"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[kuntrygirl]

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS!!!

Thank you Julie!  BTW, I called Rusty in Carencro and he has plenty of babies of the type my granddaughter wants.  We are going to see him on Saturday with the intention of buying two female bunnies.  Thanks for the info, he sounds really nice.

Great. I knew that after talking to him, he would have exactly what you were looking for. I'm so glad. I will be going to his house this weekend as well. Make sure that you tell him that Julie from Opelousas (he talked to me yesterday) told you about him.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Almost forgot to post this pic. I got my very 1st peacock feather with the eye on yesterday. I don't know if I should cry or be happy. :/

 

[DHinton]

any recommendations for chicks to purchase locally? since i can only have 3 - i'm looking for good layers, and different colour eggs from each.

i look through breeds and i can come up with stuff like Australorp, Speckled Sussex, Golden Spangled Hamburg... but, idk how well those three would do in Baton Rouge, compared to other breeds.

plus, i'd rather buy local.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

They have to be fully feathered out before they can go outside - I hatch my own & they start out in a big cardboard box w/a heat lamp in the utility room. At about 5-6 weeks of age -- when their heads have feathers - that's the last part to feather out completely - they go into an outside brooder also w/a heat lamp (esp this time of year). This brooder is off the ground - I am a big believer in keeping my young chicks & peachicks off the ground - esp. the peas -- it is almost always fatal to them as they are delicate - they can pick up worms & stuff & get chilled too easily if they are down on the ground, and esp. if it's an area where poultry have been kept before. Diseases can stay in the soil for years and years. You can't be too careful.

When they get about 3 months old, they go into our chicken tractor and they stay there until about six months of age when they are finally integrated into the main laying flock. They are wormed at 3 months of age & again before going into the main flock.

We started out with the chicken tractor & 3 hens originally, which we bought as chicks from Meyer hatchery. We built our tractor in a weekend & moved it about once a week. We still use it.

Very cute tractor!!!!!! I love the big flowers painted on the side!

 

[kuntrygirl]

any recommendations for chicks to purchase locally?  since i can only have 3 - i'm looking for good layers, and different colour eggs from each.   

i look through breeds and i can come up with stuff like Australorp, Speckled Sussex, Golden Spangled Hamburg... but, idk how well those three would do in Baton Rouge, compared to other breeds.

plus, i'd rather buy local.  

I prefer proficient egg layers. I'm not into the pricey "name-brand" breeds that people have. People in my area are only interested in Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Black Australops. I really don't have anyone who contacts me about the other "show" breeds. They are looking for eggs and meat. But if you won't be selling any eggs or chickens, then you may go with the ones that you mentioned. You may just want good layers and "eye candy" hens.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Almost forgot to post this pic. I got my very 1st peacock feather with the eye on yesterday. I don't know if I should cry or be happy.

Either way, I bet you keep it! It's beautiful!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Almost forgot to post this pic. I got my very 1st peacock feather with the eye on yesterday. I don't know if I should cry or be happy. :/

Either way, I bet you keep it! It's beautiful!!!

Thank you. Yes, it's the first, so I will keep it and will probably keep the rest that fall off. I know people are always looking to buy peacock feathers, so that is another option if I decide to sell them.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

any recommendations for chicks to purchase locally? since i can only have 3 - i'm looking for good layers, and different colour eggs from each.

i look through breeds and i can come up with stuff like Australorp, Speckled Sussex, Golden Spangled Hamburg... but, idk how well those three would do in Baton Rouge, compared to other breeds.

plus, i'd rather buy local.

Well, if you are going to buy from most feed stores, you will have to wait till March or April for chicks. Plus, a lot of them handle only a few varieties. Out of about 5 feed stores within 20 miles of my house, only one orders a large variety of breeds (from Ideal Poultry).

Your best bet would be build the coop, and then post your want list here on this thread. I am SURE their are a couple folks in your area with juveniles in the breeds you want. Some of the breeds I have that do great at my place are RIR, Delaware, New Hampshire, Ameraucana, Marans, Barred Rocks, Dark Cornish, Dorkings, Naked Necks, and Orpingtons. The breeds with the largest combs and least feathers seem to do best in the worst of summer's heat.

As to your coop....a lady that posts on here in the goose section has a great little, easily built coop. You could shrink your version down to suit the smaller number of hens. It could also be made into a tractor pretty easily with a wire floor and tires.Here is a picture of it.


The front and back are cut from sheets of plywood. and the bottom framed out of 2x6. The main "body" is concrete wire covered in hardware cloth and then the back is covered with a tarp: The hoops could be made from PVC pipe instead. If done correctly, this would be very secure and more than big enough for your girls.

Good luck!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Great. I knew that after talking to him, he would have exactly what you were looking for. I'm so glad. I will be going to his house this weekend as well. Make sure that you tell him that Julie from Opelousas (he talked to me yesterday) told you about him.

I told him and he knew right away and mentioned you were going by there this weekend.

Also, so many THANKS to Celie, too, for helping me with the rabbit adventure. You taught me so much.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Great. I knew that after talking to him, he would have exactly what you were looking for. I'm so glad. I will be going to his house this weekend as well. Make sure that you tell him that Julie from Opelousas (he talked to me yesterday) told you about him.

I told him and he knew right away and mentioned you were going by there this weekend.

Also,  so many THANKS to Celie, too, for helping me with the rabbit adventure.  You taught me so much.

I'm so glad that he can help you out. I immediately thought about you when he told me ALL of the babies that he had. I thought they would be perfect for you all. I can't wait to see what he has this weekend. I'm so excited. e

Please post a pic of whatever you buy from him. I can't wait to see what you all pick out.