Illinois...

[MeepBeep]

I'm in Gurnee! I don't have chickens yet, but we're looking for land in the Wadsworth area and looking into laws regarding chickens. Lake County allows them, but I don't know if wadsworth/gurnee has separate regulations. Anyone know? Also, where have you had success buying chickens from?

Welcome, to the forum neighbor... I'm located in the Lake Villa/Grayslake area as is fellow forum member Pixie...

I believe Gurnee proper allows up to 4 hens in residential zones as long as you are not part of an association that forbids them...

A lot of the Wadsworth area is unincorporated, so only Lake County laws will apply in those areas, but if you are in the village proper the codes are linked bellow, I did a search and didn't find any regulations on poultry or chickens but it might be advisable to call and confirm...

http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=539

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I have 2 CCL hens and 1 White Legbar pullet that are being crossed to a CCL rooster that has the white gene. So if anyone is interested in the eggs, I am in Chicago.

1 hen does not have the white gene so all offsprings will be CCL but 25% will be carriers for white.
1 hen does carry the white gene so 25% off offsprings will be white and 50% carriers for white.

Then the white legbar pullet just started laying so her eggs will be hatch-able in a few days. She will hatch 50% white Legbars and 50% carriers for white.


@ChicagoClucker Blue Isbar eggs are notoriously hard to hatch especially if the air cells are detached. How are the air cells in your case?

Junibutt all the air cells looked great. I pulled 1 clear so far, otherwise I have 7 developing nicely so far. I guess we will see how it goes. I am treating them like Marans eggs, keeping humidity between 20-30 for first 17 then up to 75% for lockdown. We shall see!

P.S. I would take the BLR.W in a minute, but I am filled to capacity

@Faraday40 I am so sorry to hear about the baby. Hope you find whatever it was, and send it on its way. I don't think it was a hen or roo. I would set a trap!

And 2 of the Splash Orps surprised me when I woke up and went to check on them. #3 pipped and is still chirping,

 

[chickendreams24]

@Junibutt
I would love to see pictures of her we have wanted a Blrw from the get go I'm not sure if I could convince him particularly about the drive but maybe who knows. I would love some hatching eggs but I promised DH2B no more hatching until spring.

@Faraday40
Oh no that's such bummer do I need to come camp out in the coop because I will. please keep me up to date can't wait to get them. Not to sound awful but hope the one that was killed wasn't a pullet and I hope ya get the culprit. Also let me know about the pullets/hens you're planning on selling as we may still be interested in some of them. And let me know when pick up can be arranged.

 

[Faraday40]

Junibutt all the air cells looked great. I pulled 1 clear so far, otherwise I have 7 developing nicely so far. I guess we will see how it goes. I am treating them like Marans eggs, keeping humidity between 20-30 for first 17 then up to 75% for lockdown. We shall see!

P.S. I would take the BLR.W in a minute, but I am filled to capacity

@Faraday40 I am so sorry to hear about the baby. Hope you find whatever it was, and send it on its way. I don't think it was a hen or roo. I would set a trap!

And 2 of the Splash Orps surprised me when I woke up and went to check on them. #3 pipped and is still chirping,

Adorable chicks!
BTW- How can you tell a splash from a blue? How did you know they'd hatch out splash & not blue or black? (That's why I went with the lavs - LOL Easier for me to understand the genetics.)

if you breed blues, chocs, or mauves next year, count me in for some eggs!
On next year may also be a silkie mix. I've always been on the fence about silkies, but DD really wants one. I think a mutt with the silkie feathers & less of a crest/ beard would be preferred. Any color but white.

 

[Junibutt]

Adorable chicks!
BTW- How can you tell a splash from a blue? How did you know they'd hatch out splash & not blue or black? (That's why I went with the lavs - LOL Easier for me to understand the genetics.)

if you breed blues, chocs, or mauves next year, count me in for some eggs!
On next year may also be a silkie mix. I've always been on the fence about silkies, but DD really wants one. I think a mutt with the silkie feathers & less of a crest/ beard would be preferred. Any color but white.

@Faraday40 if you breed a splash with splash, you will get all splash so hence splash eggs.

 

[Junibutt]

Junibutt all the air cells looked great. I pulled 1 clear so far, otherwise I have 7 developing nicely so far. I guess we will see how it goes. I am treating them like Marans eggs, keeping humidity between 20-30 for first 17 then up to 75% for lockdown. We shall see!

P.S. I would take the BLR.W in a minute, but I am filled to capacity

@Faraday40 I am so sorry to hear about the baby. Hope you find whatever it was, and send it on its way. I don't think it was a hen or roo. I would set a trap!

