What kind of chicken?

[Janet Jinkner]

I assume, since this is hen and harvest, that most people here either have or want chickens. What kind do you have? What kind do you want?

I have several Rhode Island Reds, a bunch of auracana/americanas, two white brahmas, two barred rocks and a bunch of what I call my psycho-killers. They are not really psycho, and they are not killers. A friend stuck that name on them when I told him what they were. A friend who lives pretty far out in the woods had gotten a couple of barred rock hens for eggs. These barred rock hens had mated with the feral chickens that lived in the nearby woods. These feral chickens were escaped fighting cock stock that escaped many years previous and had successfully lived in the woods for many (up to 30) years. Like I said, they are not really psycho or killers, but they WILL go broody at the drop of a hat. I like 'em.

What I would LIKE, is to get a few black Langshans. Those are really pretty birds. They are like the RIR of China.

What does everyone else have and/or want?

[Janet Jinkner]

Oh Lori, you poor little thing. I can't imagine a life without pumpkin pie. It must be just terrible. ;-)

It sounds like you may have plenty of pumpkin or winter squash to work with, so I added a pumpkin pie recipe discussion so we could share our best pie recipes with you. Here's a link to the discussion:

http://barnyard.ning.com/forum/topics/pumpkin-or-winter-squash-pie

Alison, I've had ducks. Ducks are wonderful fun to watch. If you have enough water to keep a little pond for them, and the pond can be a child's wading pool, and don't mind all the duck poo, I would recommend them. You can have both ducks and chickens, but if you do you should house them separately. I can say this because I tried keeping ducks and chickens together then finally gave them to someone who had the sense to build a second shelter so he could keep them apart.

[greenmulberry]

I have two backyard mutt chickens, one barred rock, one buff orpington, one speckled sussex, two easter eggers, and this spring I am getting two black stars, two Welsummers, and Two Giant partridge cochins!

[karen]

I have 2 golden sex links....dogs got into the coop and killed the other 4 last fall. I am adding 6 chicks this spring. I think: 4 barred rock and 2 black sex-links. I've also had arucanas in the past, but their egg production wasn't so good and they were temperamental. Our neighbor has a 3 year old granddaughter who likes to come and "check out" the chickens and gather eggs, so I try to keep civil breeds!

[Liz]

I have 4 Rhodies (Rhode Island Reds) 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Black Austs. and 3 Black Silkies. I had a beautiful Aracona rooster but a hawk got him on Christmas morning. They are all pretty good layers right now except for the silkies which are getting older. I'm hoping to get more layers soon as I have no problem selling the eggs.