New Mexico

[WilderSkye]

@TwoCrows that is a good idea on seeing if feed store will order what you want. It is a little harrowing thinking about ordering our own. Ultimately, I am pretty sure I only want three or four hens (see what I did there? Left a little wiggle room on that number. My poor husband...) but thinking, when ordering I need to order 6 to hedge any bets against losing chicks. It can still be pretty cold here in April, so dicey on just when we order. Looks like you are south, that must be nice. As we have aged, the cold weather is getting harder. I have been contemplating future retirement around Silver City or somewhere south in our state. To think, we spent 3 winters in Minnesota and thought it was glorious...oh to be young again!

And good news is that I am still totally happy with choices of Sussex and Buckeye. It has taken me weeks of research to nail down which type we wanted. Once I figured it out, I stopped researching, so as to not totally fry my brain with chicken dreams at night. Now I am studying all the things to do with newly arrived chicks. The Featherbrain website with Bri Wyzard has been super helpful. Plus, other Youtube things.

@RennaeHanson I think I am reasonably assured that the Buckeye will be a nice complement to the Sussex, certainly in color, but also in docility so that the Sussex wont' be picked on. The added bonus for me on them was the pea comb. They are such pretty birds, both of them. It is nice to hear from someone who is happy with them.

 

[TwoCrows]

@TwoCrows that is a good idea on seeing if feed store will order what you want. It is a little harrowing thinking about ordering our own. Ultimately, I am pretty sure I only want three or four hens (see what I did there? Left a little wiggle room on that number. My poor husband...) but thinking, when ordering I need to order 6 to hedge any bets against losing chicks. It can still be pretty cold here in April, so dicey on just when we order. Looks like you are south, that must be nice. As we have aged, the cold weather is getting harder. I have been contemplating future retirement around Silver City or somewhere south in our state. To think, we spent 3 winters in Minnesota and thought it was glorious...oh to be young again!

And good news is that I am still totally happy with choices of Sussex and Buckeye. It has taken me weeks of research to nail down which type we wanted. Once I figured it out, I stopped researching, so as to not totally fry my brain with chicken dreams at night. Now I am studying all the things to do with newly arrived chicks. The Featherbrain website with Bri Wyzard has been super helpful. Plus, other Youtube things.

@RennaeHanson I think I am reasonably assured that the Buckeye will be a nice complement to the Sussex, certainly in color, but also in docility so that the Sussex wont' be picked on. The added bonus for me on them was the pea comb. They are such pretty birds, both of them. It is nice to hear from someone who is happy with them.

My local feed store, Harveys Feed and Supply will definitely take special orders but I believe the chicks still all come from Privett. I think they do carry Quail however there is a 30 chick minimum and I don't need that many! We shall see!

Where are you up there? I am in the South Central Mountains, we see our fair share of snow and cold here too. Right now it's in the 20s and snowing. Our last frost date is Mother's Day, it's definitely difficult to garden up here until nearly summer. My feed store does start carrying chicks in March though, I'm sure some chicks don't make it from cold. According to the owner, Privett ships her chicks on Thursday morning and they usually arrive Friday morning. So not too long on the road.

Definitely keep us posted when you order!

 

[Barbours]

Just geting started at this I have 16 Cortnixquail now. With chicks on the way.

I am a 68

year old retired truck driver with time on my hands.

This seems like a good way to fill it.

Howdy and welcome!!! That's good way to fill time!

 

[WilderSkye]

I love quail! I always thought chukar would be a fun bird. If I do a great job with the chickens as planned, they may be in the future. I miss seeing the bobwhites we had everywhere in west Texas where I grew up.

We are in Clovis. I have been trying to keep up with first and last freezes for last 9 years and it is wildly fluctuating. Last spring we spent three months in Dallas area for husband to get chemo/radiation, I didn't start a garden until July, and didn't have it in me to start a fall/winter garden. I am really sorry for that now, as we have had a really nice fall and start of winter. This time of the year I battle with when to start seedlings.

 

[TwoCrows]

I love quail! I always thought chukar would be a fun bird. If I do a great job with the chickens as planned, they may be in the future. I miss seeing the bobwhites we had everywhere in west Texas where I grew up.

We are in Clovis. I have been trying to keep up with first and last freezes for last 9 years and it is wildly fluctuating. Last spring we spent three months in Dallas area for husband to get chemo/radiation, I didn't start a garden until July, and didn't have it in me to start a fall/winter garden. I am really sorry for that now, as we have had a really nice fall and start of winter. This time of the year I battle with when to start seedlings.

Clovis! Gosh Privett is right around your corner!! It is too bad you can't just walk in and pick up chicks. Yes our weather is definitely changing and getting warmer, I think the cooler rainy times are over. I am so sorry your hubby had to go through chemo and such, I hope he is recovering.

You might like Silver City, my Mom used to live in Silver City, it's kind of a dying town since mines have closed, not as much work. But if you like a quieter town, it sure is gorgeous territory over there, the Gila is beautiful and the old West vibe still prevails.

