Getting chickens is one of the first things I looked into. I decided I wanted Rhode Island Reds and Ameraucanas, and happened to find a nearby breeder who not only has both those breeds, but is also extremely helpful. Her Ameraucanas are bred for colour and eggs, rather than for exhibition (exhibition ones are generally only one colour, hers are several), and she says her Rhode Islands are generally better tempered than they have a reputation for being. She has two young children too who help with her chickens and they are fine with them. She also has Welsummers which I hadn’t heard much about previously, but they are a very friendly bird and an excellent egg layer. So I’m getting three chicks of each breed from her, plus three Mille Fleur Belgian d’Uccles which are a bantam breed which have a great personality and make good pet birds. (I originally wanted Silkies, but haven’t found a breeder nearby. The breeder I’m getting these from normally has them, and hopes to again next year.) The chicks will be unsexed and will be here in just over a month! I’d like to end up with 4-6 laying hens at the end of the summer. The roosters will go in the freezer. (Any bad-tempered hens may too.) Not sure what we’ll do with any bantam roosters. Since they are more for fun/pets anyway, we’ll likely keep them as long as they are friendly and all get along. I may keep one Ameraucana or Welsummer rooster too, we’ll see.
We may also get ducks. Meredith loves ducks and has been asking for one. They are good for eating slugs and don’t dig up gardens like chickens do (though can still do damage). Some people love their eggs. (Others can’t stand them. One of the Cowichan home school moms I was talking to said they always taste like a chicken egg gone off to her.) So, we’re looking into it and I’m keeping my eye out. Lots of information to absorb though.
We went to the library yesterday. They had a story time, which Meredith wanted to sit in by herself, giving me a half hour to browse around by myself! Anyway, we got out some books about chickens and ducks (as well as rocket ships, something she is currently fascinated by). Meredith has been asking to read them over and over. Now when we look at pictures of chickens, she points out the combs and the wattles. She knows that chickens have beaks and ducks have bills. She talks about how ducks have webbed feet to swim with and chickens have strong claws to scratch up the ground and search for bugs. She’s very excited to get baby chicks next month. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with them!
Yay for chickens! When deciding where to move, the local law about caring for chickens was one of the first things I checked. We’re hoping to get some chicks here this spring as well, but we are not allowed to have roosters. I don’t know what we’ll do if we get one by accident!
We made sure to check that too when we were looking. This place is zoned rural, so we can basically do anything we want as long as no one complains. Our neighbours on one side have goats. I’m hoping we don’t end up with mostly roosters, but I guess it’s a bit of a gamble. Trade off for getting to raise them from chicks and getting them cheaper. If we do end up with a lot of roosters, we’ll probably buy a few pullets in the summer too.