California - Northern

[capayvalleychick]

Deb, good luck at the show! If the roads were dry, I would go. I even thought about taking the train, since that's such a nice trip. but I can't take that much time away from my work.

Ron, I can't believe that woman is holding a raptor with her bare hands!

Cooper, I hope your solution works.

Amy Beth, beautiful photos! I wish I knew how to take pics like that.

So many chick pics on here, lately. You would think it was Spring.

 

[MonsterClucker]

e You had a nice hatch Molly! Check the wing tips in a few days for the blue coloring. Regular barnie chicks sometimes have a blue cast to their down but aren't blue of course. Blue wing tips are the first sign that I can tell by and then later they start to feather out blue. I had one cockerel that fooled me....I thought he was black until almost 4 weeks of age. He turned out to be a pretty shade of dark blue. Sexing by chick down isn't as accurate with the blues as with "pure" barnies. Girls will have light breasts too. I'm going to be working at bringing that trait back, but these things take time.

Also don't get rid of the blacks right away. Pick out the best quality blacks and use them for breeders. Since you don't have any pure barnies you won't have to worry about mixing them up. I just make sure I keep all mine banded and pretty much know everyone in the flock by sight. Some of my  favorite pullets this year have been "blacks" from the blue project with nice sized pullets that have excellent lacing. There's no need to get rid of those genetics just because they are "plain" black. Splashes have the poorest lacing, but have had really nice bodies. The best part about splashes is that they will throw 100% blue when crossed with a black. But, I'll probably not be keeping my splash pullets this year because I really like their 2 blue brothers more.

Trisha

Edited to add: I haven't gotten a splash cockerel yet....all of the splashes have been pullets LOL.

Thank you for that information. Im taking notes for when I start working with them.


Molly your too lucky!! Lol

 

[suzygiddens]

I agree on the north south and central thing...
IM in Northern.. That puts me in the foothills just a little jump over to Nevada.
I live just below Valley Springs. About 30 mins from Stockton.

HELLO Royal Oaks Ranch I live just down the hill from your in Acampo !! Small world Huh ? I do not have any chickens YET !!

Just studying about them, joined this forum to get some ideas.... as to what I will getting my self into !! What can you tell me to help me with my coop.
I have not bought one yet ? Should I buy a pre-fab one or one already built ?

Great talking with you ...

 

[tls_ranch]

Also my favorite "broody" is a black hen from my blue project. She's a large hen (for a Barnevelder) that has really nice lacing. She is an excellent broody...pretty much too broody, but she's earned a place in my flock as the designated momma hen.

Very dedicated while hatching eggs and good momma.

Beautiful lacing. She has like 17 chicks under her in this pic.




Her as a pullet


So again keep the best blacks...you may be happy with them



Had to edit/switch the middle pic...I used the wrong one LOL..

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

I built one and then bought Ware Chicken Hutches on sale. I use the hutches for grow out pens and extra space for the newly integrated pullets.

I have chicken coops for dummies(Guess who wrote that? Nifty chicken!). It has a very simple coop that you could easily modify to fit what you need. I have the ebook version.

The trick is to have 3 to 4 square feet per chicken and at least double the size for the number of chickens you want. Have you heard about chicken math yet?

Edited to add: The book has coop plans that go from simple to complex. The simple one is based on whole numbers and does not have angles and fractions to deal with. Remember, math causes pain. A recent study proves that.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I do not have any chickens YET !!

Just studying about them, joined this forum to get some ideas.... as to what I will getting my self into !! What can you tell me to help me with my coop.
I have not bought one yet ? Should I buy a pre-fab one or one already built ?

Hi!

How many chickens were you thinking of getting? Most prefab coops are actually too small for more than a couple chickens. It's also less expensive to build one yourself. Do you know if predators are a problem in your area? Is there shade where you are going to have your chickens? Do you plan to free range? All these things help determine what kind of coop will work best for you.
You are smart that you are getting set up before you get the chickens.

 

[juststruttin]

Are you legbars still laying?! mine have virtually stopped. I get an occasional egg here and there but often days without eggs. :-( I wish I had 19 legbars hatching!! Although I guess I was wanting to have a break from hatching! ha ha. did you get my PM?

Mine have quit as well. They were doing great up until last week and now came to a screaming halt. No eggs 3 days. Urg....

 

[ronott1]

Deb, good luck at the show! If the roads were dry, I would go. I even thought about taking the train, since that's such a nice trip. but I can't take that much time away from my work.

Ron, I can't believe that woman is holding a raptor with her bare hands!

Cooper, I hope your solution works.

Amy Beth, beautiful photos! I wish I knew how to take pics like that.

So many chick pics on here, lately. You would think it was Spring.

I know! She even kept the feet separated like you would for a Rooster to keep the spurs from injuring it.

I rendered the lard yesterday. I was once again accused of working on becoming a survivalist

I am really just on the quest for the perfect pie crust.

It was so cool. I also have a bunch if chitlins and will give them to my layers over the next couple of day. I bet they will love it!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Tis the season of low light and short days.

Do you give them light? This is not a winter layer.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I rendered the lard yesterday. I was once again accused of working on becoming a survivalist

I am really just on the quest for the perfect pie crust.

It was so cool. I also have a bunch if chitlins and will give them to my layers over the next couple of day. I bet they will love it!

You were smart, asking for it. I didn't know how much the stuff is prized by bakers and in short supply. I rendered half of the remaining back fat. Took 12 hours! I was up past midnight... hence me dragging this morning when I should be out doing chores. Are chitlins the same as cracklins? I made cracklins. Tasted them and immediately spit them out! BLECK! Are they ok to feed to the chickens? I am going to use some melted lard on their feed, to see if it makes any difference.