Australorps have large combs and waddles (both the hens and the roosters) and they can begin to grow very early. Don't allow their existence or that they are pinkish make you give up hope. I would wait until a bird shows actual male characteristic feathering before I would vote male on an...
Yes, I have buried all of the hens we have had that have passed away, mostly just the way they were found. They have joined other animals that I have buried on the property, including a hawk that drowned in our stream, a barn owl dead by the side of the road, and some neonates that have not...
I am sorry for your losses. We recently lost our last original hen; she was seven. I certainly hoped she would live longer and I feel I could have done more for her. All I can say is that I understand how you feel.
I think that this has been talked about in the shipped chicks threads -- one can't blame a hatchery for shipping at a "bad" climatic time for you because what is bad for you can be the most viable time for shipment for others.
Some storms or events that cause shipping delays can not be...
I have only raised a handful of austrolorps. The hens do grow large combs and wattles and both can begin to develop early even on females, so don't permit early development (or thick legs -- I have no faith that leg thickness is related to gender) convince you of sex before there is a reason to...
Which of their breeds are you interested in? From their website, it appears that Hillside is in Williamsport, while Freedom Ranger is in Reinholds. They say you can call with questions.
East of the Susquehanna, there is also Moyer's and Pottstown.
Barnies have rather large combs and wattles -- my family swore that my hens would end up being roosters! It may be worth it to give #5 a chance to mature a bit more; she could surprise you.
If the Tractor Supply chicks will be available and sexed, it seems like they would be your least expensive bet. Shipping is adding at least $2.00 to each of your acceptably priced pullets. At the store you can select your chicks, so if you get auto sexed breeds you can assure that you only get...
Black sex-links can be mixes of different breeds and so can end up looking a little bit different when they mature, especially in color -- all that matters is that the two breeds used to create the chick results in a sex link chick.
You know people's theory that a chicken will not eat something that will make them sick... well, we have a lot of black willow growing around us, and I used limbs of it to make clutter in my run. Despite having been cut months earlier, the things rooted, and now I considering the bushes (the...
You should definitely get specific pins for blocking -- rust proof and with glass heads that will not melt using steam and an iron. They are worth it for all sorts of textile projects. Your blanket looks very nice!
I agree with a lot of the above: if this is a hobby and not a business, it may be worth it to experiment with multiple breeds. Over the years I have lived with seven different breeds but only have experience with between one to four examples of those said breeds...
One thing to note, you may...
I've driven an hour, each way, to commute to work each day. I would definitely do that for a animal. And although we can get groceries just a few miles from our house, all other shopping requires at least a 40 minute drive, so I do not expect any less for my animals.
I have driven more than two...
I was going to post the following comment on a thread regarding an Olive Egger Hen that lays brown eggs:
"I think that, if you are going to sell your chicks based on the trait of laying "olive" colored eggs (i.e. combining a blue egg layer w/ a dark brown egg layer), then you should be doing...
If you are willing to pay for shipping, are you willing (and able) to drive an hour or two? Check for people looking to re-home in the local-ish area or perhaps you could arrange with a school near you for a future hatching.