Colorado

[Mtn Margie]

Congrats on the hatching you all! Pretty quiet up here, just doing firewood and more firewood.

 

[suncatcher]

I just realized I said my Legbars were 3 males and 1 female, it is the opposite - 3 females and 1 male LOL - and he already has that haughty, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" stance, nice color for a hatchling, I'm looking forward to seeing how he grows.

I know one of our members wanted Black JGs last year, but not sure if she hatches, or if she would want me to hatch some for her. I have never had them so I really know very little about them, how do you like yours Suncatcher? How are their temperaments, productivity, attitude with the rest of the flock?

I bought my JG as a dual purpose chicken, they are not as calm as my Cochins, and are rather lanky right now. I have read that they get their "frame" first and then fill in, which looks to be the case! These that I have are a combination of hatchery and breeder lines, so hoping they get to be good size. I think they are considered "Heritage", but I could be wrong...... They are not laying yet, hatched them out in September, not sure when they will start laying, doesn't look like it will be anytime soon! :/

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Fellow coloradian here, first town east of the divide on I-70. My flock of 9, soon to increase have been doing great, not laying at all this winter, but in the canyon they don't get the light thy want. Fixed that problem, hoping for some eggs in the next few weeks.

Welcome to the thread!

 

[WendyGeisler]

Chicke Number 5 is out. SO far, 2 look like Black Copper Marans and the other two look like ???? blond and brown/black.

 

[cathwing]

Hi everyone!
I am Cathy from Colo. Spgs. I got 3 hens on Monday and I want to increase my flock! I am currently looking to buy some chicks as soon as possible, but I only want 3-4 (no more room than that in my house!) I want to raise them to more-or-less independence soon because I have a baby due in early May. I also want chicks so my 2 and 4 year old daughters can see them grow! My problem is buying locally, I can only find chicks, not discriminated by gender, for about $5 each or pullets $15 each. I could order online, but this time of year I have to spend $25 on poultry or buy 15+ chicks. I want them as young as possible, as cheap as possible and as FEMALE as possible. I really want to grow our flock but I don't want to have to be starting any from about mid-March to fall because I expect I'll be neglectful during those times. Any ideas for Colo. SPgs area places to find chicks in February or so?

Or maybe...if I bought some online, would someone want to go in with me so I meet the minimum order without having to dump chicks later on?

Thanks!
PS-I am new to all of this so forgive my general ignorance on the entire process!!

 

[samsr]

There are lots of chicks here on the colorado thread. Check out thenpast 20 posts or so. Just get in touch with one of them. Or you can wait a couple of weeks and i will have some hatching. It seems that everyone has chick feaver early this year. Including myself. Just look around on this thread and i am sure someone pretty close will be able to help you out. Welcome to the thread.

 

[saellis]

Today is the first day that 4 out of my 6 girls have laid an egg since autumn and 'yours truly' breaks one of them.

 

[Pozees]

Hi everyone!
I am Cathy from Colo. Spgs. I got 3 hens on Monday and I want to increase my flock! I am currently looking to buy some chicks as soon as possible, but I only want 3-4 (no more room than that in my house!) I want to raise them to more-or-less independence soon because I have a baby due in early May. I also want chicks so my 2 and 4 year old daughters can see them grow! My problem is buying locally, I can only find chicks, not discriminated by gender, for about $5 each or pullets $15 each. I could order online, but this time of year I have to spend $25 on poultry or buy 15+ chicks. I want them as young as possible, as cheap as possible and as FEMALE as possible. I really want to grow our flock but I don't want to have to be starting any from about mid-March to fall because I expect I'll be neglectful during those times. Any ideas for Colo. SPgs area places to find chicks in February or so?

Or maybe...if I bought some online, would someone want to go in with me so I meet the minimum order without having to dump chicks later on?

Thanks!
PS-I am new to all of this so forgive my general ignorance on the entire process!!

Hi Cathy,

A few of us have chicks already, your issue may be with wanting only females. Locally hatched chicks are almost always going to be straight run because we do not have the expertise to sex our chicks unless they are an autosexing breed, in which case they are generally quite a bit more than $5 per pullet chick, or unless they are a sex-linked cross - for example, a Rhode Island Red over a Silver Laced Wyandotte will produce chicks that if female are red. There are some people who do that to produce sexable-at-hatch chicks, but I don't know offhand of anyone who has started hatching them yet.

I have Silkies and Egyptian Fayoumis right now and will have some Barnyard Mixes (Colorado Mayahns) this weekend, they are from a fellow Coloradan's flock, and the ones I have hatched so far have been adorable, healthy, and gone pretty quickly. You are right to prefer locally laid and hatched chicks, because unless you want some specific breed that can't be found, the local chicks will almost always be a bit further ahead in terms of adaptation to climate and elevation here.

Since most hatches are approximately 50% female, if you buy 8 chicks you are likely to end up with 3-4 pullets, which you should know before May, and often you will be able to rehome the males by advertising here or on Craigslist. Yes, there is always the chance you will give them away to be eaten, but that is the purpose of a very high percentage of male chickens hatched.

Take comfort in this: The chickens we raise and eat have a great life except the last 10 seconds or so. The chickens we buy in the grocery store have a terrible life. They never know a gentle hand, a stretch of green grass on which to scratch and graze, fresh air blowing across their combs, bugs to chase, and all the other things chickens we raise have that factory chickens don't. There is no reason to feel guilty about processing and eating chickens we raise. I get it if you decide you just can't, but to give them to someone who will, is the chicken fulfilling its purpose. If you think buying just pullet chicks from a hatchery absolves you, do some research on what happens to all their extra male chicks. I am not trying to make you feel bad and I am sorry if I did, I have bought pullet chicks many times from hatcheries, they make great layers, and I have adored them as much as any other chicken I've owned, it's just that the males hatched anywhere, hatchery or home, are mostly destined to be something/someone's dinner.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

Take comfort in this: The chickens we raise and eat have a great life except the last 10 seconds or so. The chickens we buy in the grocery store have a terrible life. They never know a gentle hand, a stretch of green grass on which to scratch and graze, fresh air blowing across their combs, bugs to chase, and all the other things chickens we raise have that factory chickens don't. There is no reason to feel guilty about processing and eating chickens we raise. I get it if you decide you just can't, but to give them to someone who will, is the chicken fulfilling its purpose. If you think buying just pullet chicks from a hatchery absolves you, do some research on what happens to all their extra male chicks. I am not trying to make you feel bad and I am sorry if I did, I have bought pullet chicks many times from hatcheries, they make great layers, and I have adored them as much as any other chicken I've owned, it's just that the males hatched anywhere, hatchery or home, are mostly destined to be something/someone's dinner.

Amen to that.

 

[NurseChicky]

Great post Pozees. Well put.