Calif. N.Central Valley/Foothills

[mycutekitties]

Hello to all

I'm in Modesto and extremely new to this all. I would love to get some hens for laying. I also just started a garden so it fits. Is anyone from this area able to help me. I would very much appreciate advice on where to purchase everything around here. I can't wait to get started.

Hello and welcome! I'm also in Modesto. There are a few breeders here. Kim Riley (modesto) and Karen Thomas (Turlock). Might be able to help you out with some birds. What kind if chickens are you looking for?

 

[MrsMoonCat]

Welcome from Madera to the south of you. You will find an unbelieveable amount of info and support from this group.

 

[Ears4muzik]

Thanks I will look to contact them. I haven't had much time to research breeds. I have two little ones under 3 so I'm a busy mama to say the least. They do love to be outside so I'm eager to expand our yard to become a hen home.

 

[sewandgrow]

Hello Ears & Welcome. You will find many of us on a few different Calif threads that are willing to help you get started. What is your goal ????? How many chickens do you want & what kind? Are you in town or the country? Do you have a coop or going to build one????? Etc...etc...etc.... Tell us about yourself & what you want to do.
Karen in Turlock

 

[Ears4muzik]

I'd love to have only two. I'm in town and would like to build a coop beginning this weekend. I want to have fresh laid eggs for my kids and I to gather. I do have two boxer dogs but my yard is large enough. I am anticipating a lot of training and defense for my chickens.

 

[sewandgrow]

Ears,
I know many people that have both dogs & chickens. In fact almost everyone & it works with management. All my chickens are in chainlink pens for their own safety from predators & to prevent any unwanted cross breeding. In a perfect "chicken world" I would have all of them out to pasture in large separated runs,......But.........LOL

 

[PetRock]

Ears!

This is a great place to learn everything you need to know about chicken raising! You are so smart to be preparing before getting your chickens! My brother in law gave my daughter our first chicken and we had to scramble to get what she needed. Then chicken math began and soon we had 7 chicks in an indoor brooder while we were frantically trying to finish building the coop! I do recommend that you consider getting 3 chickens instead of 2 that way if something did happen to 1 of them, you wouldn't have an unhappy, lone chicken.

We have had our chickens for 2 years now and last fall added a rescue Australian cattle dog to the family. It took quite a bit of work with her to get her to not view the chickens as playmates or feathered chew toys. Teaching our pup the leave it command has been really important for everyone's health and happiness. My chickens spend most of the day free ranging our 1/3 acre yard. I am usually outside with the dog and chickens when they are together. I still have to keep an eye on Pixar because she wants to follow the chickens and get them to squawk and ruffle their feathers. (She also likes to follow them and clean up after them, if you know what I mean!

) When my daughter and I are not home, my husband just leaves them all out in the backyard together. He says that the dog never shows any interest in the chickens unless DD and I are there. I guess that she kicks into play mode when we are around.

 

[sewandgrow]

Hi Debi,
How are those chicks you got at the BBQ doing? I am over run with chicks right now & going to put some ads on Craigslist again. I sold my White Rock breeding group to a lady from Redding & my pet quality Dominiques to a lady in Hesperia. Little by little I am trying to cut back. I will be selling the "Specialty quail" that I just had to have too.......LOL. I am going to sell my Silver Gray Dorkings too & wait for the ones I really want next fall.
You muct have quite a few birds now if you count all the chicks too....................LOL Watch out or you will be like me pretty soon.
The rains, thunder, hail etc has me wanting to be housebound. More to come tonight & then it should clear up.

 

[PetRock]

Hi Debi,
How are those chicks you got at the BBQ doing? I am over run with chicks right now & going to put some ads on Craigslist again. I sold my White Rock breeding group to a lady from Redding & my pet quality Dominiques to a lady in Hesperia. Little by little I am trying to cut back. I will be selling the "Specialty quail" that I just had to have too.......LOL. I am going to sell my Silver Gray Dorkings too & wait for the ones I really want next fall.
You muct have quite a few birds now if you count all the chicks too....................LOL Watch out or you will be like me pretty soon.
The rains, thunder, hail etc has me wanting to be housebound. More to come tonight & then it should clear up.

Karen,
They are flying, running, hopping around the brooder like popping popcorn kernels! They are so cute! I just sent you a PM.

 

[3HensKeeper]

Well, I'm in Ripon! Thats just north of Salida, Modesto, Turlock... My three hens had to find another home due to doctors' suspicions they were causing mom's lung disease. Mom passed away a few weeks ago. So we got 6 new babies. They keep us busy and happy!
We are brooding them in the house, of course, so their happy sounds fill the place. I had to put a little pan of Diatomaceous Earth in their hutch to dust in, they were trying to dust without any dirt! We have lots of wild birds in the yard-- worried about them going outside in the chicken tractor and possibly picking up mites or something. Any thoughts?