First flock newbie

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Cyneswith

Cyneswith

Songster
Jun 14, 2017
384
566
191
Camden, SC
I've posted a few times, but figured I'd post an intro. Because I want to talk chickens but don't have a question and I have no experience to answer others.

I'm a homeschool mom with a preschooler and 2 year old, just moved to a small acreage. I have no experience with chickens, but I got it in my head that I want to raise a small flock of Orpingtons.

Today, I set the posts for my first coop (one of three steps I can't do with my kids underfoot.) I also found a person to buy/sell the extra chicks I'll need to order. I heard the local lavender breeder talking, and I'm now completely sure ordering online is the way to go (her lavenders keep dying, both hers and the ones she's sold.)
 
I'm so glad you joined and are doing research before you get the chicks.
Congrats to you.
It's hard getting regular stuff around the house done with little ones, i can't imagine trying to build a coop with them "helping".
Welcome to BYC.
 
If her lavenders keep dying, I'd keep away from her. Not have her visit your flock either. She could carry the disease(??) whatever on her shoes.
 
Welcome to chicken slavery there's no finer master than a chicken .:lau:frow
drumstick diva said:
If her lavenders keep dying, I'd keep away from her. Not have her visit your flock either. She could carry the disease(??) whatever on her shoes.
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This is excellent advice . makes good chicken sense to always ware rubber boots when you visit another flock and that way their easy to clean . I keep two bleaching systems all the time . A one qt. spray bottle mixed 3 to 1 water to bleach . That's strong but some viruses are hard to kill . I always keep a one gallon sprayer mixed about a pint to a gallon . If I'm nervous about where I've been I us the strong mix . The weaker mix is used to clean most everything including waters incubators and hatchers cages as they need it. And of course boots . Losing a few when you have hundreds is kinda part of the game . Losing a lot means something is really wrong . Like KikisGrils said research before hand is a really smart move on your part . You'll do well and we'll maybe see more of you .
 
drumstick diva said:
If her lavenders keep dying, I'd keep away from her. Not have her visit your flock either. She could carry the disease(??) whatever on her shoes.
Click to expand...
It's odd (and I'm not disputing your point AT ALL.) I don't think it's a contagious disease - I think it's a genetic problem. The buffs in the buyer's flock weren't affected at all (she has about 20 buffs, some ducks, turkeys, and guineas. Her buffs are beautiful healthy-looking fluffballs.) And the lavender chicks she had - left from the hens who just died - were visibly weaker than the other chicks in her brooder box. The seller's chocolates, EEs, barred rocks, etc. aren't affected. It's just the lavenders dying between 5 weeks and 6 months of age. The only genetic problem I've seen that lavender orpingtons tend to suffer are under-developed feathers, which wouldn't explain their deaths under the care of an experienced handler. Their conversation reminded me of someone advising not to breed a hen under a year and a half, to be certain the hen was of good genetic stock.
 

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