California - Northern

[fowlman01]

My guineas must be defective, lol, they don't keep anything away, but I sure do know when something is there with all the noise they make!

-Kathy

The predators here ate the guineas first.

w.

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
Thanks for the good thought, Ron. I have 24 more of hers in the Brinsea that went in on 3/8. They are a mix of BCM, EE and barnyard mixes. I should have a better hygrometer by the time they go into lockdown.

 

[tommysgirl]

Nice to see there are so many people in N. California. Does anyone here have recommendations for breeds here? The only chickens I've have experience with are Leghorns and Jersey Giants that are my friends. I know I want another Leghorn I lost my hen at my friends she was the most love able chicken. But I'd like to know what chicken breeds are the most happy here in California. I'm also a tiny bit interested in showing so a good show breed/egg layer breed would be loved.

Hi there! I am just NE of you in Lake County. I agree with Walt and with Pet Rock.

Like Walt said, If you think you would like to show you can't go wrong with New Hampshires and Walt has some of the best in the country plus he is also in Sonoma County. Delawares are another breed that would be wonderful. However, to the best of my knowledge there aren't any breeders of show quality ones in CA that I know of...capayvalleychick has begun a breeding program with BEAUTIFUL Dels but I don't think she is ready to start selling her birds or hatching eggs yet. New Hampshires and Delawares are also both on the American Livestock Conservancy's "watch" list so by getting involved with them you are also helping to save the breeds.


However a bunch of us have mixed flocks. Like Pet Rock said we have added birds because we like them for other reasons.

I have have added birds for their production, their uniqueness, for their egg color and their broody potential, currently I am all about feather color and pattern as well. Sonoma county is mild enough so that the door is pretty open to you to choose whatever suits your fancy

I think we all would suggest using a breeder instead of a feedstores or online hatcheries and you have a bunch of them close by. For Blue or Olive colored eggs as well as other beautiful birds check out just struttin farm in Marin. Deann posts on this thread too. Walt has his NHs plus a variety of other breeds and there are many others that can get you amply supplied with what you want and/need.

And yes. Like Ron predicted I recommend CA Greys because of their stellar personalities and production of bright white eggs. If you think you may want to show though, they aren't the breed for you because they are not APA recognized

Later someone here will introduce you to California Grays. They lay white eggs.

Hmmmm I wonder what he meant by "someone" hahahahaha

I will look at the list Jules sent me. I was looking for LaFleche or Crevs but decided to do California Grays for my white eggs instead.

Good Friday morning! I

Fridays!!!

Who has chicks hatching this weekend? I have 26 eggs set to hatch. Tomorrow night it will officially be 21 days. Of course, I'm looking for pips already! These Pita Pinta/PP mix chicks seem to hatch a little early.

Pics please I am dreaming about these babies...literally

 

[fortyfivefarm]

The predators here ate the guineas first.

w.

The only "predator" mine seem to run off is that UPS guy. They DO let me know if something is out there tho.

 

[fortyfivefarm]

Love the Spanish breeds!  I'm trying to be good about adding any new breeds but I'm feeling the pull to add some Penedesencas to keep my Pita Pintas company!

I agree. I've been trying to NOT add any new breeds, but all of the talk about both of these breeds is making me weaken.

 

[ronott1]

Like Walt said, If you think you would like to show you can't go wrong with New Hampshires and Walt has some of the best in the country plus he is also in Sonoma County. Delawares are another breed that would be wonderful. However, to the best of my knowledge there aren't any breeders of show quality ones in CA that I know of...capayvalleychick has begun a breeding program with BEAUTIFUL Dels but I don't think she is ready to start selling her birds or hatching eggs yet. New Hampshires and Delawares are also both on the American Livestock Conservancy's "watch" list so by getting involved with them you are also helping to save the breeds.

And yes. Like Ron predicted I recommend CA Greys because of their stellar personalities and production of bright white eggs. If you think you may want to show though, they aren't the breed for you because they are not APA recognized

Hmmmm I wonder what he meant by "someone" hahahahaha

I too have visited those New Heritage Delawares and they are amazing!

I have one that is already a cull but even my daughters can tell the specialness of the little guy\girl.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I finished a hatch--I hatched 8 kathyinmo Delawares and two SG Dorkings.

I'm very happy with the Delawares but SO FRUSTRATED with the Dorkings!!! 8 out of 9 Dels hatched but only 2 out of 12 Dorkings.

Since the Dels are hatching so well, that means that it can't be diet or handling, etc. affecting the hatch. It has to be the birds themselves.

So what is wrong??? They are not inbred, it's not inbreeding depression. I mixed several lines in the past. Birds seem vigorous. Cock is fertile, since 2 hatched. Some hens are having trouble with fertility. Mostly, last year it was mid to late quitters. 31% hatch rate with Dorkings last year.

I want to hatch 100 Dorkings this year. What can I do?

@fowlman01 do you have any suggestions?

 

[lizanne]

Great tips!

Australorps do very well in the heat you have and with the temperature change. Black Australorps are APA Accepted too. They are calm, quiet and mellow. They are also great foragers and working chickens.

Australorps and New Hampshire look pretty mixed together in a flock too.

I was going to suggest Australorps too! They are one of my favorites!

 

[capayvalleychick]

Delawares are another breed that would be wonderful. However, to the best of my knowledge there aren't any breeders of show quality ones in CA that I know of...capayvalleychick has begun a breeding program with BEAUTIFUL Dels but I don't think she is ready to start selling her birds or hatching eggs yet.

Thanks for the mention.

I wouldn't recommend choosing Delawares for showing, to a beginner. Getting proper type and the color/pattern correct is very difficult.

 

[PetRock]

New Hamps can do well in shows. We did very well this last season with usually winning the American Class, several best large fowl and one reserve of show.. I only showed the same bird at one show all the rest were one show only....so it was not a one or two bird winning streak. The exhibition New Hamps are a great breed for beginners as they are bred so well that if you get decent stock it should be easy to hatch very competitive birds. Mine start laying at 5 months and the roosters weigh 9 lbs at 7-8 months old. They also eat a lot less than any other large fowl I have had and I have raised almost everything. Solid colored birds are usually best for beginners that want to show, but the NH's are really pretty birds and yoyu have to see them in the sun ot appreciate how beautiful they really are.

Here are a couple of pictures that Lual took of a male of mine and some females she hatched from eggs from here.



Walt

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing these, Walt! I appreciate the drawings in the SOP but actual photos make a greater impact on me!