Illinois...

[MeepBeep]

We were just about done incubating this year, but last week we found out about a public speaking home school program at the library called 'You're the Expert!' where the home schooled child can get some public speaking experience... So we decided to toss in a few more eggs and document the incubation so my 5 year old can give a speech (or at least try ) and this way she will have day old chicks to show as part of here speech...

Anyway that was supposed to be the end of the season, so I started to look at what we wanted to do for next year... I really wanted to add some chocolate layers to my flock.. The idea was to get at least one chocolate gene carrying roo to darken my existing olive egger lines, and I also some hens to get some chocolate eggs... I was to hoping to take advantage of 'chick days' at the sorta of local Blain's Farm and Fleet to avoid shipping cost, but I looked over their offering this last year and they didn't offer any chocolate layers, so to gamble on them offering them next year was not a gamble I wanted to take... Started to look online at the prices for the chocolate layers I wanted Black Copper Marans and Welsummers, got some pretty good sticker shock on the price of the Marans, seems the going price is about $10 a pop for day old pullets plus shipping... So I turned my focus to eggs, and found dollar for dollar even with the gamble of a bad hatch and bad male/female ratio the price of eggs was quite appealing, I only need to realistically hatch one or two out of a dozen to break even on purchasing day old chicks, seems like a good gamble...

So needless to say after looking over some offerings on Ebay and this forum, I took the dive and purchased a dozen eggs to try and hatch, a 50/50 mix of Marans and Welsummers... So the incubator will be running for several more weeks now and hopefully by next spring I will have some chocolate eggs in the mix...

Darn chicken math...

 

[EggheadWI]

I do not know if I want to (or make my hubby do it! HA!).  Usually I need to see what is required from "the law" and if it stupidly stupid, I pass.  Nothing like starting a business to find that the regs are too much to bear or pay for.


If it is a small operation (only a few a week) I think it is dooable, but still, I do not need a fine bigger than my wallet stalking me in the dark.

There is a demand for more humane slaughter. One method is to have the processing come to the birds instead of the other way around -- saves the birds a lot of stress. Also they use stunning methods to make sure birds are unconscious when killed. Look at the "Animal Welfare Approved" site. They have the highest standards around.

 

[Faraday40]

We were just about done incubating this year, but last week we found out about a public speaking home school program at the library called 'You're the Expert!' where the home schooled child can get some public speaking experience... So we decided to toss in a few more eggs and document the incubation so my 5 year old can give a speech (or at least try

) and this way she will have day old chicks to show as part of here speech...

Anyway that was supposed to be the end of the season, so I started to look at what we wanted to do for next year... I really wanted to add some chocolate layers to my flock.. The idea was to get at least one chocolate gene carrying roo to darken my existing olive egger lines, and I also some hens to get some chocolate eggs... I was to hoping to take advantage of 'chick days' at the sorta of local Blain's Farm and Fleet to avoid shipping cost, but I looked over their offering this last year and they didn't offer any chocolate layers, so to gamble on them offering them next year was not a gamble I wanted to take... Started to look online at the prices for the chocolate layers I wanted Black Copper Marans and Welsummers, got some pretty good sticker shock on the price of the Marans, seems the going price is about $10 a pop for day old pullets plus shipping... So I turned my focus to eggs, and found dollar for dollar even with the gamble of a bad hatch and bad male/female ratio the price of eggs was quite appealing, I only need to realistically hatch one or two out of a dozen to break even on purchasing day old chicks, seems like a good gamble...

So needless to say after looking over some offerings on Ebay and this forum, I took the dive and purchased a dozen eggs to try and hatch, a 50/50 mix of Marans and Welsummers... So the incubator will be running for several more weeks now and hopefully by next spring I will have some chocolate eggs in the mix...

Darn chicken math...

I wish I had known. I could have saved you some $. We just gave away my daughter's fav chick - a blue French Maran. He hatched out from a very dark speckled egg. Very sweet boy, but a male, so he had to go. I just hope he doesn't end up as dinner. (Came from show lines) All the other Marans were sold as day-olds, so we won't be having choc eggs next year. In the end, I'm OK with it b/c we love our big Orps & Bielefelders.

 

[Faraday40]

Since most of us are dealing with the side effects of chicken math, here's a discussion topic:
What was/is your favorite breed & why?
What was/is your least favorite breed & why?
.....Perhaps it may help spare some of us a round of chicken math.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

We were just about done incubating this year, but last week we found out about a public speaking home school program at the library called 'You're the Expert!' where the home schooled child can get some public speaking experience... So we decided to toss in a few more eggs and document the incubation so my 5 year old can give a speech (or at least try

) and this way she will have day old chicks to show as part of here speech...

Anyway that was supposed to be the end of the season, so I started to look at what we wanted to do for next year... I really wanted to add some chocolate layers to my flock.. The idea was to get at least one chocolate gene carrying roo to darken my existing olive egger lines, and I also some hens to get some chocolate eggs... I was to hoping to take advantage of 'chick days' at the sorta of local Blain's Farm and Fleet to avoid shipping cost, but I looked over their offering this last year and they didn't offer any chocolate layers, so to gamble on them offering them next year was not a gamble I wanted to take... Started to look online at the prices for the chocolate layers I wanted Black Copper Marans and Welsummers, got some pretty good sticker shock on the price of the Marans, seems the going price is about $10 a pop for day old pullets plus shipping... So I turned my focus to eggs, and found dollar for dollar even with the gamble of a bad hatch and bad male/female ratio the price of eggs was quite appealing, I only need to realistically hatch one or two out of a dozen to break even on purchasing day old chicks, seems like a good gamble...

