Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Melabella, I don't have a great picture of my Sussex, Poggy, at 5 weeks, but here she is at 6 weeks if you want to compare to yours:

I also did a lot of research on Speckled Sussex when mine were young and came across a thread in which someone had one with a pretty big comb for its age. It turned out to be female. It might be worthwhile for you to compare. The last pictures of the bird are on page 6 and she was around 7 weeks old in those pictures, I think. Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/187507/3-week-old-speckled-sussex-gender-update-7-week-old-pics



Lynn, it must be in the air. My Partridge Rock, She Who, has been in and out of the broody buster over the past couple months. And Fancy, who has never brooded in her life, went broody last month! Thankfully she came to her senses. I just have to convince her sister now. They'll be 2 years old this month, them and the two Sussex, and miss Frou-Frou!


NNancy (I think? Forgot to quote), I love the new coop! And I've always admired Appenzellers and Brabanters, so I agree-Meyer's needs some! (ETA: Oh, I worded that wrong. I know they already have Appenzellers, of course!)



Some final news about Mr. Po. My brother hiked out into the woods and found his remains. He's really gone... I have everyone else secure, so hopefully the raccoon that got him won't find another easy meal here. Last night, it did come back and ripped a hole in my Guinea enclosure to finish off the feed I left out. They usually finish it, so I don't bother picking up their pan most nights. The good news is no more birds were lost because everyone was closed in and safe.

 

[NanaLynn]

my assortment at 3 days old, not sure what they all are

I agree that the 2nd one looks like a Polish of some sort. They're all so cute!

HI everyone....

Don't have the time to scroll through all these pages, so I thought I would just post and see who might be able to give me some input.

2 years ago I bought 10 females from Meyer, 2 of 5 different breeds I wanted. I was totally new to chicken keeping, and went for the breeds that Meyer explained were not prone to go broody, cold hearty, calm and gave the most eggs. I also didn't want a rooster, as I had lived next to a woman who raised chickens when I was younger, and all the hens were scraggly, bare backed, and he used to chase me every time I went to visit. True to Meyer's 90% sexing guarantee, I ended up with a Columbian Wyandotte roo, and 9 girls. I live on 7 acres, and wanted to free range them, and so I decided to give him a try. He did a fine job, although he beat my girls up, and by the time they reached POL, they were all bare backed, but all our eggs were fertilized. He was an excellent watch roo, and I one time witnessed him go up and chase a stray dog off the property. By the time he as just about a year, he turned very human aggressive, and I tried to do some of the things I learned on here to try and assert my dominance and none of it made a difference. I took to carrying a stick when I had to go into the pen to change out water and feed, or check for eggs. The last straw was when he flew up in my 11 year old daughters face. This was the roo from Meyer. Pretty, but a meanie nonetheless. Meyer as great and helpful when I called, and reimbursed me the $2.89 he cost.



I replaced him with a beautiful Ameraucana roo and a hen from a breeder. The girls finally accepted him after some time, and this year I tried my hand at hatching with an incubator. I hatched out 4 pure Ameraucana, and one Meyer barred rock that is an auto sexed result and ill be my first EE. I was lucky and got a female! When I was trying to hatch, I was convinced that only one egg would hatch, so I looked on the Meyer website and decided to order their minimum 3 to keep my little hatch company. I added three new breeds of what they had available. One Speckled Sussex, one White Maran, and one of their Austra Whites since I wanted some white eggs in my basket.

My question is for all of you out there with Meyer chicks... has anyone ordered any of these three breeds who can let me know how they turned out? Any one with a white Maran laying yet, how is their egg color, dark I hope? Also, I think I may be a victim of another roo botch job. My speckled Sussex has very large comb and little waddles all ready at all ready 5 weeks. Reading up on there about SS sexing I have also read that males tend to have more white on their chests. My chick has a ton. Do any of you SS female owners have white chests? Also, anyone with Austra Whites, how are their personalities? Meyer's description says they are calm and sociable. My little one is flighty, and flies like a crazy girl when I enter the coop. I also am curious if they indeed to lay early as Meyer describes. When did your Austra's reach POL?

Hoping to hear from anyone who can help answer my questions. Please.. lately I am the kiss of silence every time I post in a thread, I never hear back....lol

I know I have read a lot about negative remarks with Meyer,, but other than the one, (hopefully not two) mis sexed roo, all the birds come healthy and thrive. Their customer service has been excellent as well.

