Consolidated Kansas

[KeyFlock]

Welcome new people. We are always pleased to have some new BYCers. Just join in and tell us about yourselves. I'm about an hour and a half north of Thayer.  Key Flock where are you from?
We love to hear about what you have, what you plan, answer any questions we can and the talk isn't limited to just chickens here. We also love pictures.

 

[KeyFlock]

I live in Ottawa and I have a small flock that consists of 4 RIRs 3 barred rocks and 2 white Leghorn's.

 

[leck8]

Does your Rhode Island reds and barred rocks get along

 

[KeyFlock]

They've gotten along fine for us, we got them all as day old chicks they're about 9-10 months old now.

 

[Trish44]

Hi everyone!

Just registered with the site when I stumbled upon this forum! We've been thinking about and researching chickens for a few months now. I think we found a coop that will work for our needs on craigslist. We only want to start with 4 or so.

Based on what I've read on here, it will need more ventilation!

Anyway, KS kinda gets the worst of both cold winter and hot summer... what do you guys do to make sure your coop is good for both winter and summer? (most of what I've read makes recs for hot or cold climates, but not both!)

Second, I live in Lawrence. Any others out there? If so, Rock Chalk! Looking forward to the game in manhattan in a few days.

I'm looking for somewhere to buy the chickens, preferably pullets or already laying hens. (We have a pretty small house, a cat, and a toddler. I don't think chicks would make it haha... unless you guys convince me otherwise... [I think in maybe 2 years or so we will want to do a few from egg so our kid can see, but she is still too little now I think]). Also, from what I understand, you can't tell on most breeds if it is a girl or a guy when they are 1-day-old. True? I don't really want a rooster.

Any ideas? Preferred feed shops?

Any help is much appreciated!!

Thanks,
Nick

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and I'm from Kansas too!

Anyone from around Thayer kansas

I live in Ottawa and I have a small flock that consists of 4 RIRs 3 barred rocks and 2 white Leghorn's.

Welcome to all of the new people! I haven't been on as much lately due to having knee surgery. We always welcome new people here. It sounds like most of you are up towards Chicken Danz's area, there you go some new customers Danz. Feel free any of you to ask questions any time or talk about whatever you want. We don't just talk about chickens here.

I live in the southcentral area of the state closer to the OK border. I have a lot of different breeds of chickens I raise chicks from. I have them listed in my signature line if it's up to date. Oops I need to look at that again. I'm hoping to get my NPIP certification this spring so I can ship if I need to as well. I have wanted to do that for awhile but last year I spent most of the year recovering from a broken leg & it didn't get done again. I'm determined it's going to get done this year. There never are enough testers to go around it seems like.

Today was just a nasty day all the way around it seems like. I sure hope it warms up quickly & melts this stuff off. I just hate snow even worse now after my broken leg last year in January falling on the ice & snow. My chickens didn't even peek out the door today, I couldn't blame them a bit.

 

[Trish44]

Anyone in Jefferson or Douglas county with 6-12 mo old chickens for sale? I'm looking for 12 to add to my flock.

I would just be cautious buying grown chickens unless you know the person/persons you buy from. Make sure you quarantine them for quite awhile to make sure no diseases or illnesses show up. It would be a shame to get new ones only to wipe out what you had.

I don't have anything that age here at all for sale.

Oh I meant to say congrats KSKingBee & those are adorable hens.

 

[sharol]

@nick1234 I couldn't find your original post, so I'm answering here.

@Chicken Danz is near Burlington which isn't too far from you. She has beautiful birds. I don't know if she has young hens or not, but you might ask her. You will see her posts on this forum.

I have no idea why that is bold. Sorry.

 

[KsKingBee]

I would just be cautious buying grown chickens unless you know the person/persons you buy from. Make sure you quarantine them for quite awhile to make sure no diseases or illnesses show up. It would be a shame to get new ones only to wipe out what you had.

I don't have anything that age here at all for sale.

Oh I meant to say congrats KSKingBee & those are adorable hens.

Thank you Trish! We ended up with about four of them. I was wondering if they are bred back to BCM if we will lose the hearts? I am guessing we would but we didn't save any of the cockerels from their batch so the possibility of breeding straight is gone.

 

[nick1234]

You have to be careful with both rocks and rhode Island reds because most of the local ones are hatchery birds which are mixed and not true to the breed. Not that a little mixing is bad for egg laying but it is if you want a bird with a great personality.
There are a few standouts as far as great birds to handle and especially since you have a child. I'm sure there'll be others that will add to this list.
Top all time docile breed is a Speckled Sussex. I've had other Sussex but to date they aren't as docile. These girls are lap babies and great layers. Downfall is they are a little tougher to raise until the reach a certain age.
Next would be Brahmas. They lay huge eggs and I've never seen an aggressive one. They do like to go broody sometimes though. They are probably my personal favorites.
Third would be Orpingtons. They are also very easy to become lap babies and lay big eggs. In this case however I recommend you steer away from hatchery birds and go for breeder birds. There's a huge difference. Once in a while you will get an ornery rooster but since you are just wanting girls you should be okay.
Another breed that is very docile but harder to find a Salmon Faverolles. Their eggs aren't quite as large and they don't lay very many.
Heritage barred rocks seem to be really great dependable layers but I've found hatchery ones are a bit cranky. Rocks will give you the eggs but might not be a lap chicken.
I've heard Ameraucanas are great birds but often easter eggers are called Ameraucanas so you have to know your breeder.
As far as pullets go if you pick up one for $15 that is old enough to sex that is a good price if it's a decent quality bird. If it's a young barnyard bird you would be paying too much in my opinion if it is still young.
I'm can be a bit of a bird snob. But it all comes down to this: If you enjoy what you have then whatever labor that comes along with it is worthwhile. If you don't enjoy looking at or being around your chickens then, feeding , watering, collecting eggs, etc becomes work.
And let me tell you it's really hard to enjoy that in this weather!!!

Again, tons of great info. Thanks!

Now the issue will be trying to find these breeds in my area!

 

[chicken danz]

Nick I wasn't trying to promote myself by any means. I have just raised lots of breeds and found those to be the easiest to work with. I do have sussex, barred rocks, Orpingtons, & brahmas among a few others. I don't have Ameraucanas or Salmon Faverolles. All I have right now that would fall in to the feathered in category would be white orpingtons and black brahamas. Both of these are huge imported lines.
It's a total deep freeze out there.
KIngbee I would guess you'd loose the hearts if you bred back to BCMs. Do you rememer if your rooster was a BCM or an Orp? That would make a difference in recreating them. Sharol has Copper which was a blue copper maran and an orp combination. The orp was the rooster. It's a beautiful half an half chicken but I don't think she has hearts. Sharol correct me if I'm wrong.
You might try to breed them back then cross the offspring a third generation to see if you can recreate the same pattern. That is what I am doing with my blue gold double laced brahmas and it seems to be getting there.