2025 Kid Counter:
*B Bucks: 7      Available: 1
Does:  15           Available: 2
Wethers:  8   Available: 0

Herd Status:

Spring kidding is almost over.  Last doe will kid in June.  Then we are done until fall.

I have 15 maiden does that consist of a few keeper kids and kids that did not sell from this spring. These girls are for sale however some still have their horns which we banded but have not separated yet.
Canid pictures of the junior does from 2024 are published on the Yearling and Junior Doe pages. Many of these are on the 2025 breeding schedule.

Moving 3 retired girls into a separate paddock from milkers in April and culling 3 non-performers to make room for fall and winter fresheners.  I plan to sell several first fresheners bred in the fall and winter as well.

 Welcome to Helbert Hens!

Four girls on the December 2024 ADGA Elite list this time.  Lippy, Lyla, and Sandy(Bred by Stephanie Gibson) and Felicity. 

Spring kidding order starting the 28th of Feb should be Glinda, Secilia, Bubbles, Morgana, Emma, Virago, Emma, Anna Windy and Sandy.

Junior bucks waiting for cookies. Danny, Chip, Luminere, Benji, Carmel and Big Chuck.

Helbert Hens
​Where it's great to be a big chicken.

 When I started breeding poultry I made the mistake of trying to breed too many breeds and too many varieties.  I just wanted them all.  In fact you might say I was obsessed with the beauty and personalities of each breed.  There came a point where I had to sit down and decide why I wanted chickens and what I hoped to accomplish in a breeding plan.  Over the years some of my favorite breeds have not been sustainable due to the cold and seemingly never ending Ohio winters.  I found that keeping the breeds in separate coops was great for containing illness and keeping family groups ranging and socializing together however very difficult to maintain even with a well implemented winter husbandry plan.  Some breeds lost favor and didn't flourish because they would not free range but preferred to stay in their runs and eat feed all day. They might have been happy but I was having to clean those pens and fill feeders twice as often which made me very unhappy.

To make a long story short, I decided to limit the breeds/varieties we raised. The English Jubilee and English Buff Orpington worked well for us as they are big beautiful friendly birds that are cold hardy and easy to keep.  Even with the limited lighting in winter we still get some eggs.

The Animals

We may bring on new breeds and phase out breeds as we journey through our chicken adventures.

All flocks have their own coops and are allowed to free range on a rotational basis.  Usually 4 to 6 pens out each day. Chicks that are 4 to 16 weeks are raised in the old horse barn until they are big enough to be incorporated into a coop.  Chicks day old to 4 weeks are in the hatch room in our house.

Organizations and programs we support.

American Poultry Association
American Dairy Goat Association
American Goat Society
​Ohio Dairy Goat Association