- Jun 19, 2014
- 10
- 0
- 22
Hi! I'm new here 
I'm Vallere, mama of 4 (with another on the way) in eastern NC. We bought a few acres off the beaten path about a year ago, and have been slowly converting it into our farm. Chickens were really high on my list, and we bought a variety of breeds a while back. The oldest ones are 18 weeks now. We ordered 5 hens each of Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Australorpes, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers. Unfortunately, they shipped during a huge winter storm, and we lost quite a few of them in transit, so 6 weeks later our replacements arrived, along with a number of little cockerels for body heat. So now I've got about a dozen cocks we'll probably stick in the freezer in a few weeks. One of our replacement EE hens turned out to be a roo as well, unfortunately :/ He's gorgeous, though, and hubby doesn't want to get rid of him. We had already picked out one other roo to keep to watch over the girls, so we'll see how the two of them coexist. The EE roo just started crowing last week. We can't wait to start getting eggs from our girls! Any day now, I'm guessing! All the Barred Rocks and most of the Australorpes and Orps from the first batch have nice, red combs and waddles, and fluffy bums now.
We also have 3 Pekin ducks (one drake and two girls) who are 18 weeks, and I found my very first duck egg this morning! The kids and I were so excited! We got 4 Khaki Campbells with the second round of chicks, so they aren't quite feathered out yet, but judging by their quacks, I think we got 2 and 2. Not sure what we'll do with those drakes yet.
Anyway, I'm sorry to write a novel, but glad to join the BYC community! The kids are excited about having watched the chicks from 3 day olds all the way to laying age, and they'll be helping care for them and sell the eggs as part of our homeschooling education. We love going out every morning and having all the girls run up to see what goodies we brought them
I'm Vallere, mama of 4 (with another on the way) in eastern NC. We bought a few acres off the beaten path about a year ago, and have been slowly converting it into our farm. Chickens were really high on my list, and we bought a variety of breeds a while back. The oldest ones are 18 weeks now. We ordered 5 hens each of Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Australorpes, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers. Unfortunately, they shipped during a huge winter storm, and we lost quite a few of them in transit, so 6 weeks later our replacements arrived, along with a number of little cockerels for body heat. So now I've got about a dozen cocks we'll probably stick in the freezer in a few weeks. One of our replacement EE hens turned out to be a roo as well, unfortunately :/ He's gorgeous, though, and hubby doesn't want to get rid of him. We had already picked out one other roo to keep to watch over the girls, so we'll see how the two of them coexist. The EE roo just started crowing last week. We can't wait to start getting eggs from our girls! Any day now, I'm guessing! All the Barred Rocks and most of the Australorpes and Orps from the first batch have nice, red combs and waddles, and fluffy bums now.We also have 3 Pekin ducks (one drake and two girls) who are 18 weeks, and I found my very first duck egg this morning! The kids and I were so excited! We got 4 Khaki Campbells with the second round of chicks, so they aren't quite feathered out yet, but judging by their quacks, I think we got 2 and 2. Not sure what we'll do with those drakes yet.
Anyway, I'm sorry to write a novel, but glad to join the BYC community! The kids are excited about having watched the chicks from 3 day olds all the way to laying age, and they'll be helping care for them and sell the eggs as part of our homeschooling education. We love going out every morning and having all the girls run up to see what goodies we brought them
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you have put together a nice little flock! Congratulations on that first duck egg, hope the chicken eggs follow shortly!
It was quite traumatic for my little girl. But she's trying to bond with one of the ducks now, so I think she'll move on. Farm life isn't for the faint of heart, eh?