Thanks all,
MB

That was a pretty rooster, sorry he turned mean. So neat that you hatched some out too. You made the best of the situation. I can't help much, the only chicks I have similar are 2 cuckoo marans. One lays a very dark speckled egg and the other lays a lighter brown speckled egg.

I have not heard of Austra Whites, I'll have to check those out.

Melabella, I don't have a great picture of my Sussex, Poggy, at 5 weeks, but here she is at 6 weeks if you want to compare to yours:


I also did a lot of research on Speckled Sussex when mine were young and came across a thread in which someone had one with a pretty big comb for its age. It turned out to be female. It might be worthwhile for you to compare. The last pictures of the bird are on page 6 and she was around 7 weeks old in those pictures, I think. Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/187507/3-week-old-speckled-sussex-gender-update-7-week-old-pics

Lynn, it must be in the air. My Partridge Rock, She Who, has been in and out of the broody buster over the past couple months. And Fancy, who has never brooded in her life, went broody last month! Thankfully she came to her senses. I just have to convince her sister now.

They'll be 2 years old this month, them and the two Sussex, and miss Frou-Frou!

NNancy (I think? Forgot to quote), I love the new coop! And I've always admired Appenzellers and Brabanters, so I agree-Meyer's needs some!

Some final news about Mr. Po. My brother hiked out into the woods and found his remains.

He's really gone... I have everyone else secure, so hopefully the raccoon that got him won't find another easy meal here. Last night, it did come back and ripped a hole in my Guinea enclosure to finish off the feed I left out.

They usually finish it, so I don't bother picking up their pan most nights. The good news is no more birds were lost because everyone was closed in and safe.

Such a pretty chick!

It's so weird with all 3 of my chickens that have gone broody, they've all gone broody before reaching a year old.

Poor Po, I am glad whatever it was did not get anymore of your chicks or chickens.

 

[christine9]

Oh yeah...I forgot to mention...I am in love with chicken city!! Beautiful all the way around!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Such a pretty chick!

It's so weird with all 3 of my chickens that have gone broody, they've all gone broody before reaching a year old.

Poor Po, I am glad whatever it was did not get anymore of your chicks or chickens. 

She doesn't look too bad now, either.

(Gosh, I had to look really far into my uploads to find that pic! I guess I need to go get some fresh pictures of the older girls, too!)


Anyway, yeah, it's been broody madness here. Margie, my Silkie, broods at least once a month--usually more-- and then I have She Who brooding and one little Sebright bantam named Vespa who has been brooding solidly for about a month now without wanting to stop. And the super-broody Sebright and two broody Wyandottes haven't even started up yet!


And yeah, thank goodness on that. All I can do now is make sure everyone is locked up safe at night and hope it decides to seek food elsewhere.

 

[NotableNancy]

I LOVE her!

Love the new setup for your absolutely spoiled chickens!!

And, I love Zsa Zsa and Eva. If they start acting up, send them my way. They're so entertaining to look at, I'm sure I could overlook any personality flaws!!! I have never seen anything like them!

Thanks!! I fell in love with the Brabanters the second I saw them and was so excited my feed store was getting them!! I really hope they are both girls... bought as sexed but we know how that goes sometimes.

Yup new chicks always make things better!

Thanks. Was not quite what I expected. She is not quite setup the way I thought. I can get some hatching eggs from there if I want, They'd be $25 for a dozen and she only has the partridge chantecelors as a true breed, the rest would be mixed. I'm going to look around some more and maybe check back within a few years to see. The horse back riding was more costly then I thought too, so we can't afford that for the kids. Oh well, it was fun seeing her setup and she may have what I need a few years down the road, so I'll keep searching. I'll probably just get shipped chicks from Meyer's again next year. In comparison my birds are so much prettier then what I saw there.


Chicken City looks awesome! Great new coop! I love how you set it all up. That is the cutest little coop too. So how much space is in each of your coops now and how big is your run?

Your little ones look a little confused but happy and so adorable! Those feathered heads are just a riot! I have to get some!
Ha ha...I 2nd that motion!

