American Bresse

[Baymule]

Changed our flock to all 1 variety, for meat AND eggs

I feel like I've been through the gauntlet of poultry raising now, 25ish years into it. We've had most varieties at this point. I used to think it would be "quaint" to have a different variety in each of our pens, like a collection. Then I went down the rabbit hole of breeding and learning about...

www.backyardchickens.com

I found this on BYC

 

[canesisters]

Changed our flock to all 1 variety, for meat AND eggs

I feel like I've been through the gauntlet of poultry raising now, 25ish years into it. We've had most varieties at this point. I used to think it would be "quaint" to have a different variety in each of our pens, like a collection. Then I went down the rabbit hole of breeding and learning about...

www.backyardchickens.com

I found this on BYC

OMG!!! I follow a lady on FB with that name! Betcha is the same person. She is a WEALTH of info!

 

[Baymule]

She doesn't seem to post much, but at least she might be more accessible on BYC than FB.

While the breed sounds intriguing, I think I'll stick with raising the Cornish Cross. Freak-a-zoid birds, but lots of meat in a short time. I'm really tired of them about day 2. but trudge through my duties for 2 months. LOL

 

[canesisters]

Well, well, well.... lookie what I found!!!!

Two little bitty pullet eggs!



I haven't posted on these girls in a while. I'm not sure that I'll continue with them.
....possibly keep them as layers but not as breeding stock for meat birds.
I'm not sure if it's just them, or being raised by a 'no touchy!' broody, or the breed in general but these girls are NUTS. I mean completely feral. I went in the coop the other night; when Wendy first took the latest chicks up on the roost; to make sure they were all together because it was going to be pretty chilly that night.... these girls FREAKED OUT. Screaming like I was ringing necks, launching of the roost & bouncing of the walls and ceiling. They had almost the entire flock out the door & into the dark pen. Took me forever to round everyone back up and get them all back in the coop.... especially the chicks. Going in with a light is a nightly thing, had been since before they hatched. The only difference was that I went a couple of steps closer so I could look under Wendy & count chicks. Even out in the pen they will panic if anything is a little off. I threw several handfuls of tall weeds over the fence the other day. Everyone else came to pick through it, some even jumping up to grab the bits hung up in the web 'roof'.... but those 3 took off screaming.
Maybe in the spring I might pick up a few chicks to raise in a brooder & see if they're any better. I'm not thrilled with the idea of having to actually wrestle a bird before killing it...

 

[SageHill]

Well, well, well.... lookie what I found!!!!
View attachment 122087
Two little bitty pullet eggs!



I haven't posted on these girls in a while. I'm not sure that I'll continue with them.
....possibly keep them as layers but not as breeding stock for meat birds.
I'm not sure if it's just them, or being raised by a 'no touchy!' broody, or the breed in general but these girls are NUTS. I mean completely feral. I went in the coop the other night; when Wendy first took the latest chicks up on the roost; to make sure they were all together because it was going to be pretty chilly that night.... these girls FREAKED OUT. Screaming like I was ringing necks, launching of the roost & bouncing of the walls and ceiling. They had almost the entire flock out the door & into the dark pen. Took me forever to round everyone back up and get them all back in the coop.... especially the chicks. Going in with a light is a nightly thing, had been since before they hatched. The only difference was that I went a couple of steps closer so I could look under Wendy & count chicks. Even out in the pen they will panic if anything is a little off. I threw several handfuls of tall weeds over the fence the other day. Everyone else came to pick through it, some even jumping up to grab the bits hung up in the web 'roof'.... but those 3 took off screaming.
Maybe in the spring I might pick up a few chicks to raise in a brooder & see if they're any better. I'm not thrilled with the idea of having to actually wrestle a bird before killing it...

Well dang!!! Wonder if it's a breed thing?? I couldn't find anything online about temperament other than good foragers and supposedly the best tasting and thin bones that equal a higher meat ratio.

 

[canesisters]

I've read a lot of mixed info. Some call them flighty. Some talk about handling them often to assess how they're growing/filling out. I can't imagine handling these girls without coming away poopy, scratched, possibly bruised.

 

[SageHill]

I've got New Hampshire Reds -- someone around here sells them all the time. They are fine if I'm around the outside of their enclosure - if I go in they're aren't happy - not totally crazy but you can tell they'd prefer their space wasn't shared.

 

[Mini Horses]

My BOs are tame. Barred rocks have always been when I had those. Geesh...they sound like a leghorn, wild . My hen hatched chicks are run away -- mom inspired -- my incubated ones think I'm mom and run to me when I'm out. In fact, I have to be careful not to step or trip on them

 

[fuzzi]

The Sussex and Dominiques mob the door, get underfoot, and talk! The OEGB still are flighty, but no longer panic when I walk into the run. They also aren't freaking out anymore when I toss feed/seeds at them.

The Sussex "chicks" are bigger than the older OEGB. They have learned that it's not a threat when I toss food their way.

 

[Baymule]

I don’t like flighty wild idiots, in any type of animal. If I want to go hunting, I’ll go hunting and shoot a flighty wild animal. They have a reason to be wild because they ARE wild. Farm animals get a grace period but they better shape up or they will either ship out or go to Freezer Camp.