Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[3riverschick]

Hello, I'm new to BYC and was advised to join this thread. We decided to get chickens this year for eggs and beloved pets. After researching, we settled on Buff Orpingtons. I can't find local breeders so we're going to buy 6 through one of the large hatcheries like McMurrays, even though I'm suspicious of large volume animal farming. Does anyone know of a smaller breeder of Buffs? Locally, all we have is hybrid mixes at Tractor Supply and local small farms. Thanks!!

-Amanda

Hi Amandas4hens! Welcome to the thread!!

Yes, Dragonlady is on this thread. She has stunning
Buff Orpingtons. I see on her sig line she also has birds
available this Spring. Buff is a tough color to breed
correctly and Dragonlady has done a wonderful job of
getting it right. The ones you get from the hatcheries
won't look like the ones in the pictures you are studying.
It only costs a bit more to go first class and you will have
birds which are a joy to watch, brag on, and take care of.
Best,
Here are links to 2 pics of Dragonlady's Buff Orpingtons
which she posted to this list 6 days ago. Huge, gentle,
great layers, lotsa meat. Yeah, I'm a fan!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849075/lightbox/post/12798550/id/6157218

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/849075/lightbox/post/12798550/id/6157221

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6479042/the-pest-the-brat-and-busy-at-5-months/

Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Oh thank you Karen. I had successfully squelched all my tears for a few days.

I really appreciate the words of wisdom however. I was planning on writing LOTS of letters. Hopefully I won't be a burden... we'll see. I'm already looking into costs to be there for graduation. I have to find somebody to look after my birds for me for a couple days. Someone I trust. Ha ha. I'll probably recruit my daughter.

There will probably be a Facebook page for the parents of kids in his Class.
Check around. Great to get to know the other parents.
Always someone else more lonesome than yourself for you to encourage.
Best,
Karen

 

[hellbender]

Hello, I'm new to BYC and was advised to join this thread. We decided to get chickens this year for eggs and beloved pets. After researching, we settled on Buff Orpingtons. I can't find local breeders so we're going to buy 6 through one of the large hatcheries like McMurrays, even though I'm suspicious of large volume animal farming. Does anyone know of a smaller breeder of Buffs? Locally, all we have is hybrid mixes at Tractor Supply and local small farms. Thanks!!

-Amanda

Just curious...where is NU? It seems to have escaped me for the moment.

 

[hellbender]

The discussion of Red Tail Hawks got me wondering...enough to call a DNR rep. She said that due to our generally moderate temps (there's a laugh), the Red Tails generally do not migrate or at least not more than a relatively few miles. That's actually very good news to me, but I didn't explain why to the very helpful lady who gave me the good tidings!

 

[thedragonlady]

If you want pallets call your local pallet recycling co - they will usually give you usable but non marketable pallets rather than them bear the expense to dispose of them.
yes - lots of birds moving - But also have seen two Redtail hawks this week. Its usual to have the smaller but it looks like the Larger are migrating south also [ or maybe North because we see them Nov/Dec also]

2 pair of Red Tails courting over the polo field behind my house last week.They have now vanished. Those big raptors don't bother me. It's the Cooper's I have to worry about. They can maneuver too well. Thank goodness the crows are pairing too, and running the hawks off. I've been feeding my murder of 7 all winter.

Using pallets would scare me. I'm just seeing broken legs, and all the manure build up below them.Coarse sand is much better.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Thank you again Kathy. Those are good ideas and I will put them to use.

 

[BGMatt]

 Off topic, but I have been picking up extra large dog crates in the range of $30 from thrift shops. They will often take an offer. I think that is an affordable way to collect a group of cages to evaluate the birds. They can be folded and put up. They are heavier, but should last a lifetime.

I do this as well, I use the large crates for individual male housing on occasion as well, even breeding pens for smaller bantams. Also are great "conditioning" pens in the week before the show after birds have been washed. Lots of uses for dog crates.

Hello, I'm new to BYC and was advised to join this thread. We decided to get chickens this year for eggs and beloved pets. After researching, we settled on Buff Orpingtons. I can't find local breeders so we're going to buy 6 through one of the large hatcheries like McMurrays, even though I'm suspicious of large volume animal farming. Does anyone know of a smaller breeder of Buffs? Locally, all we have is hybrid mixes at Tractor Supply and local small farms. Thanks!! -Amanda

Dragonlady in this thread has some of the best Orpingtons you'll find anywhere. You could also attend local shows in your area to connect with breeders. If you go to the American Poultry Association site there is a list of officers and district directors, find the one for your area and contact them about why shows can be found, or even if they know any good breeders (I always prefer to make the connections myself in person).

 

[lawatt]

re: flightiness -- i have a trio of silver campines, and while they are not fond of being handled, i wouldn't call them flighty (although they are excellent fliers), EXCEPT when it's time to go back in their coop at the end of the day, but they feel they have a bit more foraging to do... then they can be nearly impossible to steer toward the open coop door! (but i secretly admire that quality...)

 

[Yellow House Farm]

re: flightiness -- i have a trio of silver campines, and while they are not fond of being handled, i wouldn't call them flighty (although they are excellent fliers), EXCEPT when it's time to go back in their coop at the end of the day, but they feel they have a bit more foraging to do... then they can be nearly impossible to steer toward the open coop door! (but i secretly admire that quality...)

That's not flighty, though, that's just healthy chicken behavior. Chickens don't herd.

Good for you for working with such a rare breed and variety.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

So, a random question, but does anyone on here live in Georgia and isn't afraid to ship adult birds?