fine together.

Quote:

Should I get chicks and bring them up ? I would be worried they are too little to be on their own and they might be too much to look after when I am starting out ?

Am I better to get adult chickens of the same type when I start ?
:-?

You'd probably be best to start of with some Point of Lay pullets or some already laying hens. Much less fuss and you can get eggs almost straight away.

Quote:

Any other helpful hints ? I understand you are just giving me a personal opinion so don't panic, I will just consider all the info I can get and make up my own mind.

Thanks
Nice to have a brouse around the site and see how excited you all are about your animal friends.
Cheers
Chris

You should be fine :-D

It's often nice to have a mix of hens (probably best if they're around the same sizes, which is easy if you're getting ones like Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, etc). There's plenty of information on -everything- if you go to places like 'Chicken Chat' and even the topics about housing poultry should be very helpful. Everyone here are always very helpful so don't hesitate to ask any questions :-D

[/quote]

Kylie · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:14 pm

Hi Chris

Alice is right

POL pullets or laying hens would probably be a good place to start. I have a very mixed pen with my layers, i have a light sussex, plymoth rock, buff oprington, australorp x and one other x breed hen that ii wouldn't have a clue what she is :roll:

and they all get along fine, i find that when i'm buying choox its better to get 2 or more at a time as choox seem to stick together, rather than getting one at a time and it ends up a loner by it self & being picked on [smilie=a_cool.gif]

Good luck with your new flock [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

your well on your way to becoming an addict like the rest of us I'm sure [smilie=a_chuckle.gif]

Chris · **Posted:** Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:44 pm

This is now the 3rd time I have tried to put a reply on and I keep losing it.

So, in short -

Thanks for the replies - this advise makes sense.

Chook shed nearly finished - next week maybe -- yah !! When hubby come back form his work on the Gold Coast[smilie=a_goodjob.gif].

Will get the girls (chooks) in pairs so they will not have to peck so hard to get the order right (the pecking order..)

I am getting excited - another dream coming true !! :!:

Cheers Chris
[smilie=orange.gif]

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:49 am

Chris wrote:

I want to start with no more than 6 chickens

You'll look back on that comment one day...sitting on your verandah with 100 hens and 16 roosters...and laugh. :lol:

...or cry. :cry:

In general I concur with the other replies.

I got a variety of chicks that were four weeks old when I got them. The intention was to give me some options to learn what I might like. I'm still waiting for them to grow up enough for me to decide for sure.

In the mean time I have acquired a number of older hens...not getting much in the way of eggs from them right now either, so I'm still not sure.

It will come down to personal preference and needs and whatever else.

If you're only after layers and you don't intend or expect to ever breed or eat your own, choose either the "pure bred" or the "commercial layers" path and enjoy the ride.

Commercial: eg. Lowman Browns. Bred to lay plenty of eggs. High energy input required for best production. Burn out and many die after just a few years.

Pure bred: eg. Rhode Island Reds. Might take longer to mature. Will probably lay less eggs per year. Will usually live longer.

These are just my opinions, and not even necessarily educated opinions.

Tahir · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:52 am

I agree with every post above

My sussex hen lays everyday in the warmer part of the year and once every second day in the cooler part of the year. My bantam australorp hens lay around the same pattern as my sussex but not as much.
commercial layers are good, except they eat a lot and they aren't as strong layers as the pure bred chooks once they are around 2 years old, but they lay more frequently.

pjh · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:31 am

ok opinionated so will give my opinion----a mixed flock is fine, but would steer clear of the brown commercial layers such as hyline, they can be very aggressive to other chooks, so unless that is all you want(and a few of them will give you lots of eggs, but usually die young)would avoid them

I would personally get my chooks in 2 batches, say 3 or 4 now and 2 or 3 in a few months, if they are different ages you have more chance of a continual egg supply( no guarantees though)

how many eggs do you think you will need? maybe 3 or 4 hens is all you need

says she, famous last words, chooks are addictive you know---I now have around 80 or so, and started off with 4 in my backyard

cheers pam

Chris · **Posted:** Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:16 pm

Wow, thanks guys for all that ! I already know 10 x more than I did when I joined this forum.

Actually, what I really want is just the sound of chooks in the yard and to see them scratching around etc. I definately want them to be happy and healthy and to get to know their individual personalities !

It's funny, personally I don't eat many eggs, I certainly don't plan to eat them. But I would love to be able to bring 'happy eggs ' to work for people and for my friends.... so, yes, I thik I might steer clear of the commercial gals....

thanks thanks -you guys rock... gotta go out and won't get to a computer until late tomorrow but you're right, this is already sooo much fun and I haven't even got my chooks yet !! [smilie=a_hrm.gif]

Have a great night all.

Chris [smilie=a_okbyenow.gif]

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