Poultry Update

Last year I was blessed with free chickens, ducks and geese.  It has been a great experience and I learned which chickens I want to keep in my flock.  After an entire year living with them, it was time for some changes.  I sold or gave away 8 roosters because there were way too many of them, and I sold the ducks and plan on getting some that will raise their own young.  I love ducks, but they are so messy to raise.  I need to build a good pen before I get more because my gander was very aggressive with them.

All the Delawares that I had last year were male, so Mother's Day I bought some new Delawares.  They are so cute and active, I sure hope there are some girls in the bunch.  They are already showing that Delaware personality that I love.  They are from good lines, but Delawares from all lines need a lot of work.  They are from the Holtman and Braden lines and were born between April 9-14, 2012.

I also bought 3 Australorp pullets.  I had a good rooster in the chicks from last year, but I didn't have one hen in the bunch (are you seeing a trend here).  These are older than the Delawares, so I am pretty sure I have girls. They are from the Bruce Sherman and Superior Farms lines and were born the first and second week of March.  They have good color, but are not well socialized.  I still can't get near them without a chicken panic attack.

I love my Buff Orpingtons, so they will be my third breed for this year.  

If I can find some cheap Bantam Cochin, I will add those to the flock as well.  I love the sounds that the Cochins make, so I think they will always be in my yard.