Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[MamaShell]

There's actually an old homestead on 60 acres about a mile from the 10 acre house that's for sale for the same amount. It has a HUGE barn, loafing sheds, old barns, and ponds on the property. I'm sure the house needs a lot of work but we might take a look at that one this weekend too.

Wow. 60 acres sounds great to me! Personally, I would rather have more land and more work on the house. You can always improve what is on the property but you can't make it bigger!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[NanaLynn]

I'm so curious to see what happens when Daisy back in. Hopefully she gets knocked down a few pegs. I love the pic of the whole flock

I am counting the days until she goes back in, we'll put her back Saturday or Sunday.

I hope that it works!

Zoning laws in that city would allow us to have 30 chickens. That would go so fast! First the run they have there would definitely need to be expanded. It might hold our 10 right now but that's about it. The coop is a decent size, maybe 8x8, and is split into two sections already, each with their own door to the outside. One side doesn't have a run yet though so that would need to be done (easy enough).
On our list of wants:
a maran or two
a brabanter
another EE or two and/or a cream legbar
a rooster of some sort, thinking maybe a maran so the EE's would hatch olive eggers
a wyandotte or two - I really want a red laced blue
a brahma
an orpington or two (maybe a buff and a blue or lavender)
a welsummer
maybe a penedesenca
another polish or two
a white sultan

and we want to raise our own meat birds, probably a turken/cornish or rock mix. So let's see that, about 17 additional layers so that leaves us 3 meat birds. Actually we will have either the maran or welsummer in the batch of chicks we have now, so that's one off the list. And we'll have a bantam EE so we may only need 1 more of those. I think we only need 3-4 hens and a rooster for the meat birds. Plus, who's going to come count my chickens! I don't think it will matter if we are over a little the limit. Once our laying flock gets old we may just let the girls hatch chicks once a year to replace the older girls and have any roosters for meat. Then we wouldn't need a separate meat flock, except those breeds grow a little faster and I don't know if a once a year hatch would be enough to keep us fed all year.
So many decisions!
We also eventually want to get goats for dairy and meat (for dog food mainly) and a couple horses. I hope the house doesn't get sold before we have a chance to make an offer on it. DH is going to go see it Sunday morning. Today and tomorrow are his days off but the weather is raining and snowing these 2 days so he doesn't want to trek around the property in that. I don't blame him! He's already started doing the work on the current house that needs to be done before we can put it on the market. Our house is nowhere near ready to be shown! We have so many projects that need to be done that weren't a rush since we thought we had a year! Now we have a week, two at the most, to get everything done! AHHH!

There's actually an old homestead on 60 acres about a mile from the 10 acre house that's for sale for the same amount. It has a HUGE barn, loafing sheds, old barns, and ponds on the property. I'm sure the house needs a lot of work but we might take a look at that one this weekend too.

I could come up with 30 breeds fast too! We could have 200 chickens here if we were on 10 acres since it is 20 per acre, but we'd also have to have the proper housing for that amount of chickens. Since were on just almost 1 acre, we're stuck with 20 hens.

My husband wants a goat or sheep here too, but we're only allowed one due to the land size. I really don't want one myself since we really do not have room. So we'll stick with chickens. I may get a bunny in the future too.

The 60 acres of course would be even better if the 10 acre one does not work out. I really envy you, those are some awesome choices and I hope that it works out for you guys!

 

[NotableNancy]

Zoning laws in that city would allow us to have 30 chickens. That would go so fast! First the run they have there would definitely need to be expanded. It might hold our 10 right now but that's about it. The coop is a decent size, maybe 8x8, and is split into two sections already, each with their own door to the outside. One side doesn't have a run yet though so that would need to be done (easy enough).
On our list of wants:
a maran or two
a brabanter
another EE or two and/or a cream legbar
a rooster of some sort, thinking maybe a maran so the EE's would hatch olive eggers
a wyandotte or two - I really want a red laced blue
a brahma
an orpington or two (maybe a buff and a blue or lavender)
a welsummer
maybe a penedesenca
another polish or two
a white sultan

