California - Northern

[Happy Chooks]

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

Jody has nice buffs too.

http://www.hinkjcpoultry.com/

 

[zooweemama]

Ok, I am going to use Multi-Quote for you.
Are you looking for Buff Orpingtons? Great choice for a home flock. They are so large that they can't get over even low fences. They are also supposed to be fairly quiet.

It's hard to find show quality. You might want to hatch them your self.
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


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

ooh awesome - going to look into them right now. so far i'm down to strombergs for them. but i'd rather get from a smaller place if i am able. yes buff orpingtons. i love their coloring, i read they are pretty calm and quiet...and their fat bottoms make me smile. i love that tidbid on not being able to easily scale a fence!

 

[zooweemama]

Ok, I am going to use Multi-Quote for you.
Are you looking for Buff Orpingtons? Great choice for a home flock. They are so large that they can't get over even low fences. They are also supposed to be fairly quiet.

It's hard to find show quality. You might want to hatch them your self.
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


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

Oh no! Now I'm looking at the marans too! They are so handsome and their egg color is amazing!

 

[zooweemama]

Ok the more pictures I saw- the more in love I am with the Buff Orpingtons. I want them! I don't "love" chickens (although the Buffs are seriously getting me close to loving them!) - I have to confess. I am madly in love with my ducks. But they ARE a lot of work. I really feel like I need to give chickens a fair shake by trying them out. I have several friends that raise chickens so if I end up not loving them (if I can love a lizard...I think a chicken can be lovable!)...I can re-home them to my friends that love chickens and raise them. So I have a backup.

I posted this all by itself in the chicken area maybe you guys can help? Especially since many of you are familiar with my weather being from the same general area:

----

I want to be conservative because I have ducks (11 girls) who should begin laying in September). I have a lot of natural minded friends who would be able to take the extras off my hand. We will be keeping ducks no matter what- but I think I want to see when it comes to eggs- which I prefer raising for that purpose.

I think I have settled on a single breed- Buffs. I'd like to have some females and 1 roo. I will be paying extra for not getting straight run. I have a few questions...

I'm looking at Strombergs for the Buffs...any input on this?

I have a space that is 8x8. It's an old coop that needs tlc but the bones are solid although a bit 'ugly'. I will upload some pics from my cell phone a little later.

In an 8x8 space how many chickens can comfortably fit? In the spring/summer they will be free range. Probably some of fall too. But winter is pretty darn chilly (30/40s and rainy everyday pretty much)...so I assume they will want to spend more time in their coop than out? There is no electricity in the coop.

Should I expect a certain amount of loss over the first few months? I was thinking to order 1 roo and 3 hens...but I would hate to lose 1 or 2 and be without a roo or possibly enough hens.

How many lay boxes is ideal for hens? I know with ducks you only need 1 box for several females.

Thank you so much!

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

That's how it starts.

Next you will need green, then blue, then purple, then olive colored. Oh, Turkey eggs are amazing looking!

Some people even hi jack chicken hatch along threads with emus....

Crib notes: Green=EEs; Green also=Isbars; blue=auracana and Ameraucana; purple=kims(Wolftracks) Purple Project; Olive=OEGs(usually AmeraucanaXMarans.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

That's how it starts.

Next you will need green, then blue, then purple, then olive colored. Oh, Turkey eggs are amazing looking!

Some people even hi jack chicken hatch along threads with emus....

Crib notes: Green=EEs; Green also=Isbars; blue=auracana and Ameraucana; purple=kims(Wolftracks) Purple Project; Olive=OEGs(usually AmeraucanaXMarans.

Ron

Seriously I think I have the bird flu. It started with ducks. Never had them, now I do and I want to squeeze them- I love them! I just ordered a male/female pair of African geese and we'll get them mid-month. I ordered a turkey book last week to read up on this summer. I've fallen in love with the Chocolate turkey. And as much as I dislike chickens (I don't mean to offend anyone)...after reading up on the Buffs and looking at pictures...then reading and looking up the Marans...now I want both. :| This forum is eeeevil. We only have 4 acres so I have to be careful. LOL

 

[ronott1]

Quote: You can get a lot of birds onto 4 acres....

Ron

 

[Disco Hen]

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.

The feed store I always go to is the granary, they are very good, but can be kinda expensive, you could also go to broncos

 

[zooweemama]

You can get a lot of birds onto 4 acres....

Ron

hahaha!! Well I currently have my husband and mil almost on board with turkeys next year. I just today got my turkey book- so I can read about them and see...
My husband is going to die when I bring my Buffs want to him.

Does anyone know how many chickens can stay in an 8x8 coop? I am trying to stay within that size. I am trying to flip my images around before adding them here. For some reason my phone sends them to me upside down. lol

 

[zooweemama]

hahaha!! Well I currently have my husband and mil almost on board with turkeys next year. I just today got my turkey book- so I can read about them and see...
My husband is going to die when I bring my Buffs want to him.

Does anyone know how many chickens can stay in an 8x8 coop? I am trying to stay within that size. I am trying to flip my images around before adding them here. For some reason my phone sends them to me upside down. lol

Woohoo someone answered in my thread. Now to convince my hubby....