Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

If any of the above it true and if they truly are Lilacs I may have to change how I raise them and where. RIght now they free range and her nest is right next to the swamp. They hate being locked up.

Here are their pictures, not touched up with a flash this evening just before sunset. I tired to get the best color I could because the people on the other thread were asking.,,,,OR are they pulling my gullible leg,,Thanks

The general color looks right for Lilac, but all those flecks tell me there is some Blue of some kind in the mix. That is what you see when that Blue homozygous gets mixed in somewhere, or that you see when breeding White Laced Red and Dark Cornish together (ask me how I know )
They are beautiful birds though, Ralphie, either way.

 

[duluthralphie]

Here is the link to the Lilac page for the premier turkey outfit in the country for rare varieties:
http://www.porterturkeys.com/lilac.htm

If this is what you have, they must have gilded eggs! Wow! Gilded eggs and diamond crusted eggs all in the same flock! Who knew?

I have looked at that site and those birds they look like mine, but looks are deceiving.


I asked about those flecks and was told a long confusing answer about them being part of the lilac because of a double slate gene or blue gene or I dunno I had already learned my one thing for the day so it was all mushy to me..


I have decided it does not matter. they are pets and if I ever sold them my grand daughter would disown me she loves JJ.

 

[Minniechickmama]

@jbenson sounds like you have a brooder full! How fun!

Does anyone or can anyone tell me about the brown leghorn breed? DH 'thinks' he might like them. I want to know which direction I should approach this. I am all for more chickens but I want good reason to try out new breeds. Since we are raising hatchery chicks I tried checking out what Mcmurray had to say. They have 2, single comb and rose comb. Does that mean all other qualities are the same? DH main reason is egg laying. Would the different comb breed make a difference? For Minnesota winters the rose comb is best for frost bite issues. That is all I know. What else can you tell me?

As of now, we have 5 ducklings! They are so very cute! I might be able to get some pics in a day or two.......maybe.

I ordered (paid for) a Bakers Creek seed catalog. Thank you for suggesting their company @AmericanKraut . The catalog has already been read by at least 3 of my inlaws. I am going to hold it for ransom so I can go through it in detail for myself. Great things in there thanks!

Yes, in all other respects they should be the same. They are apt to be flighty, as most (all in my book) white egg layers are. I would suggest Rosecombs since they will hold up to the Minnesota winter weather better. Single combs just get damaged so easily. If you want some with that same look but are calmer birds, try Welsummers. They lay a darker brown egg, the shade of terra cotta and sometimes darker. They are a calm and friendly breed (when bred correctly). I have had them for 5 years and love them and will keep them around. The only thing I do not like is that they too have the large single comb and wattles and they are thin enough that they do suffer from frostbite as well. The thing you have to look for to see the difference between them and the Brown Leghorns is the earlobe color, Leghorns are white and Wellies are red.

 

[Minniechickmama]

FINALLY!!! I have a good hatch again!!!!

I turned off all the units and reset temps, triple checked that they were what they were supposed to be, adjusted the wicking pads for humidity, and so far, there is a good number of peepers in the hatcher over the last 24-hours. What a relief!!!!

Oh, and jbenson, if you can do your brooder house chores in 15-minutes, you don't have enough chicks!!! LOL I wish that was all it took me to do mine. I had to move some out today, clean some of the brooders, and then shift the growing ones to bigger brooders. I have them on a rotation in there until they go out in a tractor or run outside.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have looked at that site and those birds they look like mine, but looks are deceiving.


I asked about those flecks and was told a long confusing answer about them being part of the lilac because of a double slate gene or blue gene or I dunno I had already learned my one thing for the day so it was all mushy to me..


I have decided it does not matter. they are pets and if I ever sold them my grand daughter would disown me she loves JJ.

I think you are wise to question the validity of the information you are being served in this smorgasbord of "internet experts". They are lovely and you have them in such great condition. As long as you are happy with them and the wife doesn't break out the cast iron skillet to whack you with, then they are just fine with you. People running to find the rarest, or latest greatest color or breed generally aren't really in it for the right reasons in my book.

 

[Cluckies]

@aimlessego , Welcome to BYC! I'm from Nowthen another neighbor

@duluthralphie Beautiful Birds, JJ is gorgeous!

 

[duluthralphie]

I need to leave early like in ten minutes for TSC in Elk River, I hear it calling me, the urge is irresistible! I feel the pull.

 

[AmericanKraut]

As of now, we have 5 ducklings!  They are so very cute! I might be able to get some pics in a day or two.......maybe.

I ordered (paid for) a Bakers Creek seed catalog.  Thank you for suggesting their company @AmericanKraut
.  The catalog has already been read by at least 3 of my inlaws.  I am going to hold it for ransom so I can go through it in detail for myself.  Great things in there thanks!

That's great! Happy planting! I missed doing seeds but I still want to order a bunch of herb and wildflower seeds for our field and ditches we're trying to restore. I'd love to see duckling pics!

I've been offline quite a bit, glad to stop in this morning and catch up a little. The last month of school seems to be the most work with my kids!

Here's some pics, though, the rooster from @Triplell is showing his blades!

Then hen laid three times the first week and a half, then she stopped completely. I got them spoiled now eating some canned salmon and sunflower seeds and anything else I could find to bring each day out to the coop to start winning them over. Now they'll both let me pick them up and she finally started laying again. Right in the middle of the yard, though, what's with that lol? This is not a broody mama! Fine with me, easy to reach.

 

[jbenson]

FINALLY!!! I have a good hatch again!!!!  e
I turned off all the units and reset temps, triple checked that they were what they were supposed to be, adjusted the wicking pads for humidity, and so far, there is a good number of peepers in the hatcher over the last 24-hours.  What a relief!!!!

Oh, and jbenson, if you can do your brooder house chores in 15-minutes, you don't have enough chicks!!!  LOL  I wish that was all it took me to do mine.  I had to move some out today, clean some of the brooders, and then shift the growing ones to bigger brooders.  I have them on a rotation in there until they go out in a tractor or run outside.  


​

I will have to post some photos of what we have going in the brooder house. We have somewhere between 80-100 chicks right now of varying ages. About to move the biggest ones into a tractor (as soon as the tractor is finished that is) or maybe oust the two boys from the bachelor pad and use it for grow out pen. Then shuffle everyone up a level to get some medium sized chicks out of a crowded tote. They grow a bit more quickly sometimes than I anticipate and get crowded and I have to do makeshift stuff like put them in huge plastic totes. It works, but it is not ideal. I installed an exhaust fan in the brooder house over the weekend and it is helping immensely with temp control. We didn't get the insulation in yet, so the sun is creating some extra heat. We turn all heat sources off in the morning and turn the FA on and they all get comfy for the day, but it is still a bit cold at night for the youngest without a heat source.

 

[Dandelioness]

AmericanKraut - I think the last part of school is the hardest when it's nice like it has been. I'm thinking about schooling through the summer this year, maybe a reduced schedule after the baby comes, so they can be outside all day now before all the bugs & heat. Nice looking roo & hen. Hope you're still recovering well

Minnie - I'm so glad your hatch is going well! I've been feeling so bad for you! I wound up grafting my two chicks onto my little silkie (two other chicks didn't make it). I will have to post a photo of her giving me the stink-eye while the chicks peer up at me from between her feathers.

Jbenson - would love to see your rotational system.

Ralphie - I'm so glad your little creamette is looking healthier. Did you make it back without any clearance fuzzy butts??

Have a lovely day, everyone