I recently asked about setting hens; thanks for the info. I'd like to know what your favourite breeds are for meat, eggs, beauty, whatever. Do any of you breed to sell live birds?

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), February 28, 2002

Answers

I don't sell any of my chickens,but do give eggs to any neighbors who want them.My favorite laying hens are the Barred Rocks.I like to just sit on the porch and watch them chase bugs.

-- Johna (marcnjohna@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

I think Silver-Laced Wyandottes are beautiful. Americanas are nice with those beautiful blue and green eggs. And so good natured. We have our first few Speckled Sussex this year, and they are also beautiful birds. The rooster is pretty big, so I think they would be good dual purpose.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

Cathy---- God didn't make a bad chicken!! ha!! We have had soooooooo many kinds over the years & mixes!!!! They all were soo great----some had better personalities than others----but all were fun & layed eggs & ate bugs & entertained us--- I love to go to the state fairs & see all the different kinds & remember when we had this kind or that kind---- Chickens are just soo fun----I think anyone who has room to have a few chickens owes it to them selves to have some!!! I also have a chicken collection---all sorts of glass--or craft chickens or paintings of chickens---they have such great prsonalities- --& I love being able to hatch out babies & raise them like more children!! ha! But I have about 20 tooo many roosters if anyone needs a few for their hens----as they are fancy bantams & mixes---not for eating---thanks!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), February 28, 2002.

Sonda, where are you again? I am expecting about a dozen more girls, but I don't have a rooster one! I only want one for the aesthestics, I like to hear the rooster crow in the morning, and so does my over- the-back-fence neighbor's parrot - she imitates them!!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 28, 2002.

Christine-----e-mail me if ya like & I'll tell ya just where in Kansas I am-----hate to do it over the net any more---on a forum---- but e-mail me----ok???? Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 01, 2002.

I am planning to sell live birds locally, starter flocks and chicks, within the next few months. I am currently selling eggs and saving my americauna eggs for easter.

If I am selling both eggs and live birds, I can afford the genetic diversity needed to keep a productive flock. I know a lot of homestead folks who like to allow their poultry to live in their own free society, but a couple of generations of inbreeding creates a seriously defective welfare class. Yes I am talking about chickens!

I like to stay with the dual purpose homestead breeds, eggs and meat. We prefer large brown eggs. The largest eggs so far come from the black sex links, but the hens themselves are kind of bland and boring.

Our americaunas were given to us. We were asked to come and catch them as they were attracting cougars. They've been a blessing to us. Their eggs will be the first in the incubator.

-- Laura (Ladybugwrangler@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.