Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[MamaShell]

Also just thought I'd share this in case it is helpful to anyone else.  I chatted with Meyer's Customer Service online to ask about started pullet availability just as an option for a month or two from now, thinking of two EE or a EE and RIR if they had them and dividing the run that has yet to be built.  Anywho this was their response:

[COLOR=222222]"First, with our Started Pullets they are 16-20 weeks of age and we offer them periodically through out the year. We did have availability for them in late May and June and also for our future date in August but they have since sold out. However, we are advising customers that are interested in  Started Pullets to check back with us later this month and next as we may have further availability announced for pre-order for late August/September."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=222222]So I'll be keeping my eye out.  Our girls will be 20 weeks at the end of August so that could be good timing, the new ones would be a little younger but not by much.[/COLOR]

Good to know although I think I am at my limit.. Wink wink.

Also, you should know that when I ordered mine, I had to call the order in as the system wouldn't let me place the order online. It will let you place them in your basket but it won't process the order. It has to do with the available dates for shipping. They ship all started pullets on one day which might not be definite yet. You can email [email protected] to ask about availability and the ship date but then you have to call the order in. Happy shopping!

 

[NotableNancy]

That's awful, but I understand her feeling responsible and wanting to help them get better rather than sending them back to that horrid place. Are they her first chickens?

She has 2 rescue roosters right now and has had chickens in the past but were at someone else's house so I don't know if that counts. She has a rescue horse, 3 rescue sheep and 2 mini ponies. Oh, and 6 rescue dogs and a mini pig. And a very big heart.

While I love my BO I think a SLW would look very striking in your flock against your black Lorps, White Cochin, future Leghorn, Columbian Wyandotte and Barred Rock oh and lets not forget the Silkie and Brabanters! (do you think yours will stay more white and black or get a golden tinge? On a quick google search I see both). And looking through your pics you've got an EE in the white, black, grey family. Yes very striking indeed! Of course a Blue Orp wouldn't look bad either Too bad the Exchequer Leghorns aren't available, though I actually think the white ones are beautiful with their fan tails and floppy combs. Oh and I've been meaning to ask over here because it got lost in the photo comments but is Cleo an EE? She is gorgeous! Such sleek feathers and rich coloring! I want to clone her.

Well, my flock has changed a bit and will change with the new ones coming. My wihte cochin, columbian wyandotte, one black lorp will probably be re homed. the white/gray EE died a month or 2 ago so And my white Silkie I think is male so he will have to go. The Brabanters are cream and black not the black and white. So that's why I was going to add the SLW to get more black/white in there. And the Leghorn will be a nice addition too. The marans will prob. be black, white, splash or the golden cuckoo. Any of those would be nice. Hmmmm, never considered the Blue Orp... and it's available. Oh why did you do that to me?????
Cleo is an EE. Clean faced and lays a very large light cream almost egg. She is my only one that is unfriendly. She doesn't squat, hates to be touched or heaven forbid picked up. She is broody right now and I have to push her out of the nest with a stick. I tried to put her in a cage yesterday to break her and she absolutely freaked out. Screaming and flying (trying) around the cage. I couldn't keep her in there. So she's going to stay broody for as long as she wants I guess.
Ohhh, I remembered why I didn't order a blue bird... because I'll probably end up with black since blue is not guaranteed. I wouldn't mind splash but would be really disappointed to spend $20 for a black bird.

Also just thought I'd share this in case it is helpful to anyone else. I chatted with Meyer's Customer Service online to ask about started pullet availability just as an option for a month or two from now, thinking of two EE or a EE and RIR if they had them and dividing the run that has yet to be built. Anywho this was their response:

"First, with our Started Pullets they are 16-20 weeks of age and we offer them periodically through out the year. We did have availability for them in late May and June and also for our future date in August but they have since sold out. However, we are advising customers that are interested in Started Pullets to check back with us later this month and next as we may have further availability announced for pre-order for late August/September."

So I'll be keeping my eye out. Our girls will be 20 weeks at the end of August so that could be good timing, the new ones would be a little younger but not by much.

That sounds like good timing. I didn't know they outsourced them. I assumed they came from their hatchery. But I'm sure they are very careful. They have to maintain their strong reputation.

 

[MamaShell]

I am sure that the started pullets come from Meyer chicks, they are just raised by others for the first 16-20 weeks.

