Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[trsturself]

It is 4deg out right now and snowing steadily here. We have about 3-4 inches already. I'm glad I covered the smaller enclosure for the chickens (we have 3 progressively larger areas they can go in ending with the whole backyard). They aren't venturing past that snow free zone today. Even our husky mix who loves the cold is staying inside this morning. lol

brr! Glad I don't have anywhere to be today! I feel sorry for DH who works partially outside. Good thing it's his Friday because tomorrow is supposed to be colder tomorrow

 

[chickadee5002]

So excited I changed my order from Meyer so that I could get the Olive Eggers! I am absolutely loving those olive colored eggs!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I love Frou Frou. She has made me think about getting a Splash Maran. Can you post a pic of her egg? Maybe next to another for comparison? 

If I remember correctly, the two at the left are Frou-Frou's eggs and the one on the right is a Sebright bantam egg. (I don't know about the one at the left. The middle one is for sure a Frou-Frou egg, though.)

She does not lay particularly dark eggs, so don't hold your breath for that if you go for a splash Marans. I don't know if it's just her or if they're all like that, though, because Frou-Frou has probably only laid about 30-40 eggs since she began laying at the beginning of this year and they've all been about the same size as my little Sebright bantam hens' eggs, as seen above. In other words, Frou-Frou is strange. Her personality makes up for her lack of egg laying, though, so if you're looking for a pet hen, I would recommend a splash Marans.



I finally got my Dorking added to my Meyer order! I had ordered a Dorking with this year's chicks, but they had a poor hatch or something and I didn't get it after all, so I'm really hoping I can get my Dorking next year! So my order for next spring is a Welsummer, two Black Copper Marans, and a Silver Gray Dorking, coming May 19!! I can't wait!

 

[Kalalyn21]

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I was going to til I saw how much they were. I can hatch my own with alot less cost.

 

[chickadee5002]

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I have never hatched any eggs before and its wwwaaayyy easier for me to just buy from the hatchery. Especially when I work over 40 hrs a week. But kudos to anyone that can hatch their own!

I really wanted to get a couple cream legbars but now THEY are expensive! hopefully they will go down in price within a few years.

 

[Kalalyn21]

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I hatched a few batches of chicks last year, with ok hatches. I work 40hrs a week as well. I just keep a close eye on the bator, checking every morning and night. I put it in a temp controlled room. I want cream legbars as well, luckily for me I know someone relatively close to me that has a trio and is going to hatch some out next spring for a much lower price tag. I might get anxious and order eggs. Actually going to set my second set of shipped eggs this weekend. Depending on how this hatch goes will determine if I will purchase CCL eggs or not. Hatching can be addicting but is very time consuming as well. I buy Meyer girls for eggs only, and have seperate girls I use for breeding.

 

[trsturself]

Here's our homemade incubator in progress. Eventually I want a cream legbar but I really need to keep myself to bantams for our last 3 spots. Our coop just can't hold more than that. But they are definitely on my list when we get land! I am so happy I found a local source for silkies in the colors we want and bantam cochins. Next is bantam easter eggers!

 

[chickadee5002]

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Wow you are so lucky! I am completely jealous over that! Why can't I have someone close to me for chicks? Well I guess I do and that's why I order from Meyer's. LOL. But I do wish I had someone else close because it does get expensive to buy chicks from a hatchery. Maybe someday I'll try my hand at hatching some eggs but not now.

 

[Kalalyn21]

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You also get alot nicer quality when buying from breeders. Especially in my experiance. I purchased FBCM from a breeder and some from Meyers, huge difference. My marans from Meyers all but one did not have feathered shanks. One of them is completely black with absolutely no copper coloring in the neck. Total disappointment, i hightly doubt the egg color we be close to the dark brown I am getting now from the marans I picked up from a breeder. Atleast next year I know what to expect when you buy from a hatchery.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

There was a similar debate on the Indiana thread a few weeks ago, so I'm going to respond here in the same way I responded there. The big reason I order from Meyer and not from nearby breeders is because you usually cannot get sexed chicks from breeders. I don't have the space or need for any more birds than I'm ordering, and I especially don't have the resources to grow out a bunch of cockerels. My hens are kept solely as pets so breeder quality is not necessary. I do plan on building a barn for breeding chickens in the future, after which I will of course turn to breeders for my stock. As of now, though, these birds are for my enjoyment, and the birds I've gotten from Meyer have been healthy and personable, not to mention their service is great!