An excuse to talk chicken with yaw'll . . . flock plans

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Good morning my online Peeps (yaw'll make my day - well, mornings 'cause that's when I usually hop on).

Now I have eight lil chicks and keep thinking about what's next, maturity timelines and all that jazz. In addition to having way cool, cute chickens to take care of, my goal is eggs. We eat a lot of 'em. I keep reading 16-18 weeks for egg laying to commence. As by then we will be in winter time (SE Georgia) I am thinking to maybe not count on it. Or rather not hold the girls to the line about it and simply keep them safe, well fed and happy.

That being said, I am thinking of going ahead and getting a second batch so when the time comes next year we will have enough eggs. The current line-up is: 4 Ameraucanas and 4 Orpingtons of the buff variety (ha ha, still thinking about the "Hate Buff Orpington" thread). I am looking to add the following:

• Brahma (can't decide between light and dark; I read dark may be better re the predation thing; but light may be better relative to heat; ay yi yi, what's a chicken mamma to do). I also am on the fence about roo, pullet or simply one of each and keep it moving.
• Dixie Rainbow - read some really good reviews about the breed.
• Sultan - simply because they look cool. A roo.
• Polish - the whole cool looking thing as well. Kinda don't care whether a pullet or roo. Then again, at that point there would be 16 birds and I am thinking I won't need more than two roos.
• Plymouth Barred Rock - just because I believe them to be a cool backyard bird (from all I have read).

Thanks for letting me rant yaw'll. It makes me so happy to be here learning and chattering about chickens.

Everyone have a better than great day.

P.S. Decided to show my girls at two weeks old this week. One day I will get a non-blurry photo of them. Maybe when I move them outside soon. Hope springs eternal.

 

[KelseyBoxer]

Well, aren't they cute! I have some recent experience with a few of those breeds. I loved my Ameraucanas and got lots of blue eggs. I just got my first egg from my barred rock yesterday. She was hatched March 20,2022 so she is about 18 weeks old. I hatched Light Brahmas for the Easter hatch a long this year and I love them! The boys are big so if you get one he may be too big for smaller breed hens like polish or sultan. ( if you get a bantam size) Also some crested birds get picked on because they look different. Those crazy hairdoos can also get the way of their eye sight.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I actually literally just purchased more myself and they will be here this coming Wednesday. I have 3 speckled Ameraucanas, one being a roo, a Blue, Buff, and Lavender Ameraucana, 2 cuckoo Marans, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, either a Road Island Red or a New Hampshire Red (still not sure which), a White Leghorn, 2 Easter Eggers, a French Black Maran, 2 Brown Leghorns, and a Black sex link.

I ordered 5 more French Black Marans. The one I have is just the sweetest and so pretty. One of the five will be a male. Even if I end up with more than one male that is ok. My husband can just build to the coop .

I am going to be ordering the Light Brahmas in the spring. I’m only waiting on those because my husband and I will for sure have to build a whole different coop for them because of how big they get. And since I will be getting one Roo for them, I will be having babies.

Oh chicken math how I love you!

Edit to add that the ones I already have are my first and are 8 weeks old….

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Well, aren't they cute! I have some recent experience with a few of those breeds. I loved my Ameraucanas and got lots of blue eggs. I just got my first egg from my barred rock yesterday. She was hatched March 20,2022 so she is about 18 weeks old. I hatched Light Brahmas for the Easter hatch a long this year and I love them! The boys are big so if you get one he may be too big for smaller breed hens like polish or sultan. ( if you get a bantam size) Also some crested birds get picked on because they look different. Those crazy hairdoos can also get the way of their eye sight.

Congrats on first egg! How exciting.

Okay, so check it . . . I have two carts going (one Hoover the other Cackle). Hoover has FREE shipping (difficult to ignore). Cackle has some cool birds in it. I tell ya, those breed minimums are killing me. I don't see why they can't have their minimum purchase, but let ME choose exactly what I want. For instance, I may want a breed but not 5 of 'em. Ughhhh. The Cackle cart has: Barred Rock, Dark Brahma, Cherry Egger, Easter Egger, and female Brown Leghorn. The Hoover cart has:

ASSORTED MARANS (unsexed)​

DARK BRAHMA (unsexed)
RAINBOW (Female)
WELSUMMER (Female) for a total of 20 chicks



Update: Hoover won out! The above allows for only two more chicks going forward. Perhaps I can get a Sultan and a Polish. Oh, I forgot, the minimums; ughhhhh!

ETA: Wonder how many roos I will get from the 10 unsexed. Squealing with eggscitement.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I actually literally just purchased more myself and they will be here this coming Wednesday. I have 3 speckled Ameraucanas, one being a roo, a Blue, Buff, and Lavender Ameraucana, 2 cuckoo Marans, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, either a Road Island Red or a New Hampshire Red (still not sure which), a White Leghorn, 2 Easter Eggers, a French Black Maran, 2 Brown Leghorns, and a Black sex link.

I ordered 5 more French Black Marans. The one I have is just the sweetest and so pretty. One of the five will be a male. Even if I end up with more than one male that is ok. My husband can just build to the coop .

I am going to be ordering the Light Brahmas in the spring. I’m only waiting on those because my husband and I will for sure have to build a whole different coop for them because of how big they get. And since I will be getting one Roo for them, I will be having babies.

Oh chicken math how I love you!