 

[autumnhearth]

She has 2 rescue roosters right now and has had chickens in the past but were at someone else's house so I don't know if that counts. She has a rescue horse, 3 rescue sheep and 2 mini ponies. Oh, and 6 rescue dogs and a mini pig. And a very big heart.

Just so you know I wasn't at all questioning her experience, just thinking it would be easier if she didn't have other chickens for quarantining purposes.

Well, my flock has changed a bit and will change with the new ones coming. My wihte cochin, columbian wyandotte, one black lorp will probably be re homed. the white/gray EE died a month or 2 ago so And my white Silkie I think is male so he will have to go. The Brabanters are cream and black not the black and white. So that's why I was going to add the SLW to get more black/white in there. And the Leghorn will be a nice addition too. The marans will prob. be black, white, splash or the golden cuckoo. Any of those would be nice.

Sorry to hear about your EE

Hmmmm, never considered the Blue Orp... and it's available. Oh why did you do that to me?????
Cleo is an EE. Clean faced and lays a very large light cream almost egg. She is my only one that is unfriendly. She doesn't squat, hates to be touched or heaven forbid picked up. She is broody right now and I have to push her out of the nest with a stick. I tried to put her in a cage yesterday to break her and she absolutely freaked out. Screaming and flying (trying) around the cage. I couldn't keep her in there. So she's going to stay broody for as long as she wants I guess.

I was worried my son's EE was going to become unapproachable too. She clucks and scuttles away when I try to pet her, squawks and flaps and kicks when I try to pick her up. But we bonded her more when she was lame and though she still prefers to come to us on her own terms, perching on my arms and shoulders. So I try to spend I quite moment each day with her on my lap, hoping she doesn't further distance herself from us.

Ohhh, I remembered why I didn't order a blue bird... because I'll probably end up with black since blue is not guaranteed. I wouldn't mind splash but would be really disappointed to spend $20 for a black bird.

I hear ya, but you know Lavender breeds true, lol! And is more expensive

That sounds like good timing. I didn't know they outsourced them. I assumed they came from their hatchery. But I'm sure they are very careful. They have to maintain their strong reputation.

I didn't gather from that response that they outsourced... what am I missing?

 

[NotableNancy]

She has 2 rescue roosters right now and has had chickens in the past but were at someone else's house so I don't know if that counts. She has a rescue horse, 3 rescue sheep and 2 mini ponies. Oh, and 6 rescue dogs and a mini pig. And a very big heart.

Just so you know I wasn't at all questioning her experience, just thinking it would be easier if she didn't have other chickens for quarantining purposes.

No, I didn't think you were... luckily she doesn't have to worry about it. The roosters aren't really near the chicks.

Well, my flock has changed a bit and will change with the new ones coming. My wihte cochin, columbian wyandotte, one black lorp will probably be re homed. the white/gray EE died a month or 2 ago so And my white Silkie I think is male so he will have to go. The Brabanters are cream and black not the black and white. So that's why I was going to add the SLW to get more black/white in there. And the Leghorn will be a nice addition too. The marans will prob. be black, white, splash or the golden cuckoo. Any of those would be nice.

Sorry to hear about your EE
Thanks, I have no idea what it was. My guess was a heart problem because she was perfectly fine in the a.m eating out of my hand and by 4:00 she died

Hmmmm, never considered the Blue Orp... and it's available. Oh why did you do that to me?????
Cleo is an EE. Clean faced and lays a very large light cream almost egg. She is my only one that is unfriendly. She doesn't squat, hates to be touched or heaven forbid picked up. She is broody right now and I have to push her out of the nest with a stick. I tried to put her in a cage yesterday to break her and she absolutely freaked out. Screaming and flying (trying) around the cage. I couldn't keep her in there. So she's going to stay broody for as long as she wants I guess.

I was worried my son's EE was going to become unapproachable too. She clucks and scuttles away when I try to pet her, squawks and flaps and kicks when I try to pick her up. But we bonded her more when she was lame and though she still prefers to come to us on her own terms, perching on my arms and shoulders. So I try to spend I quite moment each day with her on my lap, hoping she doesn't further distance herself from us.
good idea. it's to late for mine. LOL

Ohhh, I remembered why I didn't order a blue bird... because I'll probably end up with black since blue is not guaranteed. I wouldn't mind splash but would be really disappointed to spend $20 for a black bird.

