Midwest Mix

[AGeese]

I don't know if you saw this page, but it provides good info on Sumatras: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/life-out-here/the-coop/poultry-breeds/sumatra

According to them, it is a hardy breed, so there you go.

I haven't not seen that, thanks. Here's the stock I'll be getting: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/life-out-here/the-coop/poultry-breeds/sumatra

I just want to check if you know, breeding projects are pretty expensive and take space. It adds up over time, once you've raised a lot of batches of chicks. And you do have to hatch a lot to get the birds you want.

For my sorta-crazy project, 2 years in now, I hatched most months of both years. In batches ranging from 3 - 48 chicks at a time. Depending on chicken cooperation and pen set ups. That requires infrastructure (multiple grow out spaces) which is what we found the single hardest and most expensive part of making it work.

Almost all of those found new homes, either quickly or slowly depending on the nature of the trait and when it was going to show up. With the number of cockerels and selling as mixed breeds, it means rehoming at a loss, in the red, because of the feed x electric to raise them all.

I recently made it down to 21 birds, which I was really pleased with! But that's before our hatching begins again, I've had to wait on cockerels to grow up enough the last few months.

So one thing it's important to have is a really clear goal. I know of one person that started a project and changed directions a few times and is now 10 years in with birds that are kind of here-there-and-everywhere. I mean, maybe it was fun for him... maybe. But it's not exactly successful.
So are you certain of everything you want? Can you spend some time looking at pictures of different breeds and varieties, and draw some sketches of your ideal bird, to be certain?
I drew a sketch of my goal and fell in love, although my family laughed their heads off at my drawing skills, LOL. Once you have that pure vision... does it match the practical goals you set out with?
I found mine, raised in FL, is not going to be heat hardy. I love the soft floofy feathering and pea combs. I can manage the birds successfully with shade and experience, but I don't intend to market it here. Maybe they will surprise me by virtue of xzy generations being raised in the heat.
And I think I'm still 3 years out at a bare minimum to project completion. It could be a lot longer, but my "solution" to speed it up is to just keep hatching as year round as I can.

Good points, I don't intend to jump all at once. In fact it will be slow going, because until I can expand I only plan to incubate and hatch a few at a time. I'll raise these to harvest, sell or rehome. I just want to get started before another 5 years passes by and I'm thinking why didn't I start now?

Not as certain as I was when I knew less, but that might be a good thing. I'm more flexible now with the idea of just seeing what happens as opposed to oh I gotta have this or that trait. I'm willing to see where it leads me.

I do like the Barnevelders too. I'm kinda leaning towards solid earth tones. Although I love the ornamentals, I want them to blend in with the environment.

This will be the foundations of my retirement, and maybe birds that will be worthy of passing on for someone else to enjoy.

I've never had a sumatra before, but I can tell you what other breeds I recommend for you to get in the future. I will rate them by friendliness as well as foraging skills (1 is best 10 is still good but wouldn't probably be your first choice.)
1. White plymouth rock
Great free-ranger, super friendly, they aren't that afraid to pick on each other, though they are great with other chickens.
2. Sapphire gem
Awesome breed. Great free-ranger, does good confined, super friendly, great/good with other chickens. Only bad thing though- huge comb, very susceptible to frostbite.
3. Silver-laced wyandotte
Friendly, great forager, does well confined, good with other chickens.
4. Brahma
Easy-going, doesn't pick on other chickens much, pea comb.
5. Black Australorp and black sexlink
They do have a medium-sized single comb but I've never had any problems with them getting frostbite before. They are both very sweet birds, the black sexlink might get picked on.

I hope this helped.

I hear Australorps are pretty popular. I honestly thought my Black Jersey Giants might have either been those or had some of that stock bred in.

 

[AGeese]

Got my Roo. This will bring me up to 10 birds. 2 Black Jersey Giants, 6 Buckeyes, 1 Black Copper Maran, and the Black Sumatra rooster.


"Black Sumatra roosters can be aggressive but only to those of its own breed and mainly during breeding season. Fighting will subside after the season is over. Multiple spurs are usually found on males and are to be desired for show. Our Black Sumatras are an excellent exhibition choice. Black Sumatras lay about 3-5 white eggs per week.

Average Mature Weight: Roosters 5 lbs, Hens 4 lbs."
https://meyerhatchery.com/products/Black-Sumatra-Day-Old-Chicks-p193239236

 

[AGeese]

I don't know if you saw this page, but it provides good info on Sumatras: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/life-out-here/the-coop/poultry-breeds/sumatra

According to them, it is a hardy breed, so there you go.

I finally got my Sumatra!