Edit to add that the ones I already have are my first and are 8 weeks old….

Uwww we are on the same journey. How cool is that? You should share some pics. What coop did you decide upon? Ours is yet to be built (monies should be here within two weeks; first of the month. Hubby is going to have to get busy. My ship date is uww, August 3; same day as pay day for coop supplies. Welp, hubby is going to have to bust it out and get the coop done 8/3 - 8/7 is all.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Yeah! I ordered all of mine from Cackle. They are the only ones I can find that I would trust as a breeder that had French black Marans, not to be confused with French Black Copper Marans. The ones I ordered and the one I have don’t have the copper feathering. I do wish their minimum order was less than 15 but I just paid the extra $20. I really don’t want to wait too long. And each female is 11.20 a pop so it wasn’t gonna get any cheaper even to add more birds.

I just talked to my husband too. He came up to me and told me he was gonna get an area ready for my Brahmas and start to coop. I told him I didn’t order any yet and he says “yeah I know, But I know your gonna”

Here are some pictures of our coop. We made our own. My first order was. 15 but we got 18 and all of them have survived. All the coops pre manufactured were well over 1,000 dollars and non were even close enough to fit all our birds. It cost us a little over 1,000 for materials. And some we got little to nothing going to auctions. Some of the fencing we got for $1 for the roll. And some my step dad and mom gave us. The wood we are putting over the plywood came off and extremely old barn. We had to tear it down because it wasn’t very sturdy anymore. It was built in the 1890’s-early 1900’s. But the wood is in such great shape and tongue and groove. I didn’t have the heart to just throw it away, so we found use for it. We are adding an electrical fence too and just ordered some solar exhaust fans to put in on the south side of the building.

 

[Mrs. K]

My 2cents - not raining on your parade, but a bit of reality check? Do not get roosters if you do not think you can cull roosters.

Cockerel chicks are the most darling, brave as brass, and will appear friendly. They get big fast, and without older bigger birds, often become bullies. Add a good dose of hormones and the darlings become the nightmares. BEWARE

Mrs K

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Yeah! I ordered all of mine from Cackle. They are the only ones I can find that I would trust as a breeder that had French black Marans, not to be confused with French Black Copper Marans. The ones I ordered and the one I have don’t have the copper feathering. I do wish their minimum order was less than 15 but I just paid the extra $20. I really don’t want to wait too long. And each female is 11.20 a pop so it wasn’t gonna get any cheaper even to add more birds.

I just talked to my husband too. He came up to me and told me he was gonna get an area ready for my Brahmas and start to coop. I told him I didn’t order any yet and he says “yeah I know, But I know your gonna”

Here are some pictures of our coop. We made our own. My first order was. 15 but we got 18 and all of them have survived. All the coops pre manufactured were well over 1,000 dollars and non were even close enough to fit all our birds. It cost us a little over 1,000 for materials. And some we got little to nothing going to auctions. Some of the fencing we got for $1 for the roll. And some my step dad and mom gave us. The wood we are putting over the plywood came off and extremely old barn. We had to tear it down because it wasn’t very sturdy anymore. It was built in the 1890’s-early 1900’s. But the wood is in such great shape and tongue and groove. I didn’t have the heart to just throw it away, so we found use for it. We are adding an electrical fence too and just ordered some solar exhaust fans to put in on the south side of the building.

Laughing at the hubby comment.

Wow, your flock is so fortunate to be your children! Love the pics too. Gonna show hubby over here.

ETA: Uwww, you have cool chicks, they smoke Marlboro!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

My 2cents - not raining on your parade, but a bit of reality check? Do not get roosters if you do not think you can cull roosters.

Cockerel chicks are the most darling, brave as brass, and will appear friendly. They get big fast, and without older bigger birds, often become bullies. Add a good dose of hormones and the darlings become the nightmares. BEWARE

Mrs K

That's the hubby's job. Right on up there with the deer.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Yeah! I ordered all of mine from Cackle. They are the only ones I can find that I would trust as a breeder that had French black Marans, not to be confused with French Black Copper Marans. The ones I ordered and the one I have don’t have the copper feathering. I do wish their minimum order was less than 15 but I just paid the extra $20. I really don’t want to wait too long. And each female is 11.20 a pop so it wasn’t gonna get any cheaper even to add more birds.

I just talked to my husband too. He came up to me and told me he was gonna get an area ready for my Brahmas and start to coop. I told him I didn’t order any yet and he says “yeah I know, But I know your gonna”

Here are some pictures of our coop. We made our own. My first order was. 15 but we got 18 and all of them have survived. All the coops pre manufactured were well over 1,000 dollars and non were even close enough to fit all our birds. It cost us a little over 1,000 for materials. And some we got little to nothing going to auctions. Some of the fencing we got for $1 for the roll. And some my step dad and mom gave us. The wood we are putting over the plywood came off and extremely old barn. We had to tear it down because it wasn’t very sturdy anymore. It was built in the 1890’s-early 1900’s. But the wood is in such great shape and tongue and groove. I didn’t have the heart to just throw it away, so we found use for it. We are adding an electrical fence too and just ordered some solar exhaust fans to put in on the south side of the building.

Speaking of coops, me and the hubster keep going round and round about the coop floor. He keeps mentioning wire so poop, etc will go through. I keep mentioning a floor like yours because I want to do deep litter method. Ughhhhh.