Arkansas folks speak up.........

[Abunari]

Ahh are they local or mailed to me ?

 

[draye]

They're on Michigan I think. They would have to be mailed.

As far as I can find there are no local hatcheries, just some breeders and people that hatch a sell a few.

 

[RetiredRon]

I haven't noticed any issue with opossums or racoons, knock on wood, but.... a dog and a hawk has kept my little crew in the pen today. I can't put my babies free range with those murderers out there. I haven't gotten an egg in two days. A 3 month pullet went missing two days ago... no feathers no warning. . Yesterday, my cockrell went nuts in the backyard .. I ran toward them when I heard him.. The three 6 month old pullets with him were making a racket.. one was pinned by a hawk.. She got under a wire, and he flew off when I ran toward them screaming. I started preparing for predators then a couple hours later my three three month turkeys were making an awful barking sound constantly. . When I went out there, all the chickens were hunkered in the bushes.. when I got within 10 feet, a huge hawk swooped down from the tree they were under. He didn't get one but I thought I soiled my pants.. I didnt.. I gathered them all, tried to get them to get into Thier pens... no luck.. Later I came out and my momma hen and her one pullet left went into her pen, so I locked them up. I checked on all the others... they were good.. couple hours later.. the same sound from the turkeys. I went out and the 6 month cockrell and two of the 6 month pullets are in Thier cage. I went looking for Thier sister.. I found parts of her all over the woods behind my house.. will a hawk tear up a hen like that?
I penned all up... left anyway.. couple hours later a dog showed up... sniffing all around the place.. I had a bead on him but could not take a youngi'ns pet..I ran him off... I'm thinking my hen was him... she was such a good layer... :-(

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

Hawks tend to carry off their prey. Dogs do things like what you found.

I hate to say this but if that dog has a taste for chickens now, your best bet is to just shoot it.
Anyone who lets their dog run free should understand that it might not come home.

We have had packs of dumped dogs and they don't last long when they become an issue with our farm animals.

 

[RetiredRon]

There is a hatchery in Lebanon Missouri. . It's about a 5 hour trip for me. I used to drive passed it going back to Ft Leonard Wood.. idk how much they charge to pick up chicks, but that's an option

 

[draye]

Hawks tend to carry off their prey.  Dogs do things like what you found.

I hate to say this but if that dog has a taste for chickens now, your best bet is to just shoot it.
Anyone who lets their dog run free should understand that it might not come home.

We have had packs of dumped dogs and they don't last long when they become an issue with our farm animals.

I will 2nd that on the dog. Someone's wit it not those are my chickens. If they cared so much for their doggie then it wouldn't be running the neighborhood and killing my chickens. Gun pointed at doggie tren BOOM!

There is a hatchery in Lebanon Missouri. . It's about a 5 hour trip for me. I used to drive passed it going back to Ft Leonard Wood.. idk how much they charge to pick up chicks, but that's an option

That would be Cackle Hatchery. They aren't hatching now. They'll be back come January. They are my favorite hatchery.

 

[riverat2014]

I'm looking for Jersey Giants not to far from N Central Arkansas. Would like couple of pullets an a rooster.

 

[draye]

I just sold off my last Jersey Giant this past September. A big blue rooster. I had sold off all the hens back in late 2014.

I used him over some NN hens and hatched out about 18 crossbreds.

 

[riverat2014]

I've always gotten healthy chicks from Cackle but everything's ready for birds now . I'm considering getting a small incubator an going with fertil eggs if nothing else Not having much luck getting return phone calls around my area

 

[draye]

Today the babies are 6 weeks old. I caught two or three this morning flying out and roosting on top of the brooder.

So today the partition ( the short wall ) is coming down. They will get full run of the barn area ( sheltered area ) from tonight on.
I threw them out into the run area to let them get some sunshine ( good old Vitamin D ) and learn about scratching in the dirt. As long as there is no rain I'll be putting them out in the mornings. Barricading them in the shelter at night.

This is their first time outside. They've been on the ground inside the brooder room since hatch, so not their first time on the ground.