Hello! Waiting impatiently in VA

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VA Raptor

VA Raptor

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 14, 2014
173
16
58
S. Central Virginia
Hello everyone!

My husband and I recently purchased in a semi-rural neighborhood. Being beekeepers, we wanted more space, but should've realized bees would end up being a gateway drug to more things! My father, a city kid, was in the Air Force, and my mother left the farm, so it's odd that I have an affinity for everything agricultural.

So now that I finally have my own "farm", I am eagerly (impatiently) awaiting our first 10 chicks. Couldn't decide on a single breed, so ordered sex links and several dual purpose hens. Hopefully, we'll be able to narrow our preferences to 2-3 breeds. No kids, but I'm disabled, so temperament will determine what direction we go in.

In the meantime, there's an 8x8 shed to convert into a coop, and runs to fence. I also have an incubator coming tomorrow. If I can get my hands on some hatching eggs...oh man, I'll be in heaven!
 
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Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Sounds like you are completely hooked!! We call it OCD here...Obsessive Chicken Disorder! And there is no cure except maybe MORE chickens!!
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Enjoy this wonderful adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. We are all chicken obsessed here and very few BYC members are immune to "chicken math." :eek:) Sex Links are egg laying machines. Did you order the Black Sex Links or the Red Sex Links? Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. What kind of dual-purpose hens did you order?
 
Thanks for the kind welcome! I do think I have a severe case of OCD. :)

As for the sex links, we ordered red. I would like to try black sex links when it's time for replacements.

Our chick order has Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, a Gold Laced Wyandotte, and an Easter Egger (can you tell I was super indecisive?), plus the sex links. And I just ordered a dozen hatching eggs (Marans, Ameraucanas, and Cream Legbars). I figured it would be a good idea to get extras being a novice. Worst case I have to build a larger coop or find them homes with 4-H kids. Yikes! Going to have to sit on my hands to keep from getting into more trouble though!
 
VA Raptor said:
As for the sex links, we ordered red. I would like to try black sex links when it's time for replacements.

Our chick order has Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, a Gold Laced Wyandotte, and an Easter Egger (can you tell I was super indecisive?), plus the sex links. And I just ordered a dozen hatching eggs (Marans, Ameraucanas, and Cream Legbars).
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I've had all of those breeds at one time or another except the Cream Legbars (although my Wyandottes were Silver Laced), and you've good a lot of good layers there. None of the your standard breeds will match your Red Sex Links' lay rate, but your Black Australorps may come pretty close. They are the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. When you get Black Sex Links as replacements, they will match your RSLs' lay rate. You will love the temperament of your Black Australorps; very calm and gentle birds. Good luck with your flock.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your soon to be new flock, hope they all arrive safely! and the hatching eggs!
 
Thanks again for the welcome!

The incubator is up and running. My first round of hatching eggs (Ameraucanas & Marans) arrived safely. I am already totally addicted! :)

Just hope the chickens don't eat all my bees (they can have their fill of moths, beetles, and mites, though)!
 

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