Arizona Chickens

[BlueBaby]

I think that's the way to go, since you can have a rooster. There was even an article by some company about how chicks that arrive via mail, or from feed stores that receive the hatchlings by mail, need extra care and even higher heat at first. It's the extra day, or even the 2 days, in transit that set them up for pasty butt and its aftermath. Your birds coming straight from the incubator and right to the heat lamp, are spared that whole ordeal.

I agree with you on that, and I love the fact that when I do a hatch on what I have I can tell what sex that they are at hatch, so if I sell some of them I can guarantee that the pullet's really are girl's and not boy's for people that can't have any rooster's where they live at or because of the noise of the crowing. These rooster's are good for someone that would be looking to have a non-people aggressive rooster for their flock if they were looking for one.

 

[igorsMistress]

I can’t speak for chicks, but I’ve ordered ducklings and had no issues with them by mail, and I’ve picked up locally hatched chicks that have had pasty butt so I don’t think there’s necessarily a tie to shipping. It has to be terrifying for the babies to go through all of the travel right after hatch though. Just like humans, some will handle the stress better than others.

I disagree that any particular breed is going to have more success or be friendlier or meaner based on breed alone. There are too many factors that come into play like the way the birds in a flock interact and how the keeper fits into that dynamic. Realistically we can say that Nn fare better in the heat because they have less feathers, and that birds with large combs do better in the heat. Those are physical traits. Personality is a whole other ballgame.

 

[CaroleW]

I have moved from "oh my word that is an abomination!" to "maybe it can be cute"

If I am being honest and not letting any chicken math get in the way, I should add only a small number of birds (say 2-4). So far I have ordered from a hatchery in the past, partly to get the chance to vaccinate for Mareks, but this time I am thinking to be practical and just get a few pullet chicks locally.

The Dominiques I have are great! But nobody sells them locally, so I'm thinking about other breeds known for their heat tolerance, and what could be a better conversation starter than Naked Necks! Plus I know a few people on this thread have them and just love them. I'm warming up to it.

They are super cute!

 

[BlueBaby]

They are super cute!

Show @arizona_chicken_noob a picture of your little naked neck chick so she can see how cute they are.

 

[CaroleW]

Show @arizona_chicken_noob a picture of your little naked neck chick so she can see how cute they are.

@arizona_chicken_noob see how cute a Naked Neck can be... ...

 

[BlueBaby]

@arizona_chicken_noob see how cute a Naked Neck can be... ...
View attachment 3250465

The little naked neck has some barring in what feather's that I can see, so it at least got that part from it's Bielefelder daddy. Keep me updated on how the rest of that feathering come's out. I'm curious.

 

[Timbers Run]

We ordered 3 NH & 3 Golden Buffs from Meyer hatchery. Other than 1 case of pasty butt, I am very pleased with the chicks. Shipping was less than 24 hours from OH to pick up in Phoenix area. All were very healthy on arrival. They are all doing great without additional heat after 2 weeks. All but 1 are really friendly. They tend to fall asleep on me when I hold them. Just 1 of them gets a little anxious about being held, but I'm working on it.
Meyer has a meal maker chick program where they throw in a chick of the same variety (lt brown legbar hen in our case) for free, so you can donate eggs (or meat depending on what type of chicks you buy) to anyone in need of food. I'm really pleased with the experience I've had with Meyer. It sounds like they may be less heat tolerant compared to ones closer to AZ(?) but so far all is well and I'd give Meyer 2 thumbs up.

 

[BlueBaby]

@arizona_chicken_noob see how cute a Naked Neck can be... ...
View attachment 3250465

If that little naked neck chick is either a boy or a girl, you will still be able to breed it back to a full Bielefelder and get some naked neck Bielefelder's. I'd love to see you work your way into having an auto-sexing naked neck in the future! I set you up good for that project. If you breed that red Naked Neck hen to that Bielefelder rooster that I let you have, any naked neck chick's that come from out of it will only be 1/2 sibling's to that little naked neck chick there.

 

[CaroleW]

If that little naked neck chick is either a boy or a girl, you will still be able to breed it back to a full Bielefelder and get some naked neck Bielefelder's. I'd love to see you work your way into having an auto-sexing naked neck in the future! I set you up good for that project. If you breed that red Naked Neck hen to that Bielefelder rooster that I let you have, any naked neck chick's that come from out of it will only be 1/2 sibling's to that little naked neck chick there.

I'm writing all this down - I'm very excited to try to get to an auto-sexing NN - I think that will be great for a lot of us in AZ.

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm writing all this down - I'm very excited to try to get to an auto-sexing NN - I think that will be great for a lot of us in AZ.

I think so too, and I am very happy that you want to try to work that project! This mean's that you will have to hatch chick's though to get it going. I hope that I live long enough to see it, as I'm getting old.