How to raise Backyard Chickens: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Dual Purpose Chickens

Hi Britta. I live in New Hampshire where in most years it gets cold in the winter, 20 below in the extreme. This year has been an exception. No winter at all. I have raised several breeds of chickens through the years. Never had a problem with the cold. I do cheat and use a heat lamp in the very cold temps.I usually sell or give away my hens after 2 years. My DW is not into freezer camp for our chickens. First nothing except an RIR will produce eggs like Red Sex Link. The RIRs that you buy these days are production birds and not like the "heritage" breed. So they are not really dual purpose. Some breeds that are considered dual purpose are better for eggs others are better for meat. Buff Orpington, Black sex links and New Hampshire Reds are considered better meat birds while the Red Sex link and Australorp are better for eggs. Marla's description is pretty much right on.
Ol' George

--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "Britta" <morningstarlearning@...> wrote:
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> Hi Marla and Mark,
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> Thanks for the leg band suggestion! Has anyone had experience making leg bands that would actually stay on like the ones Mark linked to. I'm low on dollars, so any thing I could make myself would be a help.
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> And Marla, I am glad to hear your first hand experience with the Buff Orps and Austrolorps, which had been on my wish list at one time.
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> Could you tell me what state you are in, Marla? I'm just curious if you have the cold winters like we have in WI? Though this winter has been quite mild, it is generally very cold for a long time here. But if you are in a cold state and getting the great results with the Buff Orps and Austrolorps, they may well be the ones for me!
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> P.S. Marla-- congrats on your two geese!
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> Thanks for writing!
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> Truly,
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> Britta
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> --- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "Marla" <marlajulich@> wrote:
> >
> > I raise buff orps and mine layed thru winter with just a slight decrease in number of eggs until they got to be around 3 or 4 years. They are my fave dual purpose chicken. The leg bands suggestion is a very good one.
> > Now, other notable dual purpose chickens are: Austrolorps (very good layers, also gentle, and a decent sized bird), Barred(or other color) Rock (gentle and a bit smaller than orps but larger than production birds), some like the RIR but my experience is the better layers have less meat almost like a production bird (not to bad mouth the breed).
> > Buff Orps and Austrolorps are both known broodies. To clear something up- red stars eggs will hatch when fertile they just don't breed true since they are a mix. You just won't be sure what your chicks will be like. They could be lightly muscled production type or more dual purpose like. The buff orp/giant cross could work well for you as well.
> > I've had all the breeds I've mentioned except the giants. My orps and austrolorps are the only ones that layed thru winter besides my red sex link. My black sex links, rocks, and RIRs only made it thru Dec before quitting until spring.
> > Others mileage may vary, just my experience and why I chose the buff orp for my dual purpose flock.
> > Best of luck,
> > Marla
>