So needless to say after looking over some offerings on Ebay and this forum, I took the dive and purchased a dozen eggs to try and hatch, a 50/50 mix of Marans and Welsummers... So the incubator will be running for several more weeks now and hopefully by next spring I will have some chocolate eggs in the mix...

Darn chicken math...

I have done the same thing. I wanted some darker eggs and some olive eggers. Shipping eggs are definitely a more cost effective way to go, most of the time. But some of the time, you take a hit. I ordered some olive eggers that shipped from Cali, (to far for eggs to travel) I had 1 hatch and it was a roo. I ordered some Blue marans from Ebay and hatched 2 hens, I was happy. My best hatch bought off of Ebay were my CCLs 6 out of 9 hatched. Then my cochins were a total loss, 0 hatch rate. Some people say you don't know what you are getting, if you order off of Ebay, but I have ordered some eggs off of our auction site, and am not happy with those that hatched. So, I pay attention to sellers scores and their location.I have also bought chicks on auction, which is more expensive for sure, but you know how many chicks you will have. But on the other hand, ratio can be a bit disheartening. My BBOrps came and I ended up with 6 roos and 2 hens. LOL there is always something. Buying local is probably best and from a reputable breeder. Here are a couple of my Ebay blue marans and CCLs. I think I did pretty good.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If any of you Illinoisans live in SW IL near St. Louis I want to tell you about a chicken hearing going on tonight in Granite City, IL where chickens are not allowed in residential areas.
A resident, who is Native American, is being harassed because he has two chickens!! He has to defend himself in front of planning and zoning at 7pm Thursday Sept 3, at city hall 2000 Edison Street Granite city, IL 62040. In the second floor council chambers.
The city attorney plans to grill him on his spirituality. He is claiming keeping chickens is part of his native american heritage. I am trying to get as many people there as possible to support him.
Mike, the chicken owner, told another city board member that the head of the Planning and Zoning department, S++++ W*******, told him to "get those f****** chickens out of there." They sent seven cops to his house with guns drawn! The residents weren't home but the neighbors saw them. They stole their birdhouse from the front yard and cut down their clothesline in the back among other damage.

If anyone lives nearby, your attendance for support would be much appreciated.
We have a large St. Louis area chicken group and we try to attend these meetings. Normally we are working with city councils to get chickens legalized but this one will be a little different since it isn't about ordinances but we are still planning on going.

Thanks,
Guy

 

[MeepBeep]

Shipping eggs are definitely a more cost effective way to go, most of the time.

I have had good and bad luck shipping, in general I would like to purchase the eggs locally but finding them and driving around can get costly and take a lot of time and is beyond a hassle with three young children in tow...

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I have had good and bad luck shipping, in general I would like to purchase the eggs locally but finding them and driving around can get costly and take a lot of time and is beyond a hassle with three young children in tow...

I agree, trying to find someone local can be tough, that's why I ordered online.

 

[cavemanrich]

If any of you Illinoisans live in SW IL near St. Louis I want to tell you about a chicken hearing going on tonight in Granite City, IL where chickens are not allowed in residential areas.
A resident, who is Native American, is being harassed because he has two chickens!! He has to defend himself in front of planning and zoning at 7pm Thursday Sept 3, at city hall 2000 Edison Street Granite city, IL 62040. In the second floor council chambers.
The city attorney plans to grill him on his spirituality. He is claiming keeping chickens is part of his native american heritage. I am trying to get as many people there as possible to support him.
Mike, the chicken owner, told another city board member that the head of the Planning and Zoning department, S++++ W*******, told him to "get those f****** chickens out of there." They sent seven cops to his house with guns drawn! The residents weren't home but the neighbors saw them. They stole their birdhouse from the front yard and cut down their clothesline in the back among other damage.

If anyone lives nearby, your attendance for support would be much appreciated.
We have a large St. Louis area chicken group and we try to attend these meetings. Normally we are working with city councils to get chickens legalized but this one will be a little different since it isn't about ordinances but we are still planning on going.

Thanks,
Guy

Every day the government take a little away.. If you don't understand this , ask me about the frog put into the pot of cold water on the stove...

 

[Faraday40]

Rooster idea:
To prevent my roos from crowing in the early am, I brought them into the house last night. I put them in a large plastic storage bin with a home-made mesh top. I read that if a roo can't stretch up, he can't crow. FALSE. My roos can crow laying down.

PRO: I'm very sure the neighbors didn't hear any crowing at 6:20am.
CON: I heard crowing at 6:20am. I put them outside around 8:30am & they felt like they needed to make up for lost time. (Lots of crowing & mating!)

My next trial will involve covering with a blanket or moving the box to a very dark area. Anyone else have an idea to share?

* My neighbors never complained, but I do not want to give any reason. Once the winter windows go up & the days are shorter, There won't be any crowing heard before 8am.

Well I am going to follow your progress and see if you find something that works. I am going to try and keep 3 for sure and perhaps a 4th because I feel sorry for him. He has bad toes. The only one crowing right now is the bantam cochin and it is adorable, not loud at all. But once the Orps begin, I am hoping for a miracle!

Update:
I got a call this morning from my neighbor asking if we got rid of the roo? (We still have all 3) She missed hearing him and even tried sleeping withher window open - still could not hear him. (No need to tell her we have 3 at the moment. - still deciding.)

The roos in house lasted 2 mornings. Although we didn't hear them much from our bedrooms, listening to crowing while eating breakfast & getting the kids off to school got old very fast.

I moved the boy's box to our garage. Not only did we not hear them before 8am, the garage is darkened, so they remained calm & quiet. Now the only issue is the frenzy of mating that occurs as soon as they get released into the yard. (I would have thought the feeding & water stations would have been priority. Go figure.)