Egg carton v.s. laying egg on the side???

[lotzahenz]

That is wonderful, our chicks always end up needing a mamma for several weeks. Especially when I order so many at a time.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I have yet to order chicks, I have enough chickens of my own, and ordering chicks is just not ecenomical. I would only want a few, and the shipping is outrageous for small orders. I have thought about getting hatching eggs, but I am trying to find the ones I REALLY want-the black-breasted red cubalaya...they are GORGEOUS!!!

 

[lotzahenz]

I think in the long run I may save a bit of money ordering chicks since I don't have the auction to go to. Now that I know about it???? We can order all girls and don't have the surplus of Roo's to dispose of after having fed them for several weeks. The key is not to order the really expensive ones, and you have to need at least 25 at a time. The feed here seems to be the most expensive part of raising chicks, they go thru so much of it. I like to keep about 30 laying hens, so I order about 50 at a time. They grow up in our horse barn in a stall, and learn to roost up in the rafters, but we seem to loose any of the cool, exotic ones because either they can't see past their fluff, or are too heavy to roost up high. They roam all day on the farm, cleaning up after the other animals, eating grass and bugs. They have such a wonderful life, if they are smart and don't get eaten. I have plans to fence in my back yard around the apple trees and MAKE them roost in a Hen house, laying where I don't have to search for the eggs at times. Anyway, I love having them all over the place, in little groups with a Roo. Just reminds me of when I was little. But, right now, my favorite family group is the guineas, my keets are getting big. They are truly intelligent birds (at survival anyway). Did I tell you how we got them? It is so funny. They had to sleep in our hotel at the state fair (babies) and we had the three of them in the bath tub, with the shower curtain pulled, towells on the bottom. I didn't know then they were so loud! They made it fine, and I wish I had more. And that thing about not being good mothers, ours is great. She has raised 8 of 15 despite direct attack by a coyote in the daytime, who lurks around all the time and even hatched her eggs alone in the woods. I didn't think that was possible, but she has succeeded, and all roost safely in the barn rafters at night. Must just be really lucky.

Tammy