How can you be sure the eggs are fertile without cracking them and looking at the blastowhatever? Don't you just assume that they are fertile until some don't hatch? (If there's a boy present, of course.) (I'm very new to this; I know that there is much that I don't know, so no snickering : )
I know most of you are in the southern part of the state, but here's the craigslist posting for the critter swap in Greeley this weekend.
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/grd/1028512851.html
We got about 3 inches. I'm thrilled! We've been sooooo dry. The sun's out and it should melt. The chickens, though, they just aren't too sure about the white stuff. They haven't come out yet.
Hi Holly,
Welcome! Where in Colorado are you? How long have you been chickening? I'm quite new, only since July. My girls have just (all) become proficient, prolific layers. I'm adding all sorts of egg recipes to my cooking repetoir.
Sounds like you had a very good day! I day-dream of getting more chicklets (not to mention a couple of goats) but not right now. My three girls are spittin' out eggs like crazy.
Thanks Coloradochick! I think my niece, who lives in Arvada, is a bit interested in having chickens. (She's renting from her dad, though, I don't know that he's terribly interested : )
There is one in Greeley. They always list it on the Fort Collins/Northern Colorado Craigslist. It's the first Saturday of the month, but that's all I can remember.
Try this link for coop plans. It's the state of Virgina
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/designs.html
Also try the Mother Earth News archives.
Good luck!
GWFamily, Are you handy? I know you said that you were just about to deploy, so I'm guessing you're going to gone for awhile. Depending on your comfort with building, there are several folks who have plans available online. Some are free, some are for purchase. I'm trying to remember...
Does Arvada (the city) allow chickens? My brother lives there, but I don't know that he'd ever want any. (Hmmm, but maybe he could chicken sit whenever we go away.)
Ya know, I honestly don't know where the chicks come from. I didn't even know enough to ask when I was there. When I went there, I told the young man who helped me that I was a total newbie, but that I'd done reading, etc. He thought a variety of chicks would be nice, so he pulled out 4...
I'm so sorry coloradochick! I didn't mean to alert you and any other chicken addicts to the ready supply of chicklets! (But, if you are interested, it's Northern Colorado Feeders Supply. And they are in north FTC.)
Hi Josh,
Welcome (almost) to the world of chickens! This is long, so do with it as you will....
This site is a great place to start. I also learned alot from "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens." I have a few other chicken books that I found too, but that's probably the best over all book...
Thanks for the DBG page! I'll keep an eye out for this year. The City of Loveland is currently debating a chicken ordinance and I have a friend who may start if it's allowed in the city proper. Maybe we'll both go down.
I had no idea that there were classes on chickens at DBG! Wow. I started with chickens this past summer. I've been reading alot. A class would have been great. (it still may be.)
Cool that Denver would let you get a permit! I live in Loveland, but lucky for me, in a little "enclave" that is not within the city limits. And even luckier for me, though it's a subdivision, it's zoned farming. I can have up to 13 chickens (based on my property size) and Roos if I want, but...
Hi Chicken Afficianados!
I too live in Loveland. Loveland is considering allowing backyard chickens (I am lucky enough to live in a little enclave that is not within the city limits and zoned farming, even though it's a subdivision, yippee for me!) I believe that Fort Collins did pass the...