and we want to raise our own meat birds, probably a turken/cornish or rock mix. So let's see that, about 17 additional layers so that leaves us 3 meat birds. Actually we will have either the maran or welsummer in the batch of chicks we have now, so that's one off the list. And we'll have a bantam EE so we may only need 1 more of those. I think we only need 3-4 hens and a rooster for the meat birds. Plus, who's going to come count my chickens! I don't think it will matter if we are over a little the limit. Once our laying flock gets old we may just let the girls hatch chicks once a year to replace the older girls and have any roosters for meat. Then we wouldn't need a separate meat flock, except those breeds grow a little faster and I don't know if a once a year hatch would be enough to keep us fed all year.
So many decisions!
We also eventually want to get goats for dairy and meat (for dog food mainly) and a couple horses. I hope the house doesn't get sold before we have a chance to make an offer on it. DH is going to go see it Sunday morning. Today and tomorrow are his days off but the weather is raining and snowing these 2 days so he doesn't want to trek around the property in that. I don't blame him! He's already started doing the work on the current house that needs to be done before we can put it on the market. Our house is nowhere near ready to be shown! We have so many projects that need to be done that weren't a rush since we thought we had a year! Now we have a week, two at the most, to get everything done! AHHH!

There's actually an old homestead on 60 acres about a mile from the 10 acre house that's for sale for the same amount. It has a HUGE barn, loafing sheds, old barns, and ponds on the property. I'm sure the house needs a lot of work but we might take a look at that one this weekend too.

Wow, you really have thought about it. I'm such a 'planner' I would start a notebook and keep all my thoughts in it. I still look at the one I started before my chicks arrived and it's been helpful a few times. Can't wait to hear about it after DH sees it this weekend. And keep in mind the 60 acre homestead with ponds = ducks

I am counting the days until she goes back in, we'll put her back Saturday or Sunday.

I hope that it works!

I could come up with 30 breeds fast too! We could have 200 chickens here if we were on 10 acres since it is 20 per acre, but we'd also have to have the proper housing for that amount of chickens. Since were on just almost 1 acre, we're stuck with 20 hens.

My husband wants a goat or sheep here too, but we're only allowed one due to the land size. I really don't want one myself since we really do not have room. So we'll stick with chickens. I may get a bunny in the future too.

The 60 acres of course would be even better if the 10 acre one does not work out. I really envy you, those are some awesome choices and I hope that it works out for you guys!

I meant to ask you how much $$ are you selling your eggs for and is it just by word of mouth? How many are you getting a day now?

 

[NotableNancy]

OK, I have a problem.... is my BA molting or what the heck is going on??
It started around her eyes and now spread to her head and her belly is bare too.






I had to take the pics myself so they're not good. I noticed my Barred Rock has a bare belly too so that's 3 of them (and 2 have never been broody) and it looks like my Wyandotte's head is losing a few feathers as well. They're not getting picked on, it's not bloody just bare. I'm not positive if those 4 are laying but I got 10 eggs today from 13 layers so one of them must be.
Any ideas?
Mites, lice, worms? They are all eating drinking pooping normally. No one acting odd at all. Could it be environmental such as DE I put in the nests? I used Sevin powder recently too.
They have a nice spot to dust bathe with DE, wood ash and sand. I am seeing some feathers in the run but just small ones and nothing monumental.
I'm at a loss.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Nancy, the missing head feathers look like they are from the attentions of Mr Rooster. She could have plucked her belly if she was/is going broody.If her feathers are all dry and chaffed looking she might have mites/lice.

 

[NanaLynn]

Wow, you really have thought about it. I'm such a 'planner' I would start a notebook and keep all my thoughts in it. I still look at the one I started before my chicks arrived and it's been helpful a few times. Can't wait to hear about it after DH sees it this weekend. And keep in mind the 60 acre homestead with ponds = ducks

I meant to ask you how much $$ are you selling your eggs for and is it just by word of mouth? How many are you getting a day now?

I'm a planner too, it is neat to look back at notes and ideas.

