trying to rebuild Great Grandmothers flock

[EOD Daddy]

I hope this is the right place for this question. With all the crazy bird flu and other general craziness going on I have decided to try and build a flock like my grandmother had (60+ years ago). As I think about it her flock was mixed birds. She had a flock that provided provided meat, eggs, and was naturally self reproducing. Every year there was two or three hens with babies running around the yard with the other birds. Probably a flock of 30 or so hens. At that time there was just her and one Uncle, my mom said when all 9 kids where living at home she had well over 100 hens.
So after all that here is what I am asking. I am thinking of using Freedom Ranger New Hampshire hens for size (Meat) and eggs, Perhaps a Heritage Rhode Island Red from Sandhills for egg production and size and Iowa Blue from Sandhills for broodiness and roosters for flock protection? I am hoping to mix these three breeds and the off spring will theoretically develop a flock that I am looking to build.
I would love some advice or suggestions from chicken keepers who have 50 + birds and have been keeping a mixed flock for several years. Please, no responses from small flock holders who have pets. I need replies from people with multiple years and lots of experiences. Not being rude just looking for specific results.
Thank You

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Might I humbly suggest you grab yourself a nice beverage [adult or otherwise], find a comfortable reading spot, and "settle in". I have a head start on you (and a LONG way to go), as I started with very much sub-par birds during the pandemic.

There are a few threads in similar vein I would also recommend, maintained by posters I respect - but I'm gong to allow them the opportunity to "step up" and show their work before i start volunteering them and their threads.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Shorter form, you could do worse than starting with a good NH line.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the "broody" trait - and haven't.

Not only are reasonably reliable incubators reasonably cheap, but the broody trait is often paired with low egg production (which you don't want) and even breeds (or hybrids) not famed for going broody will sometimes brood. I have a 4 year old Golden Comet (trade name production red) currently sitting 23 eggs... So I'm not sure I'd introduce the Iowa Blue. If anything, I'd look to add even more meat to the bird, as even many of the "heritage" lines of dual purpose birds seem to have been allowed to slip towards egg production over early large size.

You don't list a location - are there any weather conditions you may have to deal with that would favor one comb over another? Or a color/pattern you are seeking?

 

[Shadrach]

I would worry about the broody trait if you are after a self sustaining group.
There is an awful ot to consider. Incubator chicks are hard work and depending on the keeping circumstances may not survive well ranging without a mother to show them the ropes.

I assume you intend to range these birds (?) How much room will they have and what sort of land/vegitation/farming/environment will they live in?
Do you want them to roost in a single coop or would you consider coop per breed?

Who else is going to want to eat your birds, hawks, bears, weasels...?
While it seems initially that large birds may give best meat and egg production, I found smaller faster birds survived better.
Could you go for eating less chicken per cull?

If you want a large bird to mix with a small fast bird then I suggest the Dorking if you can get them where you are and I would suggest not getting hatchery birds. The Hamburg is another solid breed with proven ranging skills assuming you can get them from a breeder who ranges their birds.
If you can find a free range, or ranging group to pick some chicks or eggs as flock starters from then I would go for those.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you want broody and evasive (for predators), check out Phoenix. Their tails look like liabilities, but they drop the feathers rather easily if grabbed and are great fliers and nest hiders

 

[EOD Daddy]

Shorter form, you could do worse than starting with a good NH line.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the "broody" trait - and haven't.

Not only are reasonably reliable incubators reasonably cheap, but the broody trait is often paired with low egg production (which you don't want) and even breeds (or hybrids) not famed for going broody will sometimes brood. I have a 4 year old Golden Comet (trade name production red) currently sitting 23 eggs... So I'm not sure I'd introduce the Iowa Blue. If anything, I'd look to add even more meat to the bird, as even many of the "heritage" lines of dual purpose birds seem to have been allowed to slip towards egg production over early large size

You don't list a location - are there any weather conditions you may have to deal with that would favor one comb over another? Or a color/pattern you are seeking?

I live in North Central MO. Some warm summers and some cool winters nothing too extreme. I have an incubator. I ask myself this question when doing things. "How did God do it" well he did it with broody hens. Because you don't need power.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Re: Incubators

Obviously, I'm willing to let Nature do her thing when its convenient - I also have a duck sitting 11, and could not simultaneously incubate both duck and chicken eggs, nor raise them in the same brooder space.

I think of it as "insurance", rather than core management component.

That said, Incubation is the one thing money can buy.

More money won't make a hen lay sooner, won't make a hen lay more often, won't make a hen lay larger eggs**. Obviously too little moeny, an inferior feed regimen can hurt all those things - but once a hen is performing at her best, that's it.

More money won't make a rooster put on useful weight faster. That's almost entirely matching diet to genetics. Once you've reached your genetic potential, all you are doing is pushing money out your bird's backside as (eventual) fertilizer.

but if your flock doesn't have a broody when you need one??? Yeah, money will fix that.

