Arizona Chickens

[ejcrist]

The first time that I did a hatch, I was almost constantly standing over the incubator. The last time I hatched back in October, I kept an eye on them, but didn't stand over them as much. I guess that you lose the need to be so worried about them with each hatch that you do. I seem to be getting a good hatching rate. I set eggs this time because someone wants some of my Splash Australorps girls from this hatch, but I only put a small batch in- just 6 eggs.

Wow, 100 chickens? I'm going to try to control myself on that. I have been thinking of only doing hatches on mine when I have orders for them.

You know, I used to think 100 chickens would be a lot but after coming up with a breeding plan for 2017 it doesn't seem all that bad. I know the total count will vary throughout the year but if you're breeding more than one breed and you cull appropriately, one could easily be left with 100 at the end of the year, and that might only be the best 10%-15% of the offspring. I guess I'll learn more about that subject in Intermediate Chicken Math 201.

 

[BlueBaby]

You know, I used to think 100 chickens would be a lot but after coming up with a breeding plan for 2017 it doesn't seem all that bad. I know the total count will vary throughout the year but if you're breeding more than one breed and you cull appropriately, one could easily be left with 100 at the end of the year, and that might only be the best 10%-15% of the offspring. I guess I'll learn more about that subject in Intermediate Chicken Math 201.

I guess that would be so for those that are working with more than one breed like I am doing. I'm just doing these Australorps. When I was looking to start up, I was looking for one breed that would be a good dual purpose chicken. I joined the site here because I could only contact Kurt (RattlesnakeRidgeWV) to get some of his hatching eggs as a member. lol I had been to this site many times before that to get answers on stuff I had been looking for. Now, I just have to learn how to butcher all of the boys that don't sell. I don't want to be feeding a bunch of roosters. lol

 

[Banaynaychicken]

Oy with the holidays and Christas break comes stress.

stress like no other, stress that SUCKS stress that OVER MY CHICKENS IS MAKING ME WISH I HAD MORE MONEY DEAR GOD

So I come to the community on my knees.

Does anyone have any large fencing materials/chicken wire/tying wire that they have laying around that they would be willing to donate to a coop cause?

My agriculture teacher has decided out of the blue that my Polish trio dont get their own space anymore because her pot bellied pigs need to live somewhere other than a cage that will be used for yet another piglet (this would be #13) that is going to eventually pass away from the same thing every pig on the flipping property has.

They will be living with a set of pullets and a bantam silkie rooster, and right next door IN SIGHT of a "rival" flock that they have been trying for month to fight through PLYWOOD walls.

The birds will destroy themselves feather-wise (They are show quality so that would really be crappy....) + end up killing the other birds they are with if they dont get moved soon, they are not very flock friendly.....

Anyway, I need to build a new coop (maybe 6 * 10 ish), and it can't be made of anything from out land lab because she is apparently not feeling the Christmas spirit and wont let anyone, let alone me, touch her blessed scraps.

Please PM me if you have anything that you absolutely dont need, and I would love to give you the schools address and the gate code.

(if you have something but still even might need it, keep it. I dont want to beg for anything that someone else could still use, but any donation would be greatly appreciated. all donors will of course get a mention on m little memorial board on the new coop, yeeeeeeee)

 

[ejcrist]

I guess that would be so for those that are working with more than one breed like I am doing. I'm just doing these Australorps. When I was looking to start up, I was looking for one breed that would be a good dual purpose chicken. I joined the site here because I could only contact Kurt (RattlesnakeRidgeWV) to get some of his hatching eggs as a member. lol I had been to this site many times before that to get answers on stuff I had been looking for. Now, I just have to learn how to butcher all of the boys that don't sell. I don't want to be feeding a bunch of roosters. lol

Amen to that! When I decided to get involved in breeding I was mainly focused on Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds and I figured that would be more than enough to keep me occupied. That was until I saw a Light Brown Leghorn and an Orpington at a show. I swear I'm not going to add any more breeds to the list though.

 

[BlueBaby]

Amen to that! When I decided to get involved in breeding I was mainly focused on Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds and I figured that would be more than enough to keep me occupied. That was until I saw a Light Brown Leghorn and an Orpington at a show. I swear I'm not going to add any more breeds to the list though.

Well, I have to be careful. Hubby complains if he has to do anything to help with the chickens (like helping to build coops). I had to get my first chicks going before he would even help me to build the coop. He is a procrastinator for sure. I'm still wanting to build one more coop, but it will be to start a second flock going of the same breed.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Oy with the holidays and Christas break comes stress.

stress like no other, stress that SUCKS stress that OVER MY CHICKENS IS MAKING ME WISH I HAD MORE MONEY DEAR GOD

So I come to the community on my knees.

