California - Northern

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I've never seen so many ladybugs in my life! How amazing!

x2!

I need some ladybugs in my yard!

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
In a week or two there will be more up there. The weather changes when they swarm--its for reproduction.

We have been getting them for so long that we have a bit of a permanent population of them. Well at least in the front yard

The chickens like them a bit too much. They are great for pest control.

Ron

 

[Meg2000000]

In a week or two there will be more up there. The weather changes when they swarm--its for reproduction.

We have been getting them for so long that we have a bit of a permanent population of them. Well at least in the front yard

The chickens like them a bit too much. They are great for pest control.

Ron

Ron - You should bring some ladybugs with you when we meet up to exchange the chicks! We don't get many around here! What beautiful creatures they are.

I've been reading the Basque thread and I am getting super excited about having this breed. We are really hopeful that we will be able to bring this Spanish bird to more people in the U.S. Go Spain! You have no idea how many times I've bragged about this nice guy I met on BYC (YOU!) We are hoping to help expand this breed and I was doing some research on the subject. Do you think my three have potential to improve the breed standard? Also, is it ok to mate brother and sister? I don't know the rules on this yet.

Questions for all: We are building our chicken coop and backyard pen for the chickens. We are planning on having 4 Barnevelder hens, 2 Marraduna Basque hens and 1 Marraduna Basque rooster. I know I need anywhere from 2-4 sq feet per bird in the coop but does that mean cubic feet (as in does the height of the coop count as space as long as it's usable space with roosts and stuff?) I'm hoping to share the Basque eggs with others who want to experience this breed so we're planning on using only the Barnevelder eggs for eating. Is it ok to have the Basque roo in with the hens at all times or should he be kept separate?

Thanks guys!
- Megan

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Thanks Megan for the kind words. There are so many great chicken people here.

For breeding, they will be fine for several generations. They you should find a Rooster from a near relative.

Actually, they are so robust at present you probably could breed them for a lot of generations.

The two from me have potential. The legs are supposed to be yellow. The Rooster has yellow legs. One of the Pullets has whit legs and the other has yellowish white legs. The leg color is supposed to be easy to fix. You should get good chicks from them. The thing to do is to pick the best out of each generation for breeding. The others can go to people that want to use them for egg laying and pets. They will make great pet chickens and should do very well around here since they are from the Mediterranean.

I plan on getting some new ones from someone on the Basque thread in a couple of years. Maybe Papa Brooder will have some hatching eggs for me at that time.

Great questions about keeping the rooster. I plan on watching to see how mine treats the hens. If he gets to rough with them, I will limit the amount of time he is with them. The only problem with having both breeds together is making sure you know which eggs belong to which breed. I can't wait to read what others think.

I hope you get your report soon.

Bye,

Ron

 

[Papa Brooder]

Quote:
Thanks Megan for the kind words. There are so many great chicken people here.

For breeding, they will be fine for several generations. They you should find a Rooster from a near relative.

Actually, they are so robust at present you probably could breed them for a lot of generations.

The two from me have potential. The legs are supposed to be yellow. The Rooster has yellow legs. One of the Pullets has whit legs and the other has yellowish white legs. The leg color is supposed to be easy to fix. You should get good chicks from them. The thing to do is to pick the best out of each generation for breeding. The others can go to people that want to use them for egg laying and pets. They will make great pet chickens and should do very well around here since they are from the Mediterranean.

I plan on getting some new ones from someone on the Basque thread in a couple of years. Maybe Papa Brooder will have some hatching eggs for me at that time.

Great questions about keeping the rooster. I plan on watching to see how mine treats the hens. If he gets to rough with them, I will limit the amount of time he is with them. The only problem with having both breeds together is making sure you know which eggs belong to which breed. I can't wait to read what others think.

I hope you get your report soon.

Bye,

Ron
Yes, definitely will have some eggs for you down the road. I have the MB from James Meeks and from GFF, I have kept them banded so eventually I'll put a GFFs roo over the Meeks hens and vice versa just to keep up the diversity although I agree with you it shouldn't be a problem imminently.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I thought that bobcat was surely gone... it just came back after my dog scared the skunks out of the area..

 

[ronott1]

I thought that bobcat was surely gone... it just came back after my dog scared the skunks out of the area..

So sorry to hear that. Does it try to get the chickens in the day time?

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Yes, definitely will have some eggs for you down the road. I have the MB from James Meeks and from GFF, I have kept them banded so eventually I'll put a GFFs roo over the Meeks hens and vice versa just to keep up the diversity although I agree with you it shouldn't be a problem imminently.
I am really looking forward to hatching some of these. This will be another milestone for me--hatching eggs from chickens I hatched...

I am also very happy more of us are getting the Basque hens here. Viva la revolution!

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Good news Cali Chick!

There was a post on the EE Braggers thread--said the first one is a rooster but the white one and the second black one are pullets. The ones with the rose comb should lay a green or blue egg for you. The rose comb is supposed to be associated with the blue gene in EEs. So you should have colorful eggs in 9 to 12 weeks.

. I hope the time goes by quickly for you. You can look at it like the glass is half full--you are about half way there.

Ron

Is anyone interested in providing a home for one of these young cockerels? (We've got 3) They are very healthy (and of course, happy "California" chickens)! They've been hand raised by my son and me, but they need to go before they begin crowing.

They are just over 2 months old. They were from bluish-green eggs that my broody wouldn't stay on so I incubated them (pictured below). I want to keep the 2 that look like pullets, but the 3 black ones with bigger, redder combs must go. They have gorgeous black feathering (with rainbow iridescent colors in the sun), slate grey legs and puffy cheek tufts. I've got them listed on CraigsList for "make me an offer".

This is my BO trying out the "broody" thing with the eggs (I ended up putting them in my bator) This hen (Buffy) actually DID go broody a few weeks later and hatched out 2 Fertile Trader Joe eggs! I love my chickens!

 

[ronott1]

Hi All,

I have some infromation about King Feed. I have been trying to get some to try--they have a non-soy natural line that is sold in other parts of the State. Those that can get it like it. I tried Western Feed in Vacaville, but they kept saying they would call me when it was in but they did not call. The third time I called the person blamed King Feed. I contacted King Feed and got this reply:
>>>>>>>>>>>

[FONT=Default Sans Serif,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Ron,
Our poultry feeds are available at Novato Horse and Pet, and we will be in Western Feed and Pet in five locations in
the greater Sacramento area and coming to Davis some time this summer.
Western should have their first order in stores by the end of next week.
Please call me with any questions or other help.

Hal Denton
King Feed
Northern California Rep.
831-809-8594[/FONT]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I will contact Hal to find out if the Vacaville Store will now carry the feed. I will also find out what store in Davis will have it.

Bye,

Ron