2018 Newbie Chat!

[PNW_Peepers]

I would really love to breed chickens. I am a huge science nerd so all the genetics are really cool!

Kristoff went to his new home today, and the remaining 6 got to have an adventure out of the run!
View attachment 1387027

They are getting so big! Look out, now that they know the grass is greener on the other side they’ll start being little escape artists when you open the door!

 

[CannedMonster]

If you get more silkies and one turns out to be a cockerel you could also breed showgirls which actually go for a pretty penny where I live! You have so many options for breeding more NN! If we both get good at breeding we can always trade hatching eggs! I want NN you want Ameraucana!
I had no clue that breeding a splash and a black guaranteed a blue. I know the genetics with the blue coloration are hard to reproduce, even if you breed a blue X blue you get a 25% chance of black, 25% chance of splash, & 50% blue. I love how much I’m learning when it comes to breeding them, I feel like the knowledge on it is never ending.

Breeding Showgirls would be awesome.
Yes I’m excited that I can breed more NN even if I don’t have a roo but they may be smaller since my roos are bantams.
I’ll see how it goes.
I would love to trade birds or eggs with you if I could figure out how to do it lol.

I have a diagram that shows how the Blue/Black/Splash genetics work.
I’ll post it if I can find it.

As you can see it’s pretty simple.
Splash x splash makes a diluted splash.
Sometimes people want black or splash birds because they want to breed their own blue chicks.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

@ChooksNQuilts that diagram is perfect!
I’m going to look into shipping hatching eggs and see how difficult or expensive it would be. How fun it would be to trade eggs. I’ve heard that hatching pullet eggs is a disaster so they’ll have to be a bit older before I can do anything.

 

[CannedMonster]

@ChooksNQuilts that diagram is perfect!
I’m going to look into shipping hatching eggs and see how difficult or expensive it would be. How fun it would be to trade eggs. I’ve heard that hatching pullet eggs is a disaster so they’ll have to be a bit older before I can do anything.

Yes exactly I agree about pullet eggs.
I looked up threads regarding shipping eggs and have found lots of info on BYC.
It seems the biggest factors are shipping fresh eggs, fat end up, with really good protection (foam padding inserts designed for eggs seem to work well) and making sure the eggs can “breathe”.
I think selling fertile eggs may be the way to go.
But I have to get to that point.
I want to become better at raising chicks and learn how to incubate my own eggs before I even go there.

Right now mine are quickly outgrowing their brooder at 7 weeks old!
We need to get the new coop done!

 

[No More Empty Nest]

I just ordered chicks to replace the ones I'm no longer getting from my daughter. I was really amazed that almost all the dates for bantam Easter Eggers were sold out! I finally found 3 available on Aug 20 and then added 2 female surprises. I'm excited about the surprise chicks. I wanted bantams originally but then was going to take the extras from BBZZZZTT so we wouldn't have to rehome them somewhere else. The good thing is that Aug 20 is after our vacation and camping trip so nobody will have to come check on their feed and water while we're gone. Plus there's no rush to finish the coop as soon as possible. There's actually not much left to do. My husband and I finished burying the hardware cloth , now THAT was a job! We only have the final wall of the coop to put up with its window, and doors to hang.
We have to get a chicken permit here in the city. The permit says it has to be shown upon request. So I had a friend laminate a copy of it and I'm going to frame it and hang it on the coop, hahaha.

 

[JMotuzick]

Wow permits I Guess if your in a urban area it makes sense! It seams the run is the hardest part, I have big plans but not much progress so far this season. We had a late start and the deck is taking priority.....

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Yeah the permit application process here gives your neighbors a chance to object. O_O

So I let the chickens out into the yard again today for a little while. I am soooo paranoid about Hawks. I kept looking at the sky every 5 seconds! I have seen them flying over occasionally. It seems there is really no great solution for free ranging. :/

 

[Cbarr00]

High Today: Dwight finally did a big boy crow!

Low Today: DH walked out just now around 9:30 and saw a big ol raccoon walking away from our coop!

Luckily everyone was ok and it didn't break in but I won't be able to sleep good tonight now.

 

[CannedMonster]

High Today: Dwight finally did a big boy crow!

Low Today: DH walked out just now around 9:30 and saw a big ol raccoon walking away from our coop!

Luckily everyone was ok and it didn't break in but I won't be able to sleep good tonight now.

Oh no! Raccoons aren’t welcome

 

[Cbarr00]

Oh no! Raccoons aren’t welcome

Nope, not here! I keep checking our security camera to make sure it didn't come back. I've been telling DH since we moved to this town, nearly three years ago, I've seen raccoons when coming home late at night. Apparently all this time he didn't quite believe me! He said, "I can't believe there's raccoons here!"