California - Northern

[Disco Hen]

Not yet, but I will go get some now!

 

[Disco Hen]

I have to get them in like 10 minutes, my camera is charging

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Disco Hen, I see you are in Sonoma. My hubby works there. Is the local feed store good? Any recommendations?
Hope to see pics of new babies.

 

[Adriennesmom]

My sizzle eggs started to hatch today!!!!!

Congratulations!!

 

[zooweemama]

I'm in Northern Mendocino County... It was almost 100 degrees today! Just wanted to add my opinion about breeds for your area because I believe its a similar climate (we only get occasional snow fall in winter, but below freezing often & until April usually... 100 + in summer). I have RIRs ("the little red hens") & Barred Rocks (black & white speckled) & Sexlinks that do great AS LONG AS THERE IS SHADE.
One wall of my coop is all chicken wire & the top half of the wall across from that is also wire... I just wrap clear green house plastic & staple gun it to the wire wall when the weather starts to stay below freezing. The Leghorn I had didn't make it thru the first winter; I dont think they are as cold hardy. I just got my first Buff Orpingtons & hear they are great in this climate as well. All of the breeds I mentioned (beside the leghorn) considered dual purpose & winter hardy.
Below are some picks of the coop... but that only houses the 4 old layers currently: My husband is building the palace for our 30+ chicks that I have in a brooder right now.
(I am officially addicted!) The bottom of the coop is open year round, I have pretty awesome dogs & have never had predator problems...


There is a yard we added recently that runs behind the coop & along my garden fence. The girls usually free range all day & go to roost at dusk (I don't remember ever doing anything to teach them that). But that yard is easy to close off from their main run so I am picking up pullets tomorrow & it will be the "teenagers" hang out yard.

Thanks so much! I go back and forth between not wanting chickens and wanting chickens. LOL I am contemplating the Buffs. I have Buff ducks, next year I want some Buff geese...I really love the way they look. I'd like brown eggs (they lay brown I read). I don't really want any hybrids because I'd like the option of breeding if I wanted. I want to stick to one kind in the beginning. I need to find enough people to buy the eggs from me because I have 11 ducks currently. If I do the chickens...I am hoping to stagger them enough that there will be overlap when the ducks molt...maybe the chickens still lay...then when they chickens molt they ducks would be laying. Is brooding chickens in July too late in the season? I have a pair of geese coming middle of this month and I want to make sure they are settled before even thinking about adding more babies.

I wish I knew someone local who had Buffs- I wouldn't mind buy a mix of babies, older layers and a young roo.

 

[zooweemama]

Good place to order really good quality chickens? Possibly SQ? I am looking at Buffs right now.

 

[Iridian]

Disco~ congrats on the hatch! How is it going? Looking forward to seeing pictures whenever you get the time, its very exciting

 

[zooweemama]

What is a fair price to charge for a dozen chicken eggs? duck eggs? Free range, fed standard feed and organic veggies...

 

[zooweemama]

My sizzle eggs started to hatch today!!!!!

Picturessss! Awww! Congrats!

 

[ronott1]

Ok, I am going to use Multi-Quote for you.

Good place to order really good quality chickens? Possibly SQ? I am looking at Buffs right now.

Duane Urch? Jeremy has Orpingtons: http://brooksidecottagefarms.com/?page_id=212. Linda Hamid has them: www.sweeth2o.us and Thistle Down in Davis has Lemon Cuckoo Orpingtons : http://thistledownfarmgy.com/orpingtons.html

What is a fair price to charge for a dozen chicken eggs? duck eggs? Free range, fed standard feed and organic veggies...

I charge 3.00 per dozen and have no problem selling them. A person at the Woodland Farmers Market was selling them for $4.00 per dozen last hear. I don't know about Duck eggs.

Ron