$25's not bad for the eggs but not for mixed breeds... plus there will be boys in there that you have to deal with.
The little coop is 4X4 and an attached run of another 4X4 but it goes under the coop too so it's officially a 5X8. Does that make sense? I always forget how big my run is... maybe 16 X20? and the coop is 5X6. So I think it will all be good if I have under 20 chickens. Right now I have the 10 grown hens and 7 chicks but I really think Patty Patty is a boy. I'm going to take good pics and post on the Silkie thread. But her poof kinda goes back rather than up which I've read is boy. And her/his comb is just flat but wide. My first experience with one so I don't know much at all.

Here is Rocky, my PR. She is broody again! 3rd time this year. Crazy chicken!

So she is in the broody breaker again...she must love that cage!


Nancy- How is your cochin?

Sheesh. Little stinker. My Cochin is back to normal. 3 nights in the cage did it. Yes!!

my assortment at 3 days old, not sure what they all are

Oh my goodness, they're adorable. The only one I can guess on is the Polish. I stink at chick ID'ing.

HI everyone....

Don't have the time to scroll through all these pages, so I thought I would just post and see who might be able to give me some input.

2 years ago I bought 10 females from Meyer, 2 of 5 different breeds I wanted. I was totally new to chicken keeping, and went for the breeds that Meyer explained were not prone to go broody, cold hearty, calm and gave the most eggs. I also didn't want a rooster, as I had lived next to a woman who raised chickens when I was younger, and all the hens were scraggly, bare backed, and he used to chase me every time I went to visit. True to Meyer's 90% sexing guarantee, I ended up with a Columbian Wyandotte roo, and 9 girls. I live on 7 acres, and wanted to free range them, and so I decided to give him a try. He did a fine job, although he beat my girls up, and by the time they reached POL, they were all bare backed, but all our eggs were fertilized. He was an excellent watch roo, and I one time witnessed him go up and chase a stray dog off the property. By the time he as just about a year, he turned very human aggressive, and I tried to do some of the things I learned on here to try and assert my dominance and none of it made a difference. I took to carrying a stick when I had to go into the pen to change out water and feed, or check for eggs. The last straw was when he flew up in my 11 year old daughters face. This was the roo from Meyer. Pretty, but a meanie nonetheless. Meyer as great and helpful when I called, and reimbursed me the $2.89 he cost.



I replaced him with a beautiful Ameraucana roo and a hen from a breeder. The girls finally accepted him after some time, and this year I tried my hand at hatching with an incubator. I hatched out 4 pure Ameraucana, and one Meyer barred rock that is an auto sexed result and ill be my first EE. I was lucky and got a female! When I was trying to hatch, I was convinced that only one egg would hatch, so I looked on the Meyer website and decided to order their minimum 3 to keep my little hatch company. I added three new breeds of what they had available. One Speckled Sussex, one White Maran, and one of their Austra Whites since I wanted some white eggs in my basket.

My question is for all of you out there with Meyer chicks... has anyone ordered any of these three breeds who can let me know how they turned out? Any one with a white Maran laying yet, how is their egg color, dark I hope? Also, I think I may be a victim of another roo botch job. My speckled Sussex has very large comb and little waddles all ready at all ready 5 weeks. Reading up on there about SS sexing I have also read that males tend to have more white on their chests. My chick has a ton. Do any of you SS female owners have white chests? Also, anyone with Austra Whites, how are their personalities? Meyer's description says they are calm and sociable. My little one is flighty, and flies like a crazy girl when I enter the coop. I also am curious if they indeed to lay early as Meyer describes. When did your Austra's reach POL?

Hoping to hear from anyone who can help answer my questions. Please.. lately I am the kiss of silence every time I post in a thread, I never hear back....lol

I know I have read a lot about negative remarks with Meyer,, but other than the one, (hopefully not two) mis sexed roo, all the birds come healthy and thrive. Their customer service has been excellent as well.

Thanks all,
MB

I've only had a Cuckoo Marans and she laid a really pretty dark egg, most days almost purple! I could never capture the color on camera but they were very pretty. I've read about the Austra Whites before and was intrigued by them. But no experience. Sorry I can't be more help.