And 2 of the Splash Orps surprised me when I woke up and went to check on them. #3 pipped and is still chirping,

Sweet Darlings!!!

 

[MeepBeep]

My back is finally feeling better after over a month of dealing with pain, so I was finally able to get one of my brooder/breeding pens into the coop and in turn got a majority of this last summers birds out of the house finally... But, as luck would have it I'm now sick (as are the kids) so that has slowed down progress down yet again... I need to get the second pen into the coop in the coming days as well as add more stuff to the deep littler to get ready for winter... I added 5 bags of pine chips the other day and all it did was peppered the color of the bedding no real volume change...

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40
Oh no

that's such bummer do I need to come camp out in the coop because I will.

please keep me up to date can't wait to get them. Not to sound awful but hope the one that was killed wasn't a pullet and I hope ya get the culprit. Also let me know about the pullets/hens you're planning on selling as we may still be interested in some of them. And let me know when pick up can be arranged.

Today's been a rough day for my flock. While I was out taking some pics under the pine tree, the roos made the hawk warning sound & the hens took cover. A few secs later all of the chickens huddled together around me as I saw a hawk flying low and headed straight for us. I stood up & shouted at it while waving my arms. It quickly veered up & to the right. It's target aborted. The chickens then went to the safety of their run but not until I escorted them. For the past 3 hours, none have dared come out & the roos are standing guard by the door.

Here's the hole I found. Very, very small. Any guesses? I was thinking a mouse, but I doubt a mouse could kill a chick.



2 pullets were very, very interested in my camera


My funny Sebright


My 3 amigos are below. Trying to determine which to keep.
2 are lav orps & the other is an EE-orp.






My EE-Orp pullet (the kids like her a lot)


Poor Princess


These two look simply pathetic.


My pretty black orp.


Bielefelders. Shortly after this pic was taken, the hawk swoop happened. Can't believe it tried to catch a chicken while I was near them. I'll always have that image of a hawk flying right at me in my memory. .....and I hope the hawk will remember me & avoid me too!

 

[chickendreams24]

Faraday40 oh my goodness how scary I can't imagine how terrifying that would have been hope the hawks doesn't come back and all of your babies stay safe

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Adorable chicks!
BTW- How can you tell a splash from a blue? How did you know they'd hatch out splash & not blue or black? (That's why I went with the lavs - LOL Easier for me to understand the genetics.)

if you breed blues, chocs, or mauves next year, count me in for some eggs!
On next year may also be a silkie mix. I've always been on the fence about silkies, but DD really wants one. I think a mutt with the silkie feathers & less of a crest/ beard would be preferred. Any color but white.

Omg, you are being attacked this year. Glad everyone took cover around you, hate those darn hawks.
As to that hole, I say rat. I have read on other pages about them taking off with chicks.

Junibutt is correct, I ordered pure Splash. Since I didn't get one out of the first batch, I was going to make sure I got at least one out of these, lol.

Silkies sound fun. My husband makes fun of their poofs, he says I am never aloud to get one of those or Polish. LOL. I think they would be pretty.

I will not have any mauves or chocolate next year, that will be @Junibutt . I only ended up with a female chocolate, so hence, no mauves. But, I have my blue roo, that will cover a blue, black, chocolate, Splash for my BBS Orps and a partridge for Blue Partridges Orps. Then I have my Gold Lace roo, who is turning out so handsome, I can't get rid of him. I am probably going to find another hen for him or cross him with a blue hen for some Blue Gold Laced. And then I have my Silver Laced roo to cover my gold laced hen, so then I get sex link chicks. Pullets will be all Silver laced and Cockerels will be all GL. Then I also have my SL cochin bantams. I am really pushing it, with trying to keep the 4 roos, but the only one crowing is Mickey the bantam. Thor my Blue Orp does a very deep low pitched crow maybe 2 times a day, so far so good. @Faraday40 I think I found a quiet one, YAY! The SL hasn't tried at all. I also still have Thor's brother, Crazy legs. He has bad feet and legs, so couldn't give him away. I figured I would let him hang out until his legs won't carry him any longer. Then perhaps, take him to the butcher. Its such a shame, such a pretty boy. Here is a pic of Thor and Crazy legs. Then some pics of the others. You will see the Orps like to spend a lot of time on the deck with me. Uggg, can't wait for the coop and run to be finished

Thor to the left and Crazy leg right

Partridge

Francesca and Sophia BBOrps

Gold Laced Boy

Patridge again

Coco, and Sweet Pea Ameraucana

Al my SL and Thor.