Michigan

[Hillbilly Hen]

wishtofish, you might be able to find someone here that will have some chicks for you depending on what you want. My favorites are the delawares, they have personalities plus! I also like the welsummers and black austrolorps. I plan on breeding my dels and welsummers, but I am going to wait to separate them the first of Feb. Last year I had an EE hen go broody the first part of March.

 

[vicki2x2]

Yep, I would look here first, there are lots of us that have some nice birds. Also some breeds you can sex early, others, not so easily. My wellies I can sex as day olds pretty well, my BLRW take forever!

I have mine all separate but need to get a light out there to get them laying a little better.

 

[Opa]

Rose, hunting season lasts until March 31st.

 

[Olive Hill]

wishtofish - how many chickens do you want? And for what purpose are you keeping them? If you want them strictly for egg laying and you want quite a few ordering from a hatchery may not be a bad idea. You simply would be hard pressed to get a chicken or a heritage type that will out lay the laying hybrids such as isa browns. And you can't get those locally. If you want a heritage type though and won't need a big bulk order I agree with the others, look local. I'll be hatching pet/utility quality australorps and there are other bycers with birds as well. My ladies slowed laying considerably there during the shortest week of the year, otherwise the bator would be humming now here. They're picking up the pace again though so I expect to be setting a batch in the next week or so.

 

[wishtofish]

Most of my current hens are Brown Egg Layers. I have one Blue/Green Layer. I was leaning towards some "White Egg " layers. Maybe 8 o10 chicks. I was looking & reading about Leghorns. I know that many of the hatchery mail order houses have minimum (25) order amounts. I don't need 25 more chickens. I am going to keep the 11 hens I have through the summer. I'm open to any help or suggestions.

I have 2 coops. The 1st coop is an outdoor unit that I housed the hens in all Spring, Summer and fall. It is 6' x 6' plus a run. The new coop is a 7' x 8' shed (completely enclosed) kit that I moved the 11 hens to for the winter. The nesting boxes are extended out of the coop. There is plenty of roost area. I have fencing & dog kennel that I am going to configure into a outdoor pen around the coop.

 

[chickflick]

Thanks Sam. March 31st?? That long? Dang! I love walking back in the fields and wooded area. Not enough to get shot at, tho!

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
You can go for a walk. Firearm deer season is over. Small game seasons continue on through the winter but the likelihood of you seeing a hunter is slim and they're not out there sitting in still, quiet silence like deer season, you'd see and hear them and could easily hollar out to let them know you're there and it wouldn't be an issue at all.

 

[Uncle_Bubba]

Hey is any one going to be at Geyer s feed store in Williamston for their small animal swap meet on march....I think its the 21st or the 27th? I know they have a small animal auction every Saturday, but the swap meet they had in the fall was just too darn cold to have anything good. I know my fiancee(nitefyre) and I will be there either looking or set up with some birds. I am hoping to see some interesting stuff there.

 

[justcelia]

Quote:
Congrats on the 1st Eggs.... It is exciting when the hens first start laying. Mine laid on a Sunday.... beginning of August. My granddaughters were here. The oldest.... (5 at the time) was so thrilled..... I cooked them the egg......

When we got the girls from Olive Hill she gave me a couple of eggs. My boyfriend had NEVER had "real" eggs. He said he had been cheated all his life!

Whe I first saw the eggs it just didn't register. Like "what is that???"

I am so proud of them!

Celia
2 LAYING Brahams and a Yorkie!

 

[justcelia]

Quote:
Less distance than when I got the girls.... What kind of set-up? do they sell pullets? I want 2 more to go with the 2 Brahmas we got from Olive Hill, but the drive about killed me

I am just not sure what kind to get. I want them to get along.

Celia
2 LAYING Brahmas and a Yorkie