Does anyone have any large fencing materials/chicken wire/tying wire that they have laying around that they would be willing to donate to a coop cause?

My agriculture teacher has decided out of the blue that my Polish trio dont get their own space anymore because her pot bellied pigs need to live somewhere other than a cage that will be used for yet another piglet (this would be #13) that is going to eventually pass away from the same thing every pig on the flipping property has. 

They will be living with a set of pullets and a bantam silkie rooster, and right next door IN SIGHT of a "rival" flock that they have been trying for month to fight through PLYWOOD walls.

The birds will destroy themselves feather-wise (They are show quality so that would really be crappy....) + end up killing the other birds they are with if they dont get moved soon, they are not very flock friendly..... 

Anyway, I need to build a new coop (maybe 6 * 10 ish), and it can't be made of anything from out land lab because she is apparently not feeling the Christmas spirit and wont let anyone, let alone me, touch her blessed scraps.

Please PM me if you have anything that you absolutely dont need, and I would love to give you the schools address and the gate code.

(if you have something but still even might need it, keep it. I dont want to beg for anything that someone else could still use, but any donation would be greatly appreciated. all donors will of course get a mention on m little memorial board on the new coop, yeeeeeeee)

Check Craigslist, freecycle, & construction sites. Sometimes you get lucky. Only issue is you'd have to go get the stuff.

 

[DesertChic]

The first time that I did a hatch, I was almost constantly standing over the incubator. The last time I hatched back in October, I kept an eye on them, but didn't stand over them as much. I guess that you lose the need to be so worried about them with each hatch that you do. I seem to be getting a good hatching rate. I set eggs this time because someone wants some of my Splash Australorps girls from this hatch, but I only put a small batch in- just 6 eggs.

Wow, 100 chickens? I'm going to try to control myself on that. I have been thinking of only doing hatches on mine when I have orders for them.

You know, I used to think 100 chickens would be a lot but after coming up with a breeding plan for 2017 it doesn't seem all that bad. I know the total count will vary throughout the year but if you're breeding more than one breed and you cull appropriately, one could easily be left with 100 at the end of the year, and that might only be the best 10%-15% of the offspring. I guess I'll learn more about that subject in Intermediate Chicken Math 201.

Our neighbor recently asked me, "What do you have now? About 40 chickens?" LOL! If only! He was shocked when I said 100...and when I told him they all have names.

The reason I have so many is because 1) I'm working on a few projects with my NNs and it requires far more breeding and hatching than I'd originally thought, and 2) a lot of people are totally hooked on getting my extra eggs. I literally had a 2-week waiting list of people wanting eggs, and once the days grew shorter and the girls started to molt, I had fewer layers for the demand. So...in the spring I'll probably be doing a lot more butchering.

 

[BlueBaby]

Our neighbor recently asked me, "What do you have now? About 40 chickens?" LOL! If only! He was shocked when I said 100...and when I told him they all have names.

The reason I have so many is because 1) I'm working on a few projects with my NNs and it requires far more breeding and hatching than I'd originally thought, and 2) a lot of people are totally hooked on getting my extra eggs. I literally had a 2-week waiting list of people wanting eggs, and once the days grew shorter and the girls started to molt, I had fewer layers for the demand. So...in the spring I'll probably be doing a lot more butchering.

That's what I need to learn how to do is butcher. I still have 4 cockerels left from my last hatch. I'd hate to have to kill them and then throw them out for the buzzards. lol

 

[DesertChic]

I guess that would be so for those that are working with more than one breed like I am doing. I'm just doing these Australorps. When I was looking to start up, I was looking for one breed that would be a good dual purpose chicken. I joined the site here because I could only contact Kurt (RattlesnakeRidgeWV) to get some of his hatching eggs as a member. lol I had been to this site many times before that to get answers on stuff I had been looking for. Now, I just have to learn how to butcher all of the boys that don't sell. I don't want to be feeding a bunch of roosters. lol

There's a really good thread on here about butchering birds. It's the one I used to teach myself. I don't have the link saved anymore because I've been processing for a couple years now, but do a search here and also check out YouTube.

 

[BlueBaby]

There's a really good thread on here about butchering birds. It's the one I used to teach myself. I don't have the link saved anymore because I've been processing for a couple years now, but do a search here and also check out YouTube.

Ok, thanks for the info.