What in the world makes me want to have chickens?
I would be sifting through piles of cash from collecting coins every time I've been asked that question! Well, I don't know the definitive answer. Why do kids wish to have a pet dog? What is the visual fascination of a fish tank? What makes a purring kitty irresistible? A llama likable ? A goat gratifying?
Owning chickens is a little adventure I've had in my head since I moved out of citified life about twenty five years ago. I'm not talking about a large flock undertaking... maybe just three chickens. Possibly four... just enough for a few fresh eggs from my friendly, feathered ladies who would be quite entertaining to watch.
Perhaps rural living on a few Indiana acres renewed happy memories of visiting my grandparents on their beautiful Wisconsin farm. An incredible cook, Grandma would send us kids scampering down hillside slab stone stairs to the chicken coop to retrieve eggs for her to whip up something delicious.
Whatever the reason, my mission of learning about chickens began since that move to Indiana, Thank you to all chicken owners who offered answers to my pesky questions! And I'm also quite grateful to the many blog writers and websites devoted to chickens. Alas, my chicken quest was not realized in Indiana. But here I am... a retired mom, relocated recently into the northwoods of Wisconsin, and thinking that now is a great time to turn my dreams into plans :>)
So... which chickens did I select?
First off, I knew I wanted pullets... a hen almost mature enough to lay eggs. As ADORABLE as fuzzy new chicks are, they do require special care, lighting, and feed. To greater ensure my success, I decided to bypass that all-out cuteness and begin with pullets.
Then I decided on layers. My intent is solely for eggs, not meat (although my recent chicken source says that after butchering, layers can be canned and be surprisingly tasty), nor is it intended for breeding to increase my flock. For now, I just want pullets. A rooster is not required for hens to lay their eggs, and for that, my neighbors are grateful.
Next, I wanted layers to produce brown eggs. White would also be fine, but another chicken source who sells eggs says the public prefers farm eggs that are brown, so her white eggs (just as tasty - just a shell color difference) won't sell. Ya know, just in case I have a surplus of eggs....
I would like one Ameraucana chicken that lays different colored eggs: blue, green, pinks. Their eggs often aren't as large, but seriously! I'd love to serve green eggs and ham to my Birchbright guests! And won't it be fun sending my own grandkids to the coop for colored eggs?
Moving on in the thought process... I then selected hens who laid large eggs, which I use in my baking. This criteria eliminated the bantams.
My chickens will need to be cold hardy here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. I chose chickens well-known for surviving harsh winters, whose combs don't freeze (although applying Vaseline to combs and waddles in cold climates is helpful).
From the remaining choices, I looked for chickens who were prolific layers, producing about an egg a day, even through the winter months. Adding artificial light to the coop during shortened winter daylight helps the ladies keep on laying.
Now, how did I make the final decision...? By feather color, of course :>) A buff, a speckled, a red, and the white Ameraucana,.. I love being eclectic. I am not known for making everything match. Even so, I had some choices to make. It came down to:
- Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red
- Buff Orpington or Buff Rock
- Silver Laced Wyandotte or Plymouth Barred Rock
- And the white Ameraucana. As it turns out, these hens come in other feathered colors, too.
The winners are...
I don't know yet.
My chicken pal here in Wisconsin ordered a potluck of chicks from a breeder for a great price. He is letting me select from his brood. Their little feathers need to grow in order to find out which breeds he received. As soon as my coop is finished (very soon!), I can go pick out my new feathered friends and let you know what kind they are :>)
