California - Northern

[sol2go]

Pita Pintas have more breast meat than Bresse. Bresse have a lot of thigh and drum stick meat. They both get to about the same size at the same age, which is very fast.

Another post to catch up with…are you also familiar with Basque Hens and Lt. Brahmas, if so how would you rate their bulk/meat against the Pita Pintas & Bresse?

 

[PetRock]

Hi..not sure if this is the right place to post...i live in NORTHERN CA! 2 hours north of SF...i have 14 hens various breeds/standard and bantam....i am sure i will have a broody in the next month and looking for bantam barred rock hatching eggs...anyone raising those darlings? i have a source in PA but that is kinda far for shipping....willing to chance it tho if need be.
All my girls are my favorite. Spitzhaubens are a total kick..so curious and adventurous...as are the brabanter of which i have two. Also self blue silkie bantam, white bantam cochin, welsummer, russian orloff, two EEs,porcelain d'uccle, quail d'anver, 2 polish and a black copper maran.....in my opinion NO. CA starts at SF....or in your heart! joy

It sounds like you have a fun assortment of chickens! I breed Pita Pinta and large fowl blue/black/splash Langshan. My layer flock is eclectic, though, with lots of different birds that lay different colors of eggs. I don't know of anyone who has bantam barred rocks but hopefully someone here on the best BYC thread has them!

 

[dldolan]

A friend of mine called devestadet over the death his chickens which were killed last night. They were kept in a large coop with chain link, lined with chicken wire. Somehow, Raccoons ripped the chicken wire, reached in through the chain link, and which ever chickens they could reach, tore them apart.
He walked into a blood bath this morning. Some were still alive, but, beyond saving, so he had to end their suffering. Many of his beloved chickens are dead, and he is beyond consoling. My heart goes out to him and his poor, lovely chickens who had a horrible death.
It is breeding time for many predators, and they are on the prowl. Raccoons have no problem ripping the regular chicken wires. I hope this horrific incident doesn't happen again.

Lual

Sounds awful. How sad for him.

And thanks for the reminder that predators can manage things we don't think about, so we should all be aware. When I built my first coop, I was told if a five-year old can open it, so can a raccoon with their smart little hands.

 

[sol2go]

A friend of mine called devestadet over the death his chickens which were killed last night. They were kept in a large coop with chain link, lined with chicken wire. Somehow, Raccoons ripped the chicken wire, reached in through the chain link, and which ever chickens they could reach, tore them apart.
He walked into a blood bath this morning. Some were still alive, but, beyond saving, so he had to end their suffering. Many of his beloved chickens are dead, and he is beyond consoling. My heart goes out to him and his poor, lovely chickens who had a horrible death.
It is breeding time for many predators, and they are on the prowl. Raccoons have no problem ripping the regular chicken wires. I hope this horrific incident doesn't happen again.

Lual

Please let your friend know that his story touched others. Sorry for his loss.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Lual, so sorry for your friends loss.
I do have a similar set-up. I have 1x2 and 1x1 welded wire with 1/2 chicken wire on the inside. So far the ladies have been safe from exploring hands.
I need to put roosts in the pigeon lofts but that's a project on hold since I'll have to mount plywood to keep the coons from reaching in and grabbing them off the roosts.
I know the foxes, skunks possums, and coons are here, they will cut through the yard even when the dogs are outside with me.

 

[PetRock]

This article has some interesting charts. It is from the International Egg Commission so there is some propaganda but still interesting to see the comparisons in egg preferences between different countries.

file:///C:/Users/davalerga/Downloads/g%20Vincent%20Guyonnet%20eggs%20and%20egg%20products%20%20attitudes%20Perceptions%20and%20Behaviors.pdf

 

[AmyPaperlady]

How long should I let Frieda set before giving her eggs? Y'see, I had arranged with Ron for Arkansas Blue eggs whenever I next had a broody. However, Frieda's broodiness just happened to coincide with Ron's hens taking a break. He'd had one still laying, but she's stopped now, too, I guess. Frieda's been broody for two weeks now.

how fat is she?  you worry about sitting too long if they don't eat and drink, i've had silkies   try and kill themselves that way. You could give her chicks now, but  eggs are iffy if shes skinny.

ETA well, everything--stupid phone deciding that was a click, not a scroll...

Anyway...

I haven't actually seen her off the nest myself this time, except for one day that I went to gather eggs and she was on that day's eggs instead of the (infertile) eggs I'd given her to see how many she could cover, and then couldn't find the heart to take back. She did stay with her nest once I moved her back, though.

When it stops raining, I'll go see how she feels, weight-wise--I've just started antibiotics today for strep, and want to stay dry.

I think it's safe to say she's eating--I couldn't really feel her breastbone, even with no feathers in the way.

 

[ronott1]

I think it's safe to say she's eating--I couldn't really feel her breastbone, even with no feathers in the way.

Good news!

I collected a pretty blue egg this morning--Lets hope for more!

 

[Flowers of Abba]

Thinking duck...either Ancona or Muscovies . Haha I know which Shantith will pick.
Anyhow I'm leaning toward muscovies Sturdy, calm, fast growing, quiet. Anyone want to throw in their two cents?

 

[chiqita]

Thinking duck...either Ancona or Muscovies . Haha I know which Shantith will pick.
Anyhow I'm leaning toward muscovies Sturdy, calm, fast growing, quiet. Anyone want to throw in their two cents?

neither of those will lay year round. Muscovies are tastier. we are not terribly far from metzer farms a great duck company if you can't find a serious breeder. Also check out @fowlman01 muscovies if he sells babies or eggs. They are breathtaking.