East RIver - South Dakota

[SD Bird Lady]

Very Cold. Sitting at -5 and colder weather in sight. Always worry about the chickens, but when you see them outside at -5 and 6" of snow you don't feel as worried.

Mine don't care for snow but they don't seem to mind the cold at all. That is a beautiful bird as your avatar.

 

[TheChicknShack]

My Avatar bird is a Chocolate Silver Orpington that I found after hours of searching the web. They are a very new color combination. Which I Want very much!!!

 

[SouthDakotan]

I agree its very beautiful. I love the Orpington in general, but its nice to see such a beautiful plumage variation. I've ordered some blacks this year via internet. My local Runnings just has Buff & I really wanted something different. Where did you find your Chocolate Silver?

 

[SouthDakotan]

I also ordered a number of other Cold Weather tolerant breeds (far more than I plan on keeping myself) with the intentions to sell them off to urban chicken people & other rural poultry people who might want to add some diversity to their flocks. I love raising the chicks, but I have limited laying hen space. I got the idea from a friend who doesn't have the time or desire to deal with chicks, but loves having hens. So we talked about this format. I've got a few people now in East River who are planning on picking up some chicks or pullets from me this year.

I will be offering the following breeds this spring (at end of May).

3 Rose Comb Brown Leghorn Pullets
7 Black Australorp Pullets
3 blue Andalusian Pullets
2 Ancona Pullets
3 Golden Polish Pullets
2 Crevecoeurs Pullets
3 Silver Gray Dorkings Pullets
2 Salmon Faverolle Pullets
2 Red Cap Pullets
2 Partridge Cochin Pullets
1 Lakenvelder Pullet
2 Blue Cochin Pullets
2 Golden Campine Pullets
1 Egyptian Fayoumis Pullet
1 Dark Brahma pullets
2 Buff Brahmas (straight run)

If you are interested in any of these, just PM me.

 

[SouthDakotan]

Hello fellow South Dakotans!!!

Looking forward to many fun and interesting discussions!!

Hello TheChicknShack! Welcome to our East River thread. I am looking forward to hearing from you and reading your posts.

 

[TheChicknShack]

Thank you!! We look forward to having many questions answered and can hopefully help with some answers of our own.

We have learned "a lot" in the last year about our chickens. We were so worried about the cold, that we built our coop with (more than likely) more insulation than our house.

But they seem to be doing very well and average 28 degrees, even on days like today when it is -21 degrees outside (not counting wind chill of course). We were also concerned about egg production but they seem to be very productive with 19 eggs yesterday.

Our newest endeavor however, is breeding and incubating our own birds. We've even built our own cabinet incubator. We are enjoying the hours of research and look forward to seeing the fruits of our labor.

=

We too, are hoping to provide surrounding areas with chicks, pullets, eggs and meat eventually. But for right now we are just enjoying learning, experimenting and getting to know our flock. Its been not only very satisfying and entertaining, but also a learning experience for all of our family and friends.

I guess we never expected so many to be as interested as they are. Although I suspect they get tired of hearing us talk "Chicken" from time to time, lol.

 

[SouthDakotan]

Thank you!! We look forward to having many questions answered and can hopefully help with some answers of our own.

We have learned "a lot" in the last year about our chickens. We were so worried about the cold, that we built our coop with (more than likely) more insulation than our house.

But they seem to be doing very well and average 28 degrees, even on days like today when it is -21 degrees outside (not counting wind chill of course). We were also concerned about egg production but they seem to be very productive with 19 eggs yesterday.

Our newest endeavor however, is breeding and incubating our own birds. We've even built our own cabinet incubator. We are enjoying the hours of research and look forward to seeing the fruits of our labor.

=

We too, are hoping to provide surrounding areas with chicks, pullets, eggs and meat eventually. But for right now we are just enjoying learning, experimenting and getting to know our flock. Its been not only very satisfying and entertaining, but also a learning experience for all of our family and friends.

I guess we never expected so many to be as interested as they are. Although I suspect they get tired of hearing us talk "Chicken" from time to time, lol.

Well at least I'm not the only bird-on-the-brain South Dakotan

I spent hours researching heritage breeds & breeds that do better as brooders

It amazes me how many don't want brooders! I love having brooder hens who will help me in fostering desired chicks, ducklings, etc. A couple of years ago, I even had one broody hen hatch out my first duckling. It was so fun watching how the flock accepted him -- and how he went about enjoying his "inherited" flock status from him Foster-mom, yet did duck things as well. He was so tiny but was a "big dog" in the flock and reminded some of the heavy footed old hens his ranking! Which was a hoot!

Rather than using an incubator, I'm wanting to learn more about the pre-electrical technique of using broody hens. Giving some of the old girls a new lease on life in a way.

 

[SouthDakotan]

Mine don't care for snow but they don't seem to mind the cold at all. That is a beautiful bird as your avatar.

Mine don't seem to care for the snow either. When I open the door, they look out and MIGHT come out, if I've spread some straw on the snow. Then before I can get back to the house, they've all gone back into the coop.

 

[SouthDakotan]

Well from my experience cats tend not to be able to "corner" a free range chicken. Maybe a broody hen in a nest that you don't know about, but as long as they can fly a little, they will keep the cats well exercised at best. As for roos in a free range situation... I'd keep um. They guard the girls. So they earn their keep.

 

[TheChicknShack]

-50 wind chills expected soon. Hope everyone and their chickens stay warm and safe!