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I just want to check if you know, breeding projects are pretty expensive and take space. It adds up over time, once you've raised a lot of batches of chicks. And you do have to hatch a lot to get the birds you want.

For my sorta-crazy project, 2 years in now, I hatched most months of both years. In batches ranging from 3 - 48 chicks at a time. Depending on chicken cooperation and pen set ups. That requires infrastructure (multiple grow out spaces) which is what we found the single hardest and most expensive part of making it work.

Almost all of those found new homes, either quickly or slowly depending on the nature of the trait and when it was going to show up. With the number of cockerels and selling as mixed breeds, it means rehoming at a loss, in the red, because of the feed x electric to raise them all.

I recently made it down to 21 birds, which I was really pleased with! But that's before our hatching begins again, I've had to wait on cockerels to grow up enough the last few months.

So one thing it's important to have is a really clear goal. I know of one person that started a project and changed directions a few times and is now 10 years in with birds that are kind of here-there-and-everywhere. I mean, maybe it was fun for him... maybe. But it's not exactly successful.
So are you certain of everything you want? Can you spend some time looking at pictures of different breeds and varieties, and draw some sketches of your ideal bird, to be certain?
I drew a sketch of my goal and fell in love, although my family laughed their heads off at my drawing skills, LOL. Once you have that pure vision... does it match the practical goals you set out with?
I found mine, raised in FL, is not going to be heat hardy. I love the soft floofy feathering and pea combs. I can manage the birds successfully with shade and experience, but I don't intend to market it here. Maybe they will surprise me by virtue of xzy generations being raised in the heat.
And I think I'm still 3 years out at a bare minimum to project completion. It could be a lot longer, but my "solution" to speed it up is to just keep hatching as year round as I can.

Thankfully I can afford it these days, but I don't want to go overboard. I have given up on a specific set of traits, but instead just want to just let the birds I've already chosen figure out what that is. They are already pretty good and adapted to this climate. Great free rangers, friendly. So I can't ask too much more of them since they already have the colors and looks that I like.

Have you seen Double Laced Gold Barnevelders?

Yes those are neat and good free rangers. I'm not sure they are in my future though unless someone dropped one off

I've never had a sumatra before, but I can tell you what other breeds I recommend for you to get in the future. I will rate them by friendliness as well as foraging skills (1 is best 10 is still good but wouldn't probably be your first choice.)
1. White plymouth rock
Great free-ranger, super friendly, they aren't that afraid to pick on each other, though they are great with other chickens.
2. Sapphire gem
Awesome breed. Great free-ranger, does good confined, super friendly, great/good with other chickens. Only bad thing though- huge comb, very susceptible to frostbite.
3. Silver-laced wyandotte
Friendly, great forager, does well confined, good with other chickens.
4. Brahma
Easy-going, doesn't pick on other chickens much, pea comb.
5. Black Australorp and black sexlink
They do have a medium-sized single comb but I've never had any problems with them getting frostbite before. They are both very sweet birds, the black sexlink might get picked on.

I hope this helped.

I would agree those are all good heritage breeds. I'm going with blacks and browns/reds mainly. Maybe I'll get around to posting profiles for each of them here.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Beautiful birds!

 

[AGeese]

Added 3 Liege Fighters from @ProbablyChickenRelated these should add some real stature to the mix.


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[AGeese]

This is going to be a challenge.

The smaller Liege (4 months?) had to be separated from her larger mates as she was being bullied. This means she's now in isolation.

The two 6 month old Liege I moved to a pen in my garage. I wanted to move the small one there, but was unsure about her condition so brought her back the house, and kept the 2 larger ones qurantined from the others in the pen in the garage.

Small girl is rebounding well, but just too small to run with the flock in this weather, I need her to put on some more weight and fill those feathers she lost back in. She got good stance and spirits now though so it shouldn't be long.

Then we come to today. I tried letting out the two 6 month old Leige and that did not go so well with the flock.

The flock members all tried to assert their dominance and were rebuffed with little effort, and in a few cases I had to pull the Liege off because the largest one will lock onto them.

I imagine this is something like your average dog going up against a pitbull. So what I am going to do is free range them separately and supervised.

In only 1 or 2 instances did I get any sense the Liege wanted to assert authority and I quickly redirected everyone.

When they didn't they just seem to want to free range like everyone else. In some instances follow along. They are still somewhat young.

I think my best chance here is to get the small Liege out there with the flock before she gets to the size of her mates. She's already the underdog, and I tested her for a few minutes with the flock and there was no issue.

That said I will be walking the older leige regularly, but I'm just not sure I'll be able to ever leave them alone because my flock is feisty and established. I don't think I can afford to allow them to estbalish an order with the Liege.