Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[fowlman01]

And I thought of one more question!

I saw an add on CL where someone said they had 'pure bred Buff Orpington chicks' for sale. As the Mr. and I have decided, after careful consideration of all the breeds we've sampled, that we would like to narrow our flock to Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorps only, I was very interested in this ad as the chicks were very reasonably priced.

SO! I sent an email with the following questions to the seller:

1) You mentioned they are pure bred - can you tell me what strains/lines that they come from? Are they bred to the English or the American SOP? Are they show quality or pet quality birds for the most part?

2) Or are they hatchery chicks? If they are hatchery chicks, which hatchery did you buy your stock from, and how long have you been breeding these hatchery birds?

3) How old are the chicks at this time?

4) I assume that the offer is for straight run?

5) Can you possibly send pictures of your flock - I am particularly interested in the size of your cocks, although the size of the hens matters too. I am looking for Heritage Large fowl chickens that are actually LARGE.

6) Is your flock a closed flock?

7) Do you have mites/lice in your flock?

8) How long have you been raising Buff Orpington Chickens?

9) Do you happen to be NPIP certified??

My question to the OTs: I tried to think if there was anything else I should ask, but couldn't come up with anything at the time. In your vast experience, if YOU were inquiring about the birds, what questions would YOU ask/add to the list above, and which of the above questions seem rather irrelevant to you, if any?

I'd like to put together a good, standard list of questions I can go by whenever I consider purchasing birds in the future.

thanks!!

They are probably not going to understand most of your questions. Pure bred means different things to different folks. One of my fellow judges on here like to refer to SQ (show quality) as "soup quality"
Get a picture ofd the birds and I can tell hyou what they are or are not.

Walt

 

[unkadan]

They are probably not going to understand most of your questions. Pure bred means different things to different folks. One of my fellow judges on here like to refer to SQ (show quality) as "soup quality"
Get a picture ofd the birds and I can tell hyou what they are or are not.

Walt

I agree,,,,but on the outside chance the seller does answer some or all of the questions you will get a good understanding of their knowledge,,

brave gal asking for cock pics on CL btw

 

[Beekissed]

 

[galanie]

This is a reason to keep this going. This was posted in a poultry thread on facebook.

My 3 yrs old hen has laid no shells or totally deformed soft shelled eggs for months now. She's been to the vet many, many times to the point that I give her calcium injections at home when she's feeling depleted. I've tried all the tricks for increasing her calcium too - but ultimately she just has bad parts. So...the next step is to implant a hormone to try to stop her from laying period. Anyone have any experience with this?

Walt

Point taken.    There is a thread on BYC wherein the lady was giving her rooster hormone injections to turn him into a transgender rooster in hopes that this would keep him from crowing, as she lived in the city and could not have a rooster. 

When I read such things it just makes me want to go lie down. 

I have a solution for that lady. It's really close to Al's special need. Please lady, can I? Or if not the rooster, you? Oh wait, that's jail.

 

[bruceh]

i just read the above post. did she not tell you this particular chicken was a hatchery white leghorn. the other one she obtained was a 2 year old sex linked battery hen. i pm'd her she insisted with the injections and a forced molt she was confident the birds would resume daily laying.

 

[galanie]

i just read the above post. did she not tell you this particular chicken was a hatchery white leghorn. the other one she obtained was a 2 year old sex linked  battery hen. i pm'd her she insisted with the injections and a forced molt she was confident the birds would resume daily laying.

I sure wish I had the money she spent on that hen. It would go to much better use.

 

[Maven]

Quote:

 

[Beekissed]

So...I guess we will continue this old thread? If so, we need to really get back to the basics and, when not an OT, please mention the years of experience you may have before giving out advice on the OT thread. If we don't do that, we are just another thread where newbies are trying to help newbies. If an OT is not available, go ahead and try to help but please let the person know your level of experience so there won't be confusion.

I thank everyone who loves the thread and have gotten good from it. I'm not too jaded to continue on but I think I've gotten a little soft and need to get back to reminding folks just what kind of thread we got going on here....this is not the thread to ask questions about chicken's feelings or if they are in mourning for another chicken. There are other threads for that. This is a utilitarian thread for folks with serious questions that apply to flock management. We like helping people and don't mind that folks are on a learning curve...we are ALL on a learning curve here...but try to remember what section of the forum you are in and try to keep the questions to flock management questions.

We love humor here and don't mind it at all....we really enjoy laughing at ourselves and others but it is not in any way meant to be mean. It's just folks being folks, so if we poke a little fun at you, don't take it to heart. We like folks to poke fun at us too to keep it all equal.

 

[unkadan]

"If not, and if they bother to answer, well I guess the pics I get I'll still send on to Walt and he can sit them on top of his piano..."

Now that right there is funny!

 

[armorfirelady]

I for one miss this thread if its discontinued. I have read it from the beginning & have a LOT of printed pages of OT answers to questions.

I admit I am sure I am one of the newbies who might of asked the same question multiple times......Im blonde & forgetful lol

But I know that because of this thread I am a better town slicker chicken raiser & my hens are better for it as well.

So thank you to Bee, walt, missippi, bruce & all the other OTs your wisdom is greatly appreciated