Looking For Chickens

I am in search of Rhode Island Red's that are 80-100% free range foragers and flighty as I want 2 pullets and a Rooster to start my 100% free range meat birds and new hens when needed.

If you or someone you know has what I am looking for within a 100 miles (maybe more) of the Boise area I would like to buy some.


Thanks

These are not Rhode Island Reds, but tell me what you think. This guy sounds like he knows how to make a hardy breed!

http://www.oneearthfarm.com/chickens/chickenmain.html

Thanks I emailed them to find more info I don't mind straying from the tried and true but there is a few things I to know first.

I will keep you all posted

Thanks, I am curious about them as well but cant order from them yet.

Not so sure that I would want bantams in my flock.

Yeah the things I am looking for in my birds that is why I want RIR's but I will see what they say

1- Great at foraging
2- Large eggs and prolific layers
3- Flighty
4- Good to great feed conversion
5- Cold and Heat hardy
6- Broody
7- Great hatch rate
8- Overall hardy

Since raising your own meat birds is a primary goal, your numbers are way off.

One rooster and 2 hens would be a disaster. You will end up with one rooster, and 2 dead/useless hens. If they don't run in fear every time they see him, he will screw 'em to death.

One rooster can easily service a dozen hens. If he has less than that, he will abuse them to the point that they could become useless for anything. I would say that 6-8 hens should be a minimum for a macho rooster. Ten to twelve would be better, particularly for raising chicks.

RIR roosters are generally NOT docile birds. That's one of the reasons that there are so many of them.

RIR hens are not usually known as being broody, but if you can get farm raised birds (vs. hatchery raised), they should be better @ brooding.

Good luck finding your birds. Check your local Craig's List. This time of year, many are trying to get rid of excess chickens.

Exactly...took the words right out of my mouth! Need more hens to rooster ratio and RIRs aren't known for broodiness though it does happen and more likely, as John states, from breeder stock instead of hatchery. Also? RIRs won't have much meat on them. You might consider a mixed flock of dual purpose breeds and layer breeds so you can accomplish both goals.

Regarding the rooster/hen ratio, this is a good indicator there are too many roosters.

Thanks I have one or two broody hens now that I was thinking I could use but now that you have helped me see the flaw in my plan I will adjust my plan to have 6-8 hens and one rooster.

Oh yeah the one earth farm people sold all of their flock.


Thanks for the input

If you are still researching breeds check out the Dominique. They are very self reliant and excellent brooders.