Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

Almost 3 years ago, I ordered 8 chicks (the minimum) from My Pet Chicken. I still have 5 of them healthy and producing. One was DOA, one died of a laying related problem, and the third just dropped dead about a year ago for no apparent reason. They were all pullets, and they all grew up to be healthy, producing hens. They are coming off molt right now, and I just got 3 eggs (and the day isn't over yet) - from the Campine, the EE, and one of the Delawares. My 1 1/2 year olds are not as good laying (but they are all EE's, so....) The second batch came from Orschlens in Topeka. 4 EE's and a Buff Orp -- all still healthy. All pullets.

I was happy with both. The shipping is just so high on 8 chicks that I decided not to go that way the second time.

I was quite happy with the MPC chicks. They were shipped on time, packed well, and for the most part, healthy babies.

Also, I'm about to order chicks. What's your favorite hatchery?

 

[mommahen10]

Are White Rock and White Plymouth Rock the same thing? I'm not seeing any exceptional deals online on chicks nor eggs. I'm just trying to figure out now if it'll be a better deal to do straight run or order pullets and just a couple of cockerals.

Also, I'm seeing some that are yellow with gray and some that are yellow/white. Does it matter?

 

[mommahen10]

Thanks Sharol, I will check them out now.

 

[kansas-chick]

Hmmmm....tell more about myself? Not much to tell. Originally from So. CA. I transplanted myself to Kansas about 10 years ago. I have been in a relationship for almost four years with a native Kansan who was raised working on a farm and his parents own quite a bit of land which his brother farms. We have had chickens for about the same amount of time that we have been together. We have a garden every year and can, dehydrate, and freeze our produce. Purchase grass fed beef from his brother who has a small herd of cattle. It is the best beef I have ever eaten.

We have 12 RIR hens. Two RIR roosters that I had raised from a small batch of eggs we incubated, plus a Goldenlaced Wyandotte rooster that came in some chicks we ordered last spring. We have lost some of the original hens and one rooster mostly due to varmits. We have incubated a couple of small batches of eggs and mostly ended up with roosters, which eventually ended up on the dinner table. My two RIR roosters are very tame and you can walk up to them and pick them up. I wasn't able to hand raise this last chickens we got in the spring because I hurt my back and couldn't spend time with them. They are not tame. I do have one of the hens from the last batch of eggs we hatched out who will run up to me and wiggle around until I pick her up. In fact, if I don't pick her up fast enough she will peck my leg. If I'm sitting down she will come up to me and jump up into my lap. She loves being held.

 

[mommahen10]

kansas chick, I love it when some get that tame that they beg for attention. I remember how it surprised me the first time I saw one of our chickens do that. It's so sweet.

 

[sharol]

I thought I should maybe post an update on Scout, my Golden Campine, who was injured last October. She had completely lost the use of her right leg. It wouldn't support any weight, and when I held her and pressed up on the leg there was no resistance.




She laid the first egg since her injury today. She is walking, running, and flying as she did before the injury with only the tiniest bit of a limp. She has re-taken her position as head hen, and is as bossy as she ever was. I had no idea her healing would be this complete. She is her old self again -- she is again running to the gate first to get out and pushing everyone else away from the treats until she has her fill.

The vet said there was a 50/50 chance that she would regain SOME use of the leg -- perhaps enough to survive and get around, but less than a 10% chance of complete recovery. She surprised us all. It is a tribute to the healing power of chickens.

 

[Frizzled Pink]

@Danz--seriously--you have BIRDTOPIA, i have never seen so many happy HEALTHY breeds in one place- you inspire the rest of us!

checoukan--Love the updates on the building-cannot wait to see pics of the finished project

I see we are all getting chick fever I think yesterdays weather only made us all more inpatient for that type of weather to get here

KansasChick--i just got a little swedish girl this weekend that seem like she might be one that likes to be handled and petted--hopefully she will stay that way as its so nice to have her come right to me

 

[Frizzled Pink]

I thought I should maybe post an update on Scout, my Golden Campine, who was injured last October. She had completely lost the use of her right leg. It wouldn't support any weight, and when I held her and pressed up on the leg there was no resistance.




She laid the first egg since her injury today. She is walking, running, and flying as she did before the injury with only the tiniest bit of a limp. She has re-taken her position as head hen, and is as bossy as she ever was. I had no idea her healing would be this complete. She is her old self again -- she is again running to the gate first to get out and pushing everyone else away from the treats until she has her fill.

The vet said there was a 50/50 chance that she would regain SOME use of the leg -- perhaps enough to survive and get around, but less than a 10% chance of complete recovery. She surprised us all. It is a tribute to the healing power of chickens.

I LOVE THIS--so happy for her and you.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Checoukan- Yea I understand what you mean about them being so small. How bout the Old english? I think alot of the babies are old english. Ideal has so many different color combos of old english. I just like knowing what I have. What else could the blue baby be?

Mommahen- congrats on the egg turner. Isnt it nice not having to turn. You feel lost at the same time though.

 

[mommahen10]

Sharol, that's an amazing story. I'm so glad she was able to recover so well. I love happy stories.