Have things been busier then normal?

[drumstick diva]

Two Crows thank you for telling me. I had no idea.

 

[Lmatt]

Right or wrong we decided we wanted Black Australorps. I couldn’t find any on Craigslist and was going to order from a hatchery. While I was trying to find out if I would receive the chicks sooner if I shipped express I found a hatchery less than 4 hours south of me. They actually show available females. I am reluctant to order though because my brooder warming plate is in the mail and what happens if it shows up and doesn’t work? I could order a few weeks out, but want to get the chicks ASAP. I have a heat lamp as plan “B”, but would like to start with plan “A”. I have also been consumed with trying to decide on a good feed. I’ve read good things about NCO. But the shipping to Idaho is pretty steep and I don’t know that there is any benefit to feeding it vs another brand. I’m not necessary price shopping. I do want value though. I don’t have a local feed store. So I was planning on finding an online source. We get our dog food through Chewy. It was recommended by the breeder. So that was an easy choice. Especially since his coat looks nice and he is barely gassy . Chewy is lacking the variety for chickens though. So I haven’t found a good place to go. I think the rough numbers will be 100 lbs. of “starter”, 600 lbs. of “grower”, and then countless lbs. of adult food. A lot of the stuff on Amazon isn’t available until the end of April or later. So I’m running into a lot of dead ends.

 

[JuliB]

I halted all my chick sales earlier this week when I realized people were panic buying. My Facebook page currently has this post:

No chick that I sell you will help you with the egg shortage until August, as a BEST case scenario. I am glad to help out people who want to learn to keep a back yard flock and take up a bit of homesteading, but make sure you’ll still want the expense and work involved with chickens once the grocery store is restocked before you panic buy. Chicks are going to eat and need special care for 5-7 months before they start laying eggs.

Literally I had 22 people call or email in a 3 hour window. Lots just wanted the oldest chicks I had, that were the closest to laying. I also had a 16 week old cockerel listed for sale on my page and got lots of “when will she start laying” requests about him.

Someone else wanted to know if my Six week old wyandottes were pullets or females, and how long before they laid eggs, and would one feed a family of four.

“how many chicks do I need for two dozen eggs a week”, etc.

I also go called names by one person because I said I only accept PayPal or Venmo. I have no interest in handling cash right now.

so I stopped selling chicks. I have stopped hatching chicks. I am donating my eggs locally and I will grownthe chicks I had for sale, and sell them after the panic is over. Most of the people wanting chicks just seems to want them for the short term.

 

[featherhead007]

Welcome to BYC. You said 25 chickens to start with? Well, how are you going to be able to kiss and tuck into bed that many birds?

 

[Lmatt]

Welcome to BYC. You said 25 chickens to start with? Well, how are you going to be able to kiss and tuck into bed that many birds?

I have 4 kids and one is a 2 year old. So there will be no lack of attention

 

[featherhead007]

I have 4 kids and one is a 2 year old. So there will be no lack of attention

GREAT! I won't worry then.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Right or wrong we decided we wanted Black Australorps. I couldn’t find any on Craigslist and was going to order from a hatchery. While I was trying to find out if I would receive the chicks sooner if I shipped express I found a hatchery less than 4 hours south of me. They actually show available females. I am reluctant to order though because my brooder warming plate is in the mail and what happens if it shows up and doesn’t work? I could order a few weeks out, but want to get the chicks ASAP. I have a heat lamp as plan “B”, but would like to start with plan “A”. I have also been consumed with trying to decide on a good feed. I’ve read good things about NCO. But the shipping to Idaho is pretty steep and I don’t know that there is any benefit to feeding it vs another brand. I’m not necessary price shopping. I do want value though. I don’t have a local feed store. So I was planning on finding an online source. We get our dog food through Chewy. It was recommended by the breeder. So that was an easy choice. Especially since his coat looks nice and he is barely gassy . Chewy is lacking the variety for chickens though. So I haven’t found a good place to go. I think the rough numbers will be 100 lbs. of “starter”, 600 lbs. of “grower”, and then countless lbs. of adult food. A lot of the stuff on Amazon isn’t available until the end of April or later. So I’m running into a lot of dead ends.

Your comment about the brooder plate made me laugh as my wife could attest. Through the years while living in various locales, I have brooded baby chicks in a utility room, spare bedroom, garage, basement and my last two broods in a 6' x 2' aluminum cattle trough in the living room. My wife doesn't even complain anymore until the dust gets to be too much which is 2 - 3 weeks. And you should see the looks on the neighbor's faces as we carry it into the house. Black Australorps are a good breed choice but in my recent experiences the roosters can be a bit rambunctious. As for feed, I have been using the Kalmbach brand from Ohio with great results but it may be costly for shipment to Idaho. Fortunately, I have a local dealer in NC that carries it. Good luck with this endeavor.

 

[Lmatt]

Your comment about the brooder plate made me laugh as my wife could attest. Through the years while living in various locales, I have brooded baby chicks in a utility room, spare bedroom, garage, basement and my last two broods in a 6' x 2' aluminum cattle trough in the living room. My wife doesn't even complain anymore until the dust gets to be too much which is 2 - 3 weeks. And you should see the looks on the neighbor's faces as we carry it into the house. Black Australorps are a good breed choice but in my recent experiences the roosters can be a bit rambunctious. As for feed, I have been using the Kalmbach brand from Ohio with great results but it may be costly for shipment to Idaho. Fortunately, I have a local dealer in NC that carries it. Good luck with this endeavor.

The Kalmbach is actually reasonably priced shipped to my door. As far as the rooster, my wife votes no. She doesn’t like the red spec when cooking eggs. So probably won’t be a rooster unless it is mistakenly shipped.

 

[Chicken Heel]

The Kalmbach is actually reasonably priced shipped to my door. As far as the rooster, my wife votes no. She doesn’t like the red spec when cooking eggs. So probably won’t be a rooster unless it is mistakenly shipped.

My Dad always told me the fertile eggs are better for you. I have a lady here at work that only wants white shelled eggs for eating (boiled, scrambled, fried) but likes the brown shelled ones for baking. I have told her there is no difference in flavor but she swears there is.

 

[rjohns39]

Right or wrong we decided we wanted Black Australorps. I couldn’t find any on Craigslist and was going to order from a hatchery. While I was trying to find out if I would receive the chicks sooner if I shipped express I found a hatchery less than 4 hours south of me. They actually show available females. I am reluctant to order though because my brooder warming plate is in the mail and what happens if it shows up and doesn’t work? I could order a few weeks out, but want to get the chicks ASAP. I have a heat lamp as plan “B”, but would like to start with plan “A”. I have also been consumed with trying to decide on a good feed. I’ve read good things about NCO. But the shipping to Idaho is pretty steep and I don’t know that there is any benefit to feeding it vs another brand. I’m not necessary price shopping. I do want value though. I don’t have a local feed store. So I was planning on finding an online source. We get our dog food through Chewy. It was recommended by the breeder. So that was an easy choice. Especially since his coat looks nice and he is barely gassy . Chewy is lacking the variety for chickens though. So I haven’t found a good place to go. I think the rough numbers will be 100 lbs. of “starter”, 600 lbs. of “grower”, and then countless lbs. of adult food. A lot of the stuff on Amazon isn’t available until the end of April or later. So I’m running into a lot of dead ends.

What are your feed goals. I might be able to help you find something near you. The folks I'm thinking of generally use non-GMO and many organic, but are also price and quality conscious.