Recent content by dheltzel

  1. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    Anyone looking for geese? I have young pairs of Pilgrims and Sebastopols available. Geese can add some drama to your life, they are far smarter than the other birds and they know it.
  2. dheltzel

    SandHill Preservation review

    The first pic, with the 2 cockerels are clearly crele, probably single barred, which are gorgeous in phenotype, but instable in genotype. The other 2 pics look like the MF leghorns I got some years ago from Sand Hill. They were not bad temperamentally, but I decided not to invest the time and...
  3. dheltzel

    SandHill Preservation review

    Not every line of chickens is SOP all the time, especially from any hatchery, even Sand Hill. Redcaps are probably functionally extinct in the US. I would not be surprised to find they are nearly extinct in the UK as well. I wish I knew of any breeders of quality Redcaps in the US. Perhaps I...
  4. dheltzel

    Searching for good quality, heritage chick breeders

    Sadly, your observation about hatcheries is all too often the case - but not universally. I do see a trend that way though. This year I bought some New Hampshire chicks from Freedom Ranger Hatchery. They are a line that have been bred for meat production more than egg production, and it shows in...
  5. dheltzel

    Searching for good quality, heritage chick breeders

    You are correct, imported eggs must go through customs and the quarantine process. It is very expensive, so unless you have money to toss around, it is best to work with what you have available. I also take issue with the idea that stock from the original home country will be better. Better in...
  6. dheltzel

    SandHill Preservation review

    When I have gotten chicks or ducklings from Sand Hill, they sent a "packing list" that has 3 or 4 letter codes for each breed. Do you have that? If you list what is marked on that list, I may be able to help you figure out what the breeds of the "filler" chicks. I would like to address the...
  7. dheltzel

    Aztec Ducks!

    That is me and my website. I have been maintaining Aztecs for a few years, and Australian Spotted and Mini Silver Appleyards even longer. All 3 are similar in many ways. I mostly breed chickens and have significant experience shipping chicks, but whenever I ship bantam ducklings, there is very...
  8. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    Most chicken breeds are on their "Priority Conservation List" and the status they assign is not even close to reality. I was a member briefly before I realized they gave very little attention to poultry. I don't blame them, they serve a niche with the larger animals, but the conservation efforts...
  9. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    Sent you a PM. I still have many chicks this week.
  10. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    I actually have quite a few unsold chicks this week. I tried to accelerate my hatches to meet demand and as a result, I have a lot of blue egg layers every week.
  11. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    Unless the coop is quite large, I would line the inside with plywood, but not add any insulation.
  12. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    I use a gravity wagon parked inside a large shed. It holds over 2 tons of pellet feed, which is the minimum for delivery from the feed mills. Double layer of heavy tarps over the top. 5 gallon buckets with lids are filled from the shute. I have a low plastic stock tank under the shute, and the...
  13. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    The Genetic Hackle roosters are the most mild-mannered of all my roosters. They make great pets and know everything a rooster is supposed to do. As protectors, they are small and will probably not stand up to a hawk, but will be running faster than the hens away from it. Roosters can be a lot of...
  14. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    The Ameraucanas are not sexable as chicks, but the PA Blue Eggers are half Ameraucana. I can figure out getting chicks for you whenever you want them.
  15. dheltzel

    Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

    Not surprising at all. Most breeders make Olive Eggers by crossing an Ameraucana with a Marans. Hatcheries often use Cuckoo Marans pullets with an Ameraucana cockerel to make them black sexlinks. I use California Greys (white eggs) with the Ameraucana to make black sexlinks that lay light blue...
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