Barred Holland breed of chickens

[hollandchicks]

Hello everyone, just checking to see how spring hatching is going for everyone ? I culled down to a pleasing group before we got started and so far I am very pleased with how things are going. The eggs we incubated were much larger and whiter than the ones we started our flock with. The chicks are bigger and more robust. I have hatched out three groupings so far and the last group for the season will hatch in a week and a half. As I have posted before. I am working with two different lines. Both came from white eggs. But, several of the hens are light cream layers. Those rooster were not considered. Nor the hens. The hens that were laying white eggs in that group were kept but tagged . Roosters were chosen from the group that produced hens only laying white eggs. And that also met other physical specifications needed.
The result has been great. There is a clear difference in the chicks this year.
I am very excited to see these little guys get big enough to start weighing in and checking egg size and color.

Hopefully I will be offering eggs soon. I just want to make sure I am passing along great stock first.

Yeah Hollands!!!

Suzanne Holland
Holland Chicks Farm

 

[greenfield]

If you are still out there can I send you the picture on your phone or my email?

 

[Cheralee]

Came home from the farmer's market to see a fox carrying away a Gracie Mae hen. I chased her through the woods until she dropped the carcass (probably exhausted). I assume it was going to feed some kits, so no new foxes that will acquire the taste of chickens today. I am sure she will be back and we'll be waiting.

 

[hollandchicks]

Hey, we have had a fox problem here too. I lost one buff hen (a very expensive one) five minutes before locking the gate. Very crafty little devils. My pens are covered and buried with concrete 1 ft. Down , with a four ft. Rise of chicken wire and hard wear wire . This pre-caution was taken because we live in a bird sanctuary and no hunting is allowed either. I only let my flocks free range now when I know I am going to be with them the entire time.
The fox that roams our woods is a beautiful blonde who is not afraid of humans.
Three weeks ago she/he was jumping up on the sides of my d'Uccle pen and when I yelled at it , it turned looked at me and then charged. I almost didn't make it into my house.
I was scared out of my skin.

Suzanne Holland

 

[barbsgarb]

I'm looking for a source of chicks or eggs to start my family a small flock of Holland chickens. Do you know anyone who has them available. I'm located in Texas.

Thanks,
Barbara Lee

 

[hollandchicks]

Hello everyone
In an effort to promote the Holland Breed and provide a place of information on SOP for the breed I have set up both a Group and a Page on Facebook.

I am hoping this will be an easy way for everyone to network and gain info. On how the breed is progressing.
I have noticed several people have Barred Hollands for sale on the internet this Spring. I want to encourage people wanting to embark on obtaining a flock to please be careful before purchasing.
Barred Hollands are not up to standards yet but some flocks are much closer than others.

Things to look for are....Roosters should have Six points on their combs. Not seven eight ......etc
Their barring is not a straight barring like a Barred Rock. It is a lovely uneven jagged pattern that is not a positive white nor a positive black----think more off white /off black with a soft grey under fluff.
Yes their legs should be yellow but the photos I have seen online are an un-natural deep orangey yellow.

It would be great if everybody could start taking lots of pictures of their flocks. Let's get busy working together to see who has what and how many.
If your flock isn't progressing each season....why? These are things that can be tackled. I noticed that many of you posted that your flock stopped laying this fall/winter. Mine did not not even my d'Uccles who are known for that. And yes I live in the South but we had a horrible winter. It snowed 3 times and stayed in 20's most of time. It never does that. I changed my feed up a bit and altered their routine some.
You can find Group and Page by going to Facebook and either searching Barred Holland Breed
or going to my Facebook page Parishfarmgirl and the group and page will be the left side bar.


You can also visit my personal site where I have a chicken page where I will be posting Holland Chick's Farm info. www.parishfarmgirl.com

Suzanne Holland
Yeah Barred Hollands

 

[jmcdan]

Cool. I just started collecting eggs to hatch. Hopefully next weekend I'll have enough to crank up the incubator. Looking forward to picks to help with culling afterward.

Jesse

 

[hollandchicks]

That is awesome . How many eggs are you planning to incubate?

 

[greenfield]

How do you store the eggs that you are holding to incubate laters?

 

[hollandchicks]

Good morning all
I know everyone has their own set up that works for their unique situation so I will answer for only my method because it works for me. The eggs have to be kept in the 65-75 range and of course turned once a day. I have a place in my kitchen that is off to the side and out of the way. The surface is granite which keeps it cool. I lay out clean cotton cloths and lay the eggs in rows marking them with pencil ( line on each side for turning purposes marked "a" and "b". and then the date they were collected). When they are put into the incubator I mark through that date a put the new date.
I collect for 10 days which is a safe window for viability.

This method also gives me a visual of what I am working with too.
I hope this helps.
I look forward to hearing everyone else's methods

Suzanne Holland

Holland Chicks Farm