Where We Started

We started like many backyard farmers with a small flock of four chickens.  We chose the Russian Orloff. They are a beautiful bird that will lay about 100 to 150 medium-sized light brown eggs in the first year. They are quite hearty for cold regions which I can attest to that when we had many weeks of subfreezing weather that first year we started the flock. However, they do not do so well in the very hot summers which we have started experiencing year after year the past few years.

3-week Russian Orloff Pullet

Because we live in an area that is renowned for predatory animals, we built an A-framed coop and run with a footprint that was just big enough for four hens. It was so sturdy, that we couldn't move it without a tractor! 

First Chicken Coop

The first coop had all the fancy bells and whistles, like an auto feeder and watering cups, electricity to it for lighting, and insulated. Like I said, all the bells and whistles.  But within that first year, we also realized what did NOT work for us. By the second year, we had built a second coop, and then our third coop just like the second. We got rid of the first coop as being useless for our situation.  We continued with the A-frame design but in a much different, lighter layout with a larger pasturing footprint. Although we still have plenty of predators, we have yet to have a hen attacked while using the second style of coop/run. The hens have access to the outdoors in all weather, even freezing rain and snow. The runs are easily covered for the elements ensuring that there is plenty of shade along with sunshine. On windy days, we have lightweight panels that we use as wind blocks. These panels can also be used to keep the snow or sideways rain out. When the sun comes back out, we lay the panels down next to the coop. 

2nd A-frame Coop w/Run

We also did away with the fancy auto-feeders and waterers. We went back to the galvanized bell waterer. The type of weather we were experiencing, as well as the types of rodent predators we were dealing with, had a lot to do with our change of mind in these areas.  I created a rain-resistant feeder that reduced the number of rodents having access to the feed. Plus, we stopped feeding inside the coop.   

We quickly realized that the cougars, hawks, coyotes, and the occasional black bear were not the only predators that we were going to need to protect our flocks from. The rodents' feces, along with their intestinal worms, mites, and lice that rodents share, was impacting our hens' health. When we reduced the rodents, we improved our hens' over-all wellbeing. 

Young Orloff Pullet

Because we pasture our flocks along with feeding them certified organic pellets, people started wanting our hens' eggs, but there was no way to keep up with the demand because our Orloffs were not "egg producers."  While they were great at other things, getting a lot of eggs was not going to happen. We decided to acquire Welsummers for their producing ability as well as their temperament, vitality, and egg color. 

Orloffs Foraging

We have never opted to breed our chickens. We will leave that to others who have the time and energy to take on such an adventure. We rely on local hatcheries to sustain our flocks.

Flock of 3 Welsummers w/1 Orloff 

2 Days / 3 Welsummers v 1 Orloff Eggs

About the time we switched to Welsummers, we also started raising broiler chickens. Once we had the brooding part mastered, we started purchasing enough organic Cornish Cross chickens to fill our freezer for half a year while selling a few to family and friends. Yes, we also pasture them prior to processing them. The meat is never fatty, plus it is always tender and tastes great.

Some Cornish Cross Sunning

We don't raise the Orloffs any more, but we have continued with the Welsummers, along with Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rock since they produce the most eggs that we can sell locally. Plus, two or three times per year, we raise some Cornish Cross when the temperatures are moderate so that they can spend time outdoors before we process them for their meat.  This pretty much summarizes how we started our small poultry farm.