Melabella, I don't have a great picture of my Sussex, Poggy, at 5 weeks, but here she is at 6 weeks if you want to compare to yours:





I also did a lot of research on Speckled Sussex when mine were young and came across a thread in which someone had one with a pretty big comb for its age. It turned out to be female. It might be worthwhile for you to compare. The last pictures of the bird are on page 6 and she was around 7 weeks old in those pictures, I think. Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/187507/3-week-old-speckled-sussex-gender-update-7-week-old-pics


NNancy (I think? Forgot to quote), I love the new coop! And I've always admired Appenzellers and Brabanters, so I agree-Meyer's needs some! (ETA: Oh, I worded that wrong. I know they already have Appenzellers, of course!)



Some final news about Mr. Po. My brother hiked out into the woods and found his remains.

He's really gone... I have everyone else secure, so hopefully the raccoon that got him won't find another easy meal here. Last night, it did come back and ripped a hole in my Guinea enclosure to finish off the feed I left out.

They usually finish it, so I don't bother picking up their pan most nights. The good news is no more birds were lost because everyone was closed in and safe.

Your SS is what made me want to get one!! So pretty.
I actually had a Appenzeller on order but when I found out I could get 2 Crested Cream Legbars, it got cancelled!! But they're adorable too.
So sorry that Po is gone. Those raccoons are down right nasty. We've gotten rid of over 12 now... they have a few litters a year so it's hard to stay on top of the situation. They did a ton of damage to our outdoor bar this summer. I really can't stand them. And, man are they nasty and scary and tough when they're trapped. Sheesh.

Oh yeah...I forgot to mention...I am in love with chicken city!! Beautiful all the way around!

Awww, thanks!!!

She doesn't look too bad now, either.

(Gosh, I had to look really far into my uploads to find that pic! I guess I need to go get some fresh pictures of the older girls, too!)


Anyway, yeah, it's been broody madness here. Margie, my Silkie, broods at least once a month--usually more-- and then I have She Who brooding and one little Sebright bantam named Vespa who has been brooding solidly for about a month now without wanting to stop.

And the super-broody Sebright and two broody Wyandottes haven't even started up yet!

So cute... Wow. That's a lot of broodies. Do you break them, let them just sit or give them eggs?

 

[autumnhearth]

Buckeye possibly? I ordered 3

Certainly could be, Buckeye's have a lot of variation in shading as chicks. I've seen large hatches from breeders that have chicks with rosy tints, pale yellow, golden orange and brownish and lots of combinations of the two.



My Buckeye on day two, we're pretty sure he was a roo, or an aggressive pullet.

 

[autumnhearth]

Any one with a white Maran laying yet, how is their egg color, dark I hope?

You know what might be fun... we are frequently sharing pictures of our Meyer *chickens*, but what about the *eggs* that they lay? I'm sure some folks have done so here and there in the last 500 pages, but I've only been on here since February and don't recall seeing any, soooo..

Calling all owners of laying hens from Meyer's stock, please pretty please would you post some egg pics? Preferably labeled with what breed they come from, thanks! I have to wait until probably September to share

 

[rnchick74]

You know what might be fun... we are frequently sharing pictures of our Meyer *chickens*, but what about the *eggs* that they lay? I'm sure some folks have done so here and there in the last 500 pages, but I've only been on here since February and don't recall seeing any, soooo..

Calling all owners of laying hens from Meyer's stock, please pretty please would you post some egg pics? Preferably labeled with what breed they come from, thanks! I have to wait until probably September to share

That's a great idea...I will probably have to wait until Nov or Dec until my hens are ready to lay...if they lay because it will be winter! But I will definitely do that once I get an egg!!!

 

[Melabella]

Do I have eggs pictures... heck. you would have thought they were the first eggs ever on the earth the way I used to take pictures of my Meyer chick Eggs!

I bought July 23rd hatch flock 2 years ago. I got my first egg on New Years Day, and they laid all that year until they went into their first big molt around the end of November ( year and and 4 months old).
First egg ever laid by my Golden Buff Sadie



First day I had 4 eggs....January 8, 2012



Then this is a picture of the first day all 9 hens laid in the same day.... It was February 12, 2012

I also love to show off my Ameraucana eggs.. even those these aren't Meyer chicks.. but they are beautiful!

 

[Melabella]

while I have the pictures going here are a few of my Meyer girls..

Betta and Kate.. not yet to POL

Charlotte one of my RIR

Dahlia one of my Black Australorps


They look a little beat up here...the old Roo was way too hard on them.

Soon, this is what you will all be getting.. I'm sure some of you all ready are! One thing the Meyer girls are great at... MAking EGGS!