We have raised chickens for years working with different breeds and management styles and have learned a lot. At this time we are at this time very happy with our flock of Bielefielders and the “grass schooner” that they sleep and lay eggs as it meanders through the pasture. In the winter we drive it into one of our high tunnels for more shelter and warmth. For the winter, in lieu of grass and bugs, they have with lots of compost to sift through. And kale, everybody gets kale. We wanted 1 flock from which we could raise our own chicks (so hybrid types are out) and big enough to be viable meats birds (there goes another 80 percent of the breeds) and to lay a reasonable amount of eggs all while being good friendly birds happy to forage. Some of you may know from experience that not all roosters are friendly but this flock has been great so far on the second 2 points, we’ll see about chicks in the spring.
