Nevadans?

[chicharomirinda]

I love the snow but I would have preferred it wait until tomorrow when I have to be inside at work all day.

I tried to get out there and work on the fencing but I didn't feel like being out in the cold working so I just visited the chooks for awhile. ok, now that I have those nesting boxes in there, I can't help checking them every time I go in. eggs are probably several weeks off at least probably.

If we order them, I'll gladly tack on a couple to my order and tet them to you.

Any input on hatcheries? Ideal looks cheapest for shipping, but Meyer has exactly what I want, and I've heard great things about them. Murray McMurray doesn't have the selection I want.

i have heard good things about meyer as well. I have personal good experience with Ideal. I just ordered again from them today for April 11 hatch

. I am getting some Norwegian jaerhon and ideal is one of only two places to get them. I am getting a few other breeds as well. just can't help myself. I got some speckled sussex, blue cochin, blue silkies and white silkies. Anyway, if anyone wants to add anything to my order, I can call them and add to it. It will just mean less packing peanuts to get rid of for me. I ordered now since the Norwegian jaerhon can sell out fast and are only available in the spring. The jaerhon are white egg layers. they lay a large egg even though the hens just get to about 4 lbs. i'm excited to try them out.

everone!

I'm sad today after hearing about the chicken coop fire last night in Panther Valley, I'm praying for them. They lost their whole flock in the fire. I don't know if it's one of us or not but my heart is going out to them.

Missy I don't think Wyandottes will be what you want right now. If I recall properly and of course I don't always but I do recall you need birds that won't fight. Wyandottes are supposed to be docile but I don't find that in my 3 Wyandottes. There is a Wyandotte thread on here perhaps talk to them first. My runt was pretty aggresive for a bit and didn't settle down until she went broody so now she's very docile to everyone in the flock. My other 2 are a hit and miss. Sylvia is the boss of everything and she makes sure everyone in the flock knows it. The only one who won't let her boss them are 2 of the older ones from Sunny, Monique and Sundae. Wynonna is in the middle of the whole pecking order thingy. I would find a breeder who specializes in this breed and make sure they have them very docile before you purchase them.

Perhaps Elizabeth could let us know how her Wyandottes are doing?

My Wyandottes are quite docile. maybe it's just your flock dynamic, sheryl. If your wyandottes were part of your original flock maybe that's why they are more aggressive since they were there first? I don't know. anyway, mine seem fine. As far as i can tell, the two largest barred rocks seem to be the bosses. My flock is pretty easy going, though. Not too many squabbles.

 

[NevadaRon]

Daniel that is awesome - did you buy a book or are you just going off of online sources? And if online, do you have links?

Hey Aubrey congratulations on rehoming the goats, and especially on your bumper crop of eggs!

Sunny I guess your previous sig line was prescient - you are going to have hundreds of chickens now that you're out in the country!

There are plenty of other breeds for you (and Steve!) to fall in love with.

I like the looks of your new run, Elizabeth. Did you get your Wyandottes from Ideal, too? I got mine from S&W Feed in Carson City and I know they get their birds from Ideal.

 

[chicharomirinda]

Wish I could make it to the Stockton show. it would be fun to see. But it is my kids' birthday party that weekend and I'm not enamored with traveling over the pass in the winter. had a really bad experience over the hill and back when i flew out of sacramento for my grandma's funeral a few years back.

OK I was just reading an article about marans that was translated from a french article and it states that there are reasons that marans eggs taste different. Their proteins are a little different from a typical farm egg (less in white and more in yolk, which may be why the yolk stands a little taller/firmer) but the biggest difference is the shells. Because they are so hard and non-porous they stay fresh much longer (need more study to find out how much longer) than other eggs. They also can handle being knocked around more because of the hard, thick shell. Unfortunately this is also why their hatch rate is also lower.

Doubt I'd ever be able to charge enough for these eggs to make any money but since Sheryl mentioned charging more for them I figured I'd better do the research to justify the upcharge. Who knows maybe we will find some gourmands in Reno that are as picky as I am about the taste of eggs.

you never know. maybe you will find some special customers.

 

[chicharomirinda]

Daniel that is awesome - did you buy a book or are you just going off of online sources? And if online, do you have links?

Hey Aubrey congratulations on rehoming the goats, and especially on your bumper crop of eggs!

Sunny I guess your previous sig line was prescient - you are going to have hundreds of chickens now that you're out in the country!

There are plenty of other breeds for you (and Steve!) to fall in love with.

