Michigan

[ChikeeMomma]

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Mine always do that in the nestbox when they are laying eggs. I haven't ever had a broody to know, but that would be awesome if she was going broody!

 

[vicki2x2]

Morning all! Welcome Justen! Jump right in, don't be shy! I am soooo tired of winter!

I know spring is muddy, especially at my house, but I am ready to move on!! Come on spring, we NEED YOU!!!

 

[Opa]

Spring is coming.............someday................... two month from now......

 

[A2SciTeach]

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Can't some people (like Opa?) able to sex Welsummers by the pattern on their heads? Other chickens are sex-links with males one color and females another. Check out this link for more info https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=60551

 

[shelleyb1969]

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Can't some people (like Opa?) able to sex Welsummers by the pattern on their heads? Other chickens are sex-links with males one color and females another. Check out this link for more info https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=60551

I was just talking about the breeds in particular that Iluvcks is wanting...the Australorp and Orpington.

Those 2 breeds aren't sexable at hatch.

 

[shelleyb1969]

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If someone local (like Zephyrcreek) has them available, Iluvcks, and they are for sure pullets, then I'd go ahead and buy from them for sure instead of ordering them. I just meant that sexed chicks from an individual may have came from a hatchery...which really isn't a bad thing when it comes to nice layers. Heck, I'm ordering some layer pullets from a hatchery this spring and will be selling them myself...a lot of folks do that. I just wanted you to realize that just because an individual is selling them, it doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't hatchery stock birds. Again...hatchery stock is not a bad thing if all you want are good layers.

 

[iluvcks]

Shellyb1969
I think that she ordered the SLW too. She said they were to be born Feb 24 then she would have them a couple days after that. And that they for sure were girls. I just don't know what to do. I just want them to be healthy, happy, freindly and good egg layers. The only reason I decided to go with ooopsie daisy is because 1 her birds are SOOO beautiful and 2 she said if any end up being boys we could switch them out. I havent heard back from zephyrcreek to see if she has GLW available at the same time. It just does'nt make since to me to have a brooder going for 2 birds. And then trying to get everyone introduced at different ages. I do NOT want to Flock Drama, those girls can be so grumpy with each other. Its like 4th graders on the playground. LOL

 

[shelleyb1969]

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The best thing to do, Iluvcks, is what works best for you. If it causes less stress for you and your birds to get all of the chicks at the same time and have them grow up together, then your best option probably is to order them yourself. If you want several breeds, then it's probably going to be hard (but not impossible) to find exactly what you want and need from an individual. Just check with Zephyrcreek to see what she is going to have and go from there. I know Zephyrcreek will do all she can to get you what you want. And Oopsy will do the same.

Patience, grasshopper, patience

, that is the key.

 

[shelleyb1969]

I just want to be clear that there's nothing wrong with hatchery stock birds...especially if you want some very nice layers. Shoot...when I first started, all of my layers were from hatcheries and were very nice. Maybe I was wrong in what I interpreted in your first post, but I thought that maybe you thought that if you buy birds from ANY individual, they won't be hatchery stock...when in reality, if you're buying VERY young SEXED chicks, most of the time they did come from a hatchery. But it just boils down to asking...don't be afraid to ask someone where their birds came from, and then make your own decisions.

 

[Opa]

I would use caution when buying chicks from places that have chicks in bins that the general public has access to. I've gone in many stores and watched parents let their kids handle and squeeze chicks before making them put it back. Often in a different bin. Most store employees have enough trouble knowing the difference between a chick and a duck let alone being able to tell you the breed of a particular bird. I've seen pullets placed in straight run bins, breeds mixed and it winds up no one is really sure what belongs where. The longer they have had the chicks the more this will happen. Another important issue is that all of this extra handling stresses the chicks. While you may take a healthy appearing chick home there is, in my opinion, a greater risk of buying a stressed or injuried chick than buying from a private individual or even from mail order.