I used to keep Bobwhites decades ago, I found quail just tickle my heart strings. They are incredibly interesting and amusing little birds to keep. I kept them in outdoor avaries in a natural setting, they thrived in their environment. After I got chickens I let the quail drift into my past. So now I am thinking of starting up again. Bobwhites are a bit too much work though, (I'm getting old ) so Coturnix are more my speed.

 

[WilderSkye]

Clovis! Gosh Privett is right around your corner!! It is too bad you can't just walk in and pick up chicks. Yes our weather is definitely changing and getting warmer, I think the cooler rainy times are over. I am so sorry your hubby had to go through chemo and such, I hope he is recovering.

You might like Silver City, my Mom used to live in Silver City, it's kind of a dying town since mines have closed, not as much work. But if you like a quieter town, it sure is gorgeous territory over there, the Gila is beautiful and the old West vibe still prevails.

I used to keep Bobwhites decades ago, I found quail just tickle my heart strings. They are incredibly interesting and amusing little birds to keep. I kept them in outdoor avaries in a natural setting, they thrived in their environment. After I got chickens I let the quail drift into my past. So now I am thinking of starting up again. Bobwhites are a bit too much work though, (I'm getting old ) so Coturnix are more my speed.

The less people and more remote the happier we are. I really love where we live but our big concern is water. We are on a water well. It is something like 450' deep. If the water holds we are golden. But it is the Ogalla Aquifer and it is dicey on the western edge of it. Already wells are going dry around Farwell, TX and Texico. Silver City has the appeal of the Gila and hiking and prettier vistas. Clovis though, for the most part, has really pleasant year around weather. It can be 110 in Roswell and low 90s here. When I was ultra running, I could pretty much run anytime of the day during the summer here. Something I sure never could do in west Texas. And our house is nearly paid for, and at our age (I will be 60 in May and he is a couple weeks from 64. Funny how aging changes decisions.) home prices in Silver City seem reasonable.

I didn't realize the Coturnix were easy to deal with. We are getting older and wiser. I was to get a horse last spring but decided that I don't think my body can take riding anymore. We have the 12 x 21 metal framed greenhouse. The panels got destroyed by hail last summer. We have been talking about putting some sort of special birds in there. My husband loves, loves, loves birds of all sorts. Quail might be a nice thing to do. I was going to investigate those golden pheasants. We can reroof it and skin it out as a large aviary. Otherwise, it is sitting there going to waste.

He is doing really, really well and cancer free. It was rough but he is my trooper. The biggest lasting side effect is that the chemo caused near total deafness. Having to learn to communicate. But we made the best of being in DFW area and saw all the museums and art galleries in Dallas and Fort Worth. For a couple of country mice we managed quite well. It does change your perspective on life after something like this. We were three miles from epicenter of the eclipse last April. It was glorious to see it. We stayed with my parent's the entire time. That was fun. Like being 12 years old again.


Birds on the list that would be fun:
Pheasants
Quail
Chukar
Runner ducks (but not in an aviary)

 

[TwoCrows]

The less people and more remote the happier we are. I really love where we live but our big concern is water. We are on a water well. It is something like 450' deep. If the water holds we are golden. But it is the Ogalla Aquifer and it is dicey on the western edge of it. Already wells are going dry around Farwell, TX and Texico. Silver City has the appeal of the Gila and hiking and prettier vistas. Clovis though, for the most part, has really pleasant year around weather. It can be 110 in Roswell and low 90s here. When I was ultra running, I could pretty much run anytime of the day during the summer here. Something I sure never could do in west Texas. And our house is nearly paid for, and at our age (I will be 60 in May and he is a couple weeks from 64. Funny how aging changes decisions.) home prices in Silver City seem reasonable.

I didn't realize the Coturnix were easy to deal with. We are getting older and wiser. I was to get a horse last spring but decided that I don't think my body can take riding anymore. We have the 12 x 21 metal framed greenhouse. The panels got destroyed by hail last summer. We have been talking about putting some sort of special birds in there. My husband loves, loves, loves birds of all sorts. Quail might be a nice thing to do. I was going to investigate those golden pheasants. We can reroof it and skin it out as a large aviary. Otherwise, it is sitting there going to waste.

He is doing really, really well and cancer free. It was rough but he is my trooper. The biggest lasting side effect is that the chemo caused near total deafness. Having to learn to communicate. But we made the best of being in DFW area and saw all the museums and art galleries in Dallas and Fort Worth. For a couple of country mice we managed quite well. It does change your perspective on life after something like this. We were three miles from epicenter of the eclipse last April. It was glorious to see it. We stayed with my parent's the entire time. That was fun. Like being 12 years old again.


Birds on the list that would be fun:
Pheasants
Quail
Chukar
Runner ducks (but not in an aviary)

We are on a well too, it's only 180 ft deep! We worry about it alot, dried up wells can make property fairly worthless or darn near it. I would imagine you folks are even drier out there. Those temps sound roasting in your territory although last summer these mountains didn't fair much better with highs in the low 90s. Way too hot for 7,000 ft.