I like the looks of your new run, Elizabeth. Did you get your Wyandottes from Ideal, too? I got mine from S&W Feed in Carson City and I know they get their birds from Ideal.

yes, mine are from ideal.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Sunny I guess your previous sig line was prescient - you are going to have hundreds of chickens now that you're out in the country!

There are plenty of other breeds for you (and Steve!) to fall in love with.

Yep! I meant it when I said hundreds!

Elizabeth I hope so...

And I bet your Buff Orp and Barred Rock girls are laying in a couple weeks or less. Mine always laid shortly after 4 months of age.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

everone!

I'm sad today after hearing about the chicken coop fire last night in Panther Valley, I'm praying for them. They lost their whole flock in the fire. I don't know if it's one of us or not but my heart is going out to them.

Missy I don't think Wyandottes will be what you want right now. If I recall properly and of course I don't always but I do recall you need birds that won't fight. Wyandottes are supposed to be docile but I don't find that in my 3 Wyandottes. There is a Wyandotte thread on here perhaps talk to them first. My runt was pretty aggresive for a bit and didn't settle down until she went broody so now she's very docile to everyone in the flock. My other 2 are a hit and miss. Sylvia is the boss of everything and she makes sure everyone in the flock knows it. The only one who won't let her boss them are 2 of the older ones from Sunny, Monique and Sundae. Wynonna is in the middle of the whole pecking order thingy. I would find a breeder who specializes in this breed and make sure they have them very docile before you purchase them.

Perhaps Elizabeth could let us know how her Wyandottes are doing?

Thank you, that's just what I need to know. They're sooo beautiful that I hate to hear that, but I told my kids not too get too attached to the birds until we know if they're going to be roosters or meanies. Last night my husband and I were discussing whether to get a Columbian wyandotte or a dark brahma. Brahmas seem to be more friendly, even if they're not as good for eggs.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

i have heard good things about meyer as well. I have personal good experience with Ideal. I just ordered again from them today for April 11 hatch

. I am getting some Norwegian jaerhon and ideal is one of only two places to get them. I am getting a few other breeds as well. just can't help myself. I got some speckled sussex, blue cochin, blue silkies and white silkies. Anyway, if anyone wants to add anything to my order, I can call them and add to it. It will just mean less packing peanuts to get rid of for me. I ordered now since the Norwegian jaerhon can sell out fast and are only available in the spring. The jaerhon are white egg layers. they lay a large egg even though the hens just get to about 4 lbs. i'm excited to try them out.


My Wyandottes are quite docile. maybe it's just your flock dynamic, sheryl. If your wyandottes were part of your original flock maybe that's why they are more aggressive since they were there first? I don't know. anyway, mine seem fine. As far as i can tell, the two largest barred rocks seem to be the bosses. My flock is pretty easy going, though. Not too many squabbles.

Good to hear about the wyandottes. I won't cross them off my list just yet.

I've been really tempted to combine a chick order with someone, but then I'm worried that we won't know which babies are which until they feather out. I guess we could always switch birds out if we get them wrong. Speckled sussex is one on my list, but I only wanted one lady so I could have room for all the other breeds. And I want to try silkies again (blue this time) and I guess gamble on boy vs girl.

 

[SunnyDawn]

I had Brahmas almost 30 years ago and mine were the sweetest birds! They were amazingly docile, loved attention but weren't such attention hogs that they would run underfoot at every turn. No the eggs aren't impressive in size but each hen gave me a few a week. Such butterballs and the fluffy feet were adorable.

 

[chicharomirinda]

Good to hear about the wyandottes. I won't cross them off my list just yet.

I've been really tempted to combine a chick order with someone, but then I'm worried that we won't know which babies are which until they feather out. I guess we could always switch birds out if we get them wrong. Speckled sussex is one on my list, but I only wanted one lady so I could have room for all the other breeds. And I want to try silkies again (blue this time) and I guess gamble on boy vs girl.

I know what you mean about figuring out which is which. I think I can pick out each of the different varieties I ordered this time. they are fairly distinct. I ordered 4 blue silkies since they are straight run. hopefully at least one will be a pullet. let me know if you want to add in a speckled sussex and/or some more blue silkies. I ordered 2 speckled sussex pullets.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Sunny, that sounds awesome. I'm ordering a few super-eggers to take up the slack of the pets. They just look so big and cuddly.

Elizabeth, I'll take you up on that offer. When do you need the money? If you're interested in adding a few more breeds, I'll pay the $1-per-breed fees they'll accrue.