Connecticut!

[OmeletMan]

Hey Nattifan, Putnam farmers coop has barred rock chicks right now. I don't know how many are left I just got 4.

I bit of a flock let down this year. I was hoping to have a mixed flock of heritage breeds, but that didn't happen. I went to pick up chicks with the understanding that the co-op was going to get a mixed bag first off (for Easter). Well that didn't happen. The only ones they had that I wanted was barred rock. I settled with RR reds and golden sex links to round out the flock. I wanted even aged birds. I have no idea what is coming next week. Could be orphingtons to wayandottes.

 

[Beth G.]

OMG, LakeSide Feed! Is this being run by Toni??? I used to breed rabbits years ago and actually visited her store whenever I was in Guilford visiting a fellow rabbit and llama breeder. Someone on here mentioned driving an hour to get silkies, can I ask where you got them? I travel to CT often, I was born and raised there. Moved to Albany 3.5 years ago, and I'm moving to Syracuse in June. Thats when I'll get into the chicken hobby. Looking to start off with 3-4 silkies and 3-4 orpingtons. Haven't seen too many silkies other than if I mail order them.

Hi yes it is Toni I sell both orps and silkies so when your ready look me up! Take Care, Beth

 

[Beth G.]

Jill, have you check her really really good for lice and mites in her vent area and the back of her neck? I've had feedback from alot of CT poultry keepers and they are a real problem from the mild winter we've had. I would strongly suggest checking her good and if you see and oddities on the skin crawling or at the shaft of the feather dust her. Also, she sounds to be lacking either from a blood sucker or her diet. I would suggest giving her some fresh chopped salmon with the skin in the food processor. Not alot needed and can be mixed in with some chick mash unmedicated. Also at local feed stores in the horse cattle section they sell what is called "Red Cell" its a gooy supllement that has great blood building capabilities that boost iron and other vitamins. Mix for five days straight two heeping tablespoons in one gallon of water. If she doesn't improve after 2 wks of doing the little meals of salmon and red cell, and has no lice or mites she could just have a weak productions system. Best Wishes, Beth

The whole time. About every other egg has enough of a shell to use, but it's thin. And about a third of those has had some inclusion in it. She's such a sweetie, it makes me sad to think of her insides not working right. I don't mind cleaning up the mess, but I do wish she would grow out of it.

 

[new chick 203]

Thanks Beth. I'll get right on it. I haven't given them anything stronger than DE since the Fall, but I'll give her the once over and a dusting. She just seems ravenous all the time and she's a brilliant forager. Worm Queen! When I let them all out she never dust bathes with the others, she's all about the worms.

Jill, have you check her really really good for lice and mites in her vent area and the back of her neck? I've had feedback from alot of CT poultry keepers and they are a real problem from the mild winter we've had. I would strongly suggest checking her good and if you see and oddities on the skin crawling or at the shaft of the feather dust her. Also, she sounds to be lacking either from a blood sucker or her diet. I would suggest giving her some fresh chopped salmon with the skin in the food processor. Not alot needed and can be mixed in with some chick mash unmedicated. Also at local feed stores in the horse cattle section they sell what is called "Red Cell" its a gooy supllement that has great blood building capabilities that boost iron and other vitamins. Mix for five days straight two heeping tablespoons in one gallon of water. If she doesn't improve after 2 wks of doing the little meals of salmon and red cell, and has no lice or mites she could just have a weak productions system. Best Wishes, Beth

 

[Lynzi777]

Hi yes it is Toni I sell both orps and silkies so when your ready look me up! Take Care, Beth

Wow, I can't even believe I join this site and I come across someone mentioning her store! Small World! But then again, this is chickens we are talking about and she does a run a feed store! LOL She would never remember me, but I used to go to her store to buy rabbit food for all the rabbits I had. I used to visit another friend of hers in Guilford, Cara. She lived right up the road.

I did just find someone who will hold Silkies for me in June. But if I decide on a couple more I will definitely be in touch knowing I'll be in CT this weekend and next!

 

[Beth G.]

Hmmm yeah i would get some Poultry Garden dust and give her a good dusting

Thanks Beth. I'll get right on it. I haven't given them anything stronger than DE since the Fall, but I'll give her the once over and a dusting. She just seems ravenous all the time and she's a brilliant forager. Worm Queen! When I let them all out she never dust bathes with the others, she's all about the worms.

 

[Beth G.]

I wanted to share this cute picture of my Bantam Cochin girls doing a staring contest!!! lol

 

[loco4pollo]

Hi NattiFan! I am in Plainfield too. Nice to see someone from my neck of the woods. I'm very new to the "chicken business". I've started out with 6 BBS Orpingtons, and I just love them. And will be adding 2-3 more in a month or so. If I knew chickens were this much fun, I would have started years ago.

Greetings from Plainfield. I've been a bad BYC member. Joined a long time ago and once I got my girls up and running, I kinda stopped posting on here.

Well I am going to try to turn it around and do some more posting. Just to reply to OmeletMan. Not sure why you have the peg board on top. it looks tall enough so they chicks shouldn't jump out. other than that, it looks good. you may want to go ahead and grab a second lamp. I had one to start and got a second to cover an entire end of my brooder. Not an expert, just my opinion

My girls now are two years old and I have the itch again this year to get my chicks. I stayed tough last spring when the local Agway and Tractor Supply got the chicks in.....I'm not staying strong this year. My wife doesn't know but the brooder will be set up in the basement tomorrow and there very well could be little chicks in it by tomorrow night!! shhh...don't tell. Look forward to meeting more of you on here. Take care

 

[BirdsinBethel]

Hey there, I know there is a wealth of information about every topic imaginable if you search long enough on BYC, but can anyone give me quick tips on breaking a broody? I have a small chicken tractor with 2 nest boxes and 5 girls, who will be a year old next month. My light brahma has been in one of the boxes most of the day for a couple of days now ... every time I kick her out (give her some treats to lure her out usually) she just goes right back in. I even tried propping up the side of the tractor, where the nest boxes are, so it's bright and sunny in there ... but she's determined. She'll sit in that box even with no eggs and in the full sun ... How can I spoil her 'broody mood'? We have no eggs to hatch so she's wasting her time, and more importantly I don't want her to neglect herself ... any advice is appreciated ...
Now i have to sign off and get back to work

 

[new chick 203]

Good luck with it. When mine went broody I tried everything (short of the mean sounding dunking in water method) and finally gave up and got her some eggs. Mine was so determined that she was loosing weight and looking pathetic. I was really worried about her. Now when it happens I just let her do her thing and get it over with. You can't fight nature!

Hey there, I know there is a wealth of information about every topic imaginable if you search long enough on BYC, but can anyone give me quick tips on breaking a broody? I have a small chicken tractor with 2 nest boxes and 5 girls, who will be a year old next month. My light brahma has been in one of the boxes most of the day for a couple of days now ... every time I kick her out (give her some treats to lure her out usually) she just goes right back in. I even tried propping up the side of the tractor, where the nest boxes are, so it's bright and sunny in there ... but she's determined. She'll sit in that box even with no eggs and in the full sun ... How can I spoil her 'broody mood'? We have no eggs to hatch so she's wasting her time, and more importantly I don't want her to neglect herself ... any advice is appreciated ...
Now i have to sign off and get back to work