Well, we were not planning on selling them originally, but now that we have so many. I never priced them for anyone. The neighbor gave me $3 for a dozen and $5 for 2 dozen and homemade cookies too. Someone at work gave me $10 for a few dozen. When they ask, we just say a donation for their feed would be nice. Plus we've been treating the city workers to eggs as they work on restoring and building up our yard. My family still gets them for free which includes my two married sons. I get a visit from them, which is worth more then cash!

I plan on getting a few more things for the garden and chickens, so I am starting a little fund for the things I want. Any rebates, points from credit cards, refund checks from anything, change, egg money, etc. goes into my fund since it is all money unaccounted for. Makes me feel less guilty about spending money then too.

I'd help with your chickens, but I have no idea, I hope they are just molting though.

 

[NotableNancy]

Nancy, the missing head feathers look like they are from the attentions of Mr Rooster. She could have plucked her belly if she was/is going broody.If her feathers are all dry and chaffed looking she might have mites/lice.

Unfortunately no rooster here so can't be that. I just checked 5 of them for lice/mites and see nothing. I know mites are fast but I'd think I would see them. I'll make a special container with wood ash and sevin and treat them this weekend. I just cleaned the nests about 2 weeks ago but will do the whole coop this weekend. (gotta remember to turn off the chicken cam... might be a pretty rough day

Is it OK to put Sevin powder in the nests with the wood shavings? I have liquid Sevin too... should I spray the whole coop with that? I had straw in there but I think I'l just go with shavings.

Any other ideas???

Luckily it's going to be nice this weekend!!

I'm a planner too, it is neat to look back at notes and ideas.

Well, we were not planning on selling them originally, but now that we have so many. I never priced them for anyone. The neighbor gave me $3 for a dozen and $5 for 2 dozen and homemade cookies too. Someone at work gave me $10 for a few dozen. When they ask, we just say a donation for their feed would be nice. Plus we've been treating the city workers to eggs as they work on restoring and building up our yard. My family still gets them for free which includes my two married sons. I get a visit from them, which is worth more then cash!

I plan on getting a few more things for the garden and chickens, so I am starting a little fund for the things I want. Any rebates, points from credit cards, refund checks from anything, change, egg money, etc. goes into my fund since it is all money unaccounted for. Makes me feel less guilty about spending money then too.

I'd help with your chickens, but I have no idea, I hope they are just molting though.

So far I've gotten a bottle of wine for eggs.

But I've been giving them away without asking for anything. Now I want to sell or barter. I like your idea of not mentioning a price. Since most of the people that would buy don't live near me but I'm out and about all the time, I was thinking $10 for 3 dz and I would deliver them. If they don't want that many they can come to me and maybe same price as you. I do the same thing, have a 'chicken stash' for all their food etc. I work 10 hrs. week mucking stalls and caring for a barn and that's my play money. I like not having to take my hobby money out of our house money. And NO, I could never charge family for eggs either.

 

[trsturself]

I noticed a week or so ago our BR was missing a large amount of feathers on her belly and rear end. It turned out to be lice. But it sounds like you have all the stuff in place to prevent that so I don't know.

We sell our eggs for $3/dozen. They are organic and soy free. We only sell to friends. I would gladly give them to family but we don't have any around.

The 10 acre property has a man made pond that needs a new liner. DH wants to farm fish so we'd probably fill that. He wants ducks too. The only way I'd do ducks is if we had a big pond like that. I'm not doing the kids swimming pool thing!

 

[NotableNancy]

I noticed a week or so ago our BR was missing a large amount of feathers on her belly and rear end. It turned out to be lice. But it sounds like you have all the stuff in place to prevent that so I don't know.

We sell our eggs for $3/dozen. They are organic and soy free. We only sell to friends. I would gladly give them to family but we don't have any around.

The 10 acre property has a man made pond that needs a new liner. DH wants to farm fish so we'd probably fill that. He wants ducks too. The only way I'd do ducks is if we had a big pond like that. I'm not doing the kids swimming pool thing!

how did you know it was lice? did you see the eggs on the feather shaft?

(I agree with the duck/pool thing too)

 

[trsturself]

Yes, I could see the eggs and I also could see the bugs on her.