Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

Quote:
Is she a barred rock?

 

[sharol]

I have 2 (I think) Breda Fowl chicks under my Araucana pullet broody this morning. She has 2 more eggs that haven't hatched. I'm really glad a couple of them survived. She worked hard to hatch them.
Edited to add the Orpington egg also hatched. She is down to 1 Breda egg unhatched. I think it is pipped.

 

[Trish44]

Thanks Danz. I'll let you know about the birds.

About 3 months ago I gave away all of my hens mainly because they all stopped laying. I couldn't figure it out but last summer in July they all quit laying at the same time. Thought a molt but no and never did figure out what the problem was and finally gave up cause I got tired of feeding them. After about 4-5 months I gave them to someone who wanted some pets / chickens. They have a really good home but not sure they are laying yet.

Thought I would just forget about chickens but I just can't -- really really love them. Had them on and off all my life so it's hard to not have them.

So on the hunt for some hens.

I agree with Danz, I have had some hens go into molt & when finished with that went into the winter break so I haven't had eggs from them in months. I do put a light only in my main coop where the laying flock is just because I have egg customers. They all know I get less eggs in winter & most are understanding about it. I know that as soon as the days get longer I will be getting so many eggs from all of them that I won't know what to do with them. It's just part of keeping chickens.

@Dani4Hedgies that isn't a Barred Rock unless it's a mixed one. Here is a pretty good chart on chicken breeds. You can click on the little links on some of them to see pics: http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html. It's a possibility that it's a golden cuckoo marans but I wouldn't bank on that. It does have some similarities to the pics I have seen of some. Where did you get the bird?

Congrats sharol on the chicks! You know that silly little Bantam Cochin I said was sitting on eggs before my surgery, well she still is, so she has to be getting close to hatching them if they're going to make it. She has been a little trouper with them. I just ran out of time to deal with things before surgery so I left her. I don't give the chicks much a chance this time of year, especially with the weather coming.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Sharon,
I thought she was but then she grew in the gold feathers on her head all my other barred rocks are just black and white.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Trish,
Meyers and as I did the rainbow pullet pack my pullets so would get at minum 5 different chicks from the ones they were hatching and yes Golden Cuckoo Marans was one of the 13 kinds/colors they were hatching at the time. And even as a chick she didn't look like the others do I have wondered. I will look at your chart thank you for posting it

 

[sharol]

I agree with Danz, I have had some hens go into molt & when finished with that went into the winter break so I haven't had eggs from them in months. I do put a light only in my main coop where the laying flock is just because I have egg customers. They all know I get less eggs in winter & most are understanding about it. I know that as soon as the days get longer I will be getting so many eggs from all of them that I won't know what to do with them. It's just part of keeping chickens.

@Dani4Hedgies that isn't a Barred Rock unless it's a mixed one. Here is a pretty good chart on chicken breeds. You can click on the little links on some of them to see pics: http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html. It's a possibility that it's a golden cuckoo marans but I wouldn't bank on that. It does have some similarities to the pics I have seen of some. Where did you get the bird?

Congrats sharol on the chicks! You know that silly little Bantam Cochin I said was sitting on eggs before my surgery, well she still is, so she has to be getting close to hatching them if they're going to make it. She has been a little trouper with them. I just ran out of time to deal with things before surgery so I left her. I don't give the chicks much a chance this time of year, especially with the weather coming.

Yeah, I have her and her babies in the hoop coop. I'm going to winterize the run this afternoon to try to break the wind for them. There is a small sweeter heater in the coop, too.

Silly little bird. She appreciated my getting the poop out of the back of the nest box this morning though.

Smelled awful in there now it is better.

 

[prairie]

Thanks everyone for the ideas -- but no they weren't molting -- at least not all of them. I bought some from you Danz and some from a friend and then the Cornie, the little bantam from another person. All different ages and breeds.

I have had chickens on and off since I was about 7 years old but don't remember any hens just quitting all at the same time. I thought maybe something got into the chicken house and scared them which happened one time years ago and my hens and guineas wouldn't go into the house for a few days and quit laying for a while too. But these ladies never did resume so it must have been a combination of things and I should have kept them but they were 2 years old and older so it is time to get more.

 

[sharol]

I got a look at the chicks (finally). There is an English orp baby that appears to be a Jubilee (50% chance since 2 of my 4 layers are Jubilee and the Cockerel is a Jubilee -- correct me if Jubilee over white or lavendar would produce the same chick markings), and the Breda is gray with adorable little feathered feet. One egg is still there un-pipped. I really thought she had 4 eggs, but apparently I was mistaken.

I'm so glad there are 2 of them. That way they will have someone to hang with.

 

[JConradTX]

Hi Everyone,

Jason here and I am new to the site. So far I have found a lot of good info but I'm needing some guidance from some local folk next.

I live in Wichita and am wanting to start a little flock in my backyard for the first time. Here in city limits I can have only hens and no more than 4 total. I'm mostly wanting them for pets with the added benefit of maybe getting a couple eggs now and again. The eggs are not a huge priority for me and they definitely wont be for the meat. So from all the breed research I have done, it seems that Silkies/Showgirls or Bantam Orpingtons would be the best fit for me being a first-timer and wanting "cuddly" birds.

The problem I am running into is finding any place that sells them or even finding a breeder in the area. I have called TSC, Atwoods and Oreschelns but none of them carry Silkie/Showgirl or Bantam Orpington chicks. I tried calling a few hatcheries within 250 miles but they all will only sell me a minimum of 15 to 20 chicks. I've reached a roadblock.

Does anyone have an leads of someone that would sell me a half-dozen chicks? I am wanting a mix of colors whichever breed I go with.

Also, if anyone has any input or opinions on the best "pet" chicken other than the ones I referenced above, please feel free to speak up! I am still open to the idea of different breeds.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help!

--- Jason in Wichita

 

[sharol]

Quote:
You are doing the right thing looking locally. Trish will probably have an answer for you about breeders. Just be patient. One thing to consider is that Silkies spend a fair amount of their time broody, and they are way less interesting to watch when they are setting on a nest. LOL. Welcome to Kansas Consolidated. Good to have you on board.