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All the Chicken Babies

When we first decided that we wanted to get away from the hybrid chickens and start raising heritage breeds, we weren’t sure which ones we wanted. Oh, I was sure . . I want them ALL!  We got a variety of eggs and hatched them .  . having not great results but we did end up with at least a few of all the breeds we tried to hatch in the last batch. They’re all starting to grow up now and we still aren’t sure which ones we’ll focus in on and continue with but here’s what’s happening with them all.

My favorites so far . .

Iowa Blues

Iowa Blues

The Iowa Blues. I really like them. I like the story about them. Yes, I joined the Iowa Blue Chicken Club! Yes, I need to get a life . . and finish reading the thermodynamics book!  🙂

Seriously, one of the descriptions I read about them said they have a delightful personality and a very expressive face and they do!  We got six when they were the feature breed at Tractor Supply. Three turned out to be roosters and three turned out to be hens. We can’t keep all three roosters . . that’s what Vince says anyway. I believe all three in the photo above are roosters. The hens don’t have the white on their necks.

This picture shows all six of them.

Iowa Blues

Iowa Blues

When we’re feeling patient and energetic, we’re going to move them into the coop with the red chickens. That will give me 13 hens and 3 roosters. I might can keep 2 roosters with 13 hens but I’d rather have at least 18 hens for 2 roosters . . we’ll work all that out later.

Baby Chicks

Baby Chicks

These are some of the last batch to hatch. The little yellow/black chicks are Anconas and they’re Vince’s favorite. It helps that they’re an Italian breed. He thinks they’re so smart! Of course, Vince is just a little biased . . an Italian chicken HAS to be smarter than any other chicken, right?  The Anconas will grow up to be black with white dots. They’re supposed to be good foragers, good layers (large white eggs) but not very people friendly. I would say something here but I won’t!  🙂

I believe I have 2 girls and a boy so that’s good. Others in that picture are the two Buff Lace Polish (light with little bump on his head), an Ameraucana, a Dominique and a Welsummer.

Screech

Screech

This is another picture of a few of them with Screech in the background (adjoining pen) showing off . . with his screechy little crow!

Another batch of babies . . 

More Babies

More Babies

The two speckled ones are Speckled Sussex and there’s a boy and a girl. Most of the others in this coop are Black Copper Marans. Just my luck, I think I have 4 roosters and 5 hens and I can’t keep all those roosters. There are a couple of other breeds of chickens in this coop but they aren’t in the picture.

In the end, we’ll probably keep all the Dominiques. They’re such a docile breed and the hens are good layers and the rooster (Wilbur) is a pretty kind hearted old guy. Vince will want to keep the Anconas and I will want to keep the Iowa Blues. We’ll probably keep the Black Copper Marans, Welsummers and the Ameraucanas because I like the color of their eggs. We’ll probably keep the Speckled Sussex because they’re an overall good breed to have and we’ll probably keep the Buff Lace Polish because they’re so ugly, they’re cute! 

I think we’ve narrowed it down to . . we’ll keep them all!  🙂

Really, once we get the rooster population down to where it needs to be, considering that the bantams are pretty useless and we only have them because they’re cute and therefore, I’m not counting them in my overall chicken numbers, we really don’t have too many, do we?  

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wow! That’s a lot of baby chickens!! You obviously enjoy them all, and you can always sell or give away extra eggs, so why not keep them all? Sounds like a plan to me!

  2. I love to read about your life!

    I would really like to get copper Marans at some point, but not this year. We just butchered 53 meat chickens and are ready for a break!

  4. Dare I ask…….What is the actual head count??????? I see A LOT of omelets and angel food cake in your future!

  5. We have a single bantam hen (long story) amoung our 9 chickens, and she is the most faithful egg layer. She is also the easiest to handle and the most friendly. And, until you have had deviled eggs that can be munched in a single bite, you have not really had deviled eggs. Our “popper eggs” are coveted at neighborhood events and by the whole family. Yes, we have to save up for nearly two weeks to have a dozen tiny eggs, but it is well worth the wait. Bantams are not useless, they are fun sized. 🙂

  7. Nature has a way of keeping the numbers down so I don’t think there is such a thing as too many chickens! Besides, the babies are just too cute to stop having them…

    • If we’re keeping them all inside the runs, the numbers aren’t reduced. Chicken feed gets expensive when feeding way too many and since I don’t sell eggs, it’s kinda crazy to keep spending $$ to feed them, build more coops and runs and then spend half my day trying to find someone to take the extra eggs.

  9. I’m interested in how the Welsummer does. I’m looking to introduce another breed to my flocks (I have 2 flocks of White Rocks). Preferably something pretty with some color!

  10. Question for you-which lays a grayish putty color egg? Our little farm stand has been getting fresh eggs from a lady in Leander-most of the ones in the carton are the typical brown, a white once in a while and also a putty color egg.

    • I have no idea . . maybe someone else will know. I have greenish, brown, pinky/coral but not sure about putty.

  11. This post just makes me want more chickens! All the chickens! I do so wish me had more land . . . then I could really branch out with some other varieties. I’m looking forward to hearing how all your chicks mature and what you like about them. Enjoy them Judy!

  12. Since you say chickens will cross-breed, just think of some of the pretty combinations you could end up with…

  13. Well, Judy, I guess you’re too far out in the country for the “roadside egg stand”! Would someone in town agree to carry ‘Eggs by Judy’? How about if you sell your home made chicken soup? Or you could sell the chickens you can bear to part with. I can see the sign now: Hand Raised Organic, Chickens, already socialized, ready for YOUR back yard. Or maybe you should start a chicken and quilting workshop, bring fabric, take home a chicken or two. The possibilities are endless. I wish I could retire and raise chickens, it sounds like fun… in addition to a lot of work. Oh gosh, I must need some coffee. LOL!

  14. I just love all the chicken stories. I never knew anything at all about chickens, and I’ve learned so much from your posts and the links you provide. It’s fascinating!

  15. Have you every had any Icelandic hens or roosters? I would really like to try them.

    • Have never had them but they look interesting. Try them and let me know what you think. Did you ever get your quail?

  16. Hi Judy – I am Italian and had to get an Ancona last year. I named her Izzy. While she doesn’t like to be held, she is very friendly and always has to come, say hello and check out what I’m doing. She faithfully comes when she’s called into the coop/run. This year I got a Sicilian Buttercup. This breed also has the same reputation as the Ancona. She too is a very nice little bird – nice coloring, cool crest and always comes over to me to check out what I’m doing. Neither birds are bullies. Izzy lays pretty white eggs – Carmella, the Buttercup is only a few months old but I have high hopes:-) I love by Italian girls!

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