And once you have a flock of various ages, I find integrating new birds goes pretty smoothly w/ a bit of preparation. Older hens are VERY good at teaching young Roos how they are expected to behave.

**(ok, it will, to a point, but not substantially).

 

[EOD Daddy]

Re: Incubators

Obviously, I'm willing to let Nature do her thing when its convenient - I also have a duck sitting 11, and could not simultaneously incubate both duck and chicken eggs, nor raise them in the same brooder space.

I think of it as "insurance", rather than core management component.

That said, Incubation is the one thing money can buy.

More money won't make a hen lay sooner, won't make a hen lay more often, won't make a hen lay larger eggs**. Obviously too little moeny, an inferior feed regimen can hurt all those things - but once a hen is performing at her best, that's it.

More money won't make a rooster put on useful weight faster. That's almost entirely matching diet to genetics. Once you've reached your genetic potential, all you are doing is pushing money out your bird's backside as (eventual) fertilizer.

but if your flock doesn't have a broody when you need one??? Yeah, money will fix that.

And once you have a flock of various ages, I find integrating new birds goes pretty smoothly w/ a bit of preparation. Older hens are VERY good at teaching young Roos how they are expected to behave.

**(ok, it will, to a point, but not substantially).

You are very correct as long as you have a power grid and or the time to manage an incubator and then raise the chicks. I am not an end of the world total zombie war guy. (Too old and too sick to worry about all that). Just wanting to get back to basics and be a little healthier and teach grand kids how to live more natural and not be so dependent on the grocery store. Just in case the zombies do attack. LOL

 

[Perris]

her flock was mixed birds. She had a flock that provided provided meat, eggs, and was naturally self reproducing. Every year there was two or three hens with babies running around the yard with the other birds. Probably a flock of 30 or so hens.

Mine is this, except whole flock number of about 30 includes roos.

I would love some advice or suggestions from chicken keepers who have 50 + birds and have been keeping a mixed flock for several years.

I don't keep that many but otherwise fit your bill.

I need replies from people with multiple years and lots of experiences.

I have this.

Just wanting to get back to basics and be a little healthier and teach grand kids how to live more natural and not be so dependent on the grocery store

I do this. No incubators or commercial feed here.
So I think I pass your test for fit to reply.

On breeds to use, I would recommend getting your foundation stock from proper breeders. People breeding to the SOP have more rejects than keepers every year, so you can get excellent genetics at reasonable cost (since you won't be competing for show birds and will be relieving them of their excess mouths to feed). And thereby avoid U_Stormcrow's situation of trying to build from a bad base.

As important as that, I would recommend getting your foundation stock from local breeders. Those birds will be suited to your environment and climate and won't need molly-coddling through winters and summers.

If you let your flock run freely round the yard, and you achieve the goal of a self-sustaining flock, as I have, most of your stock will end up as hybrids. Whatever the genetics you start with, prepare for them to mix and match. The fittest for your environment will thrive and reproduce. I have found that the heavy breeds don't reproduce well; the so-called Mediterranean type emerges and dominates: light build, long legs, fast and flighty - indeed, may actually be able to fly as well as a pheasant. These also are good foragers, and good at evading predators; at least, the predators we have here.

And I get enough eggs - despite multiple broodies every year - for sale of the surplus to cover my costs. So my flock is essentially free, bar my time, which I enjoy spending with them, and the capital costs, most of which I expect to recoup when I give this up, as I bought bomb-proof coops which hold their value - indeed, I bought 3 of my 4 coops second-hand (I use Nestera; bought more as the flock grew).

If you are interested, these articles describe my journey with natural home made feed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...eat-tears-a-calculator-or-deep-pockets.78655/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/wholesome-homemade-feed-2.79307/
And this article reports my experience with broody hens:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...y-the-good-the-bad-and-the-indifferent.79643/

 

[NanaK]

I've been keeping chickens for about 12 years now.

Our goals are somewhat different but I will agree that I would want to include the broody trait in a self sustaining flock. I've had broodies since my first hens turned 1 yr old.

I like having an incubator because for me it is just insurance that I can hatch whenever I want.

When given a choice, I'd much rather use my broodies. They have a much higher success rate. They start teaching chicks what they need to know almost on day 1. Also much less work for me.
I love my broodies.

Just wanting to get back to basics and be a little healthier and teach grand kids how to live more natural and not be so dependent on the grocery store.

Homeschooling my grandson is why we first got chickens. Kids learn so many life lessons raising chickens and vegetables. He had lots of questions along the way. Roosters are not discreet. lol
He is a young man now at 18 years old. Very proud of him!

I am not an end of the world total zombie war guy. (Too old and too sick to worry about all that).

Me either. Too old to run real fast! lol

Just in case the zombies do attack. LOL

I used to say I've seen it all. Now I say anything can happen.