I hear ya, but you know Lavender breeds true, lol! And is more expensive
and luckily not available. Maybe someday. I would love to say I have a purple chicken

That sounds like good timing. I didn't know they outsourced them. I assumed they came from their hatchery. But I'm sure they are very careful. They have to maintain their strong reputation.

I didn't gather from that response that they outsourced... what am I missing?
Just from what MamaShell said. It would be a good question to ask them though.

 

[trsturself]

I too think about colors of chickens and egg color when picking out my chickens. I don't like too many of one color and don't have any duplicate birds. We have 4 breeds that we have more than one of but they are all different colors from each other. We have black (one solid and one copper/black), barred, blue, mille fleur, partridge, silver laced, white, grey, grey/white, silver partridge, buff/blue EE, blue laced red, buff, and welsummer coloring. We are getting 2 CL soon so they'll be similar to the welsummer but they are for the blue eggs and the welsummer for the terracotta eggs. I love the various colors in both flock and egg basket.

 

[christine9]

I too think about colors of chickens and egg color when picking out my chickens. I don't like too many of one color and don't have any duplicate birds. We have 4 breeds that we have more than one of but they are all different colors from each other. We have black (one solid and one copper/black), barred, blue, mille fleur, partridge, silver laced, white, grey, grey/white, silver partridge, buff/blue EE, blue laced red, buff, and welsummer coloring. We are getting 2 CL soon so they'll be similar to the welsummer but they are for the blue eggs and the welsummer for the terracotta eggs. I love the various colors in both flock and egg basket.

I completely agree! If I could have one of each color variety of chicken and egg, I'd be happy!! Originally, I didn't want to get the white leghorn because she would look so much like my Dellie. But I'm becoming very found of my Am roo. I could see myself collecting a few girls for him. One black, one blue, and one splash would be perfect!

 

[MamaShell]

[COLOR=333333]That sounds like good timing. I didn't know they outsourced them. I assumed they came from their hatchery. But I'm sure they are very careful. They have to maintain their strong reputation.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]I didn't gather from that response that they outsourced... what am I missing?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333][COLOR=0000FF]Just from what MamaShell said. It would be a good question to ask them though. [/COLOR][/COLOR]

When I was placing my order for started pullets, I was concerned about how their beaks were trimmed. I was told by someone at Meyer that the started pullets were raised on nearby farms and Meyer did not do the trimming. All they could tell me was that the Flock Manager said they were trimmed 1/4". I, also, read in an article about Meyer that their started pullets were raised by "contract growers," which to me means they are outsourced. There is, also, someone in another forum that has gotten hundreds of started pullets from Meyer, mostly Golden Buffs and Easter Eggers and she said that they are outsourced, which explains why the Easter Eggers' beaks are trimmed better than the golden buffs' beaks are. She has been happy with all the started pullets that she has received, by the way. It was her endorsement that made me feel comfortable about ordering my EEs from Meyer and I am so glad that I did!

 

[NanaLynn]

I am so far behind, need to catch up!

As you can see all 21 chickens look exactly the same. I really hate variety.

Honestly I agree with everyone. I have too many black and white chickens with 2 marans and two BR's. The SLW is a completely different black and white look and is more silver, black and white. I had one before and she was gorgeous. Stupid dog took her from us.

I want all the wyandottes, orpingtons and of course more EE's some CL's and a ton of others.

I absolutely love variety in chickens and eggs. It bothers me that I have so many black and white chickens, but I ordered 2 BR's in my original order and got an extra BR, so I had 3, the dog got one so I was down to two. In my last order I ordered one Cuckoo Maran but received a 2nd in the rare breeds pack I ordered.

 

[MamaShell]

I am so far behind, need to catch up! As you can see all 21 chickens look exactly the same. I really hate variety. Honestly I agree with everyone. I have too many black and white chickens with 2 marans and to BR's. The SLW is a completely different black and white look and is more silver, black and white. I had one before and she was gorgeous. Stupid dog took her from us. I want all the wyandottes, orpingtons and of course more EE's some CL's and a ton of others. I absolutely love variety in chickens and eggs. It bothers me that I have so many black and white chickens, but I ordered 2 BR's in my original order and got an extra BR, so I had 3, the dog got one so I was down to two. In my last order I ordered one Cuckoo Maran but received a 2nd in the rare breeds pack I ordered.

Beautiful!!! You have got tons of room in that new coop! Looks like you could add a few more colors!