Oh gosh, yes I've heard chemo can destroy your hearing, among other things. But being cancer free is what counts most. Hubby and I both are in our 60, I turn 65 this year. Not sure how that happened. The only good thing about it is I will start collecting on my Social Security soon.

Keep in mind, Pheasants live a very long time, many into their 30s+. They require big spaces to house and keep. Chukars are pretty but they are quite wild and both of these species are more eye candy than anything. I have never kept Ducks but if I did, I might try Runners, they look so fun! Quail should be kept in Aviaries, tall spaces as they can flush up and break their necks. Chukars too. Coturnix are easy because you can keep a higher ratio of females to males together, where as my Bobwhites, I had deaths from females and males killing each other even though I kept them in huge spaces. So Bob's, Gambels, Californias...all really should be paired off and kept separate. I used breeding cages during breeding season, mixed them all for the winter covey but it was a big pain in the arse every year. So no more of that for me!

Well stay warm out there. It was 6F over night here, still frigid out there today, snow is not melting!

 

[WilderSkye]

That is great to know about the game birds. I am thinking Buckeyes are out. I didn't realize how broody the hens got. I think it would be miserable to have a broody breed of chicken.

Here is the greenhouse and garden. When we bought this place 9 years ago it was treeless and had nothing but hard pack dirt and goatheads. I made the huge mistake of planting bermuda grass. I had no idea it would spread and be literally impossible to eradicate. We came home last May to the greenhouse having been totally overun. Come to find out I am terribly allergic to bermuda grass. Just getting this dried grass out will shut me down. But anyways, this is what we have to repurpose. The tree lined fence in the summer is always shaded and cool and I plan to create a chicken run along there. They can continue back towards the house. It may well be that we create a coop in on section of the greenhouse and turn the rest into a garden shed/hang out etc. The options are endless. The Eglu is attractive due to cleanablity and mobility.

I need to rework the garden. It will become a shade garden soon, but strategically planted to provide a break from the hot sun for most plants.

The two magical beings are Juneau, cow dog mix, and Kitty, chihuahua mix. Kitty is Juneau's pet. They will do great with the chickens. Juneau is funny because she knows which yard birds to allow. A certain number of grackles can hang here but too many and she runs them off. She is vigilant in driving off the little hawks we have around here (sharp shinned or coopers?) and leaves the rest alone. How she figured all that out is beyond me.

 

[TwoCrows]

That is great to know about the game birds. I am thinking Buckeyes are out. I didn't realize how broody the hens got. I think it would be miserable to have a broody breed of chicken.

Here is the greenhouse and garden. When we bought this place 9 years ago it was treeless and had nothing but hard pack dirt and goatheads. I made the huge mistake of planting bermuda grass. I had no idea it would spread and be literally impossible to eradicate. We came home last May to the greenhouse having been totally overun. Come to find out I am terribly allergic to bermuda grass. Just getting this dried grass out will shut me down. But anyways, this is what we have to repurpose. The tree lined fence in the summer is always shaded and cool and I plan to create a chicken run along there. They can continue back towards the house. It may well be that we create a coop in on section of the greenhouse and turn the rest into a garden shed/hang out etc. The options are endless. The Eglu is attractive due to cleanablity and mobility.

I need to rework the garden. It will become a shade garden soon, but strategically planted to provide a break from the hot sun for most plants.

The two magical beings are Juneau, cow dog mix, and Kitty, chihuahua mix. Kitty is Juneau's pet. They will do great with the chickens. Juneau is funny because she knows which yard birds to allow. A certain number of grackles can hang here but too many and she runs them off. She is vigilant in driving off the little hawks we have around here (sharp shinned or coopers?) and leaves the rest alone. How she figured all that out is beyond me.

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Broodies can be very annoying hogging up nest boxes especially if they are setting on infertile eggs. There are plenty of breeds out there that aren't incredibly broody. You might stop by this article, scroll down a bit and there is a chart with broodiness listed for each breed listed... https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ide-to-picking-backyard-chicken-breeds.64518/

Cute dogs! Great that they get along with the chickens! We had a greenhouse decades ago, the sun just trashed the panels, UV is so potent it made them brittle. I'd like another greenhouse, maybe one day. I really enjoyed growing things in there! Wow, Bermuda Grass does well out there! (I am allergic to all grasses. ) I tried planting Bermuda years ago, it did not survive the winter and nothing brought it back to life. It obviously likes your warmer conditions. Hopefully you can get that grass out of there!

 

[WilderSkye]

Thank you for the link. Spent day going over our requirements and what breed would suit, and it has circled right back around to the Ameraucana. Just read an article about them and Easter eggers. I will be back to having chicken dreams again. Lol

Btw, 6 deg sounds too cold. We will be seeing single digits with this Siberian express. High winds on Friday. My heart hurts for the people in California knowing more Santa Ana winds coming.