North Carolina

[dutchbunny83]

We have 2! Looks like other one coming!

YAY!!! I went into lockdown yesterday, I keep trying to avoid looking they always seem to hatch when I'm not around.


Kristan-- do you have a pic from when it was a baby (or remember what it looked like), you can also sex them by the spot on their head. The rule of thumb is the more white it's a boy, but I had a barred rock once that was really light I thought was a rooster and it wasn't. So hopefully for you it's just a really light hen!
I didn't even know the cuckoo pattern on an orpington was a thing!

 

[ramirezframing]

Unless its a good quality barred rock, I wouldn't go by the head spots. I have seen a bunch that came from hatchery stock and by head spot would have been a boy but turned out to be a girl.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Unless its a good quality barred rock, I wouldn't go by the head spots. I have seen a bunch that came from hatchery stock and by head spot would have been a boy but turned out to be a girl.

I placed an order from Ideal awhile back and they sent me 8 barred rock males as packing peanuts.
I gave them all away, and my friend that took 3 had ALL of hers turn out to be females!
I was so mad haha

 

[dutchbunny83]

Oh I'm so happy I didn't spend crazy money on Ayam Cemani hatching eggs on ebay!!!
On the Ayam Cemani thread (I love looking at pics of people that actually have them!) 3 people bought pure bred eggs from the same seller on ebay. Their eggs have all hatched and some are half white, others have yellow on the legs & yellow on the beaks! I feel so bad for people getting ripped off like that.

Until the price on those drops, have you guys seen Svart Hona's? I had never heard of these before, but someone just showed them to me and they are insanely pretty! Not sure how hard they are to come by, but I'd love to add one to my little eclectic backyard flock

 

[ramirezframing]

The Svart Honas are related to the ayam cemani if I remember right and are probably just as hard if not harder to find.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Haha figures!!!
Thanks!
I looked for eggs and didn't see any.
There are so many pretty breeds I come across that I'd love to have and they are so hard to obtain.
I guess I'll add this one to the dream list too!

 

[ramirezframing]

That's why I stick to what I have and just try to improve on what I have, or make new colors in what I have

 

[dutchbunny83]

That's why I stick to what I have and just try to improve on what I have, or make new colors in what I have

That's the way to do it!
I can't wait until we can move to a far where I can breed my own chickens!
Plus roosters are so pretty to look at. And personally, I like the crowing

 

[Gen9]

I would like to raise a few Belgian Malines but the only breeder is Bart in Canada, IMO a reasonable price but to ship here in the US really expensive with all the gov regulations
Bart's website is bulbsoffire.com

 

[cknnewbie]

http://www.lincolntimesnews.com/2013/09/02/making-molasses-the-old-fashioned-way/
Sharing an article about my family farm.

Great article! I went to Silk Hope's Old Fashioned Farmers' Day this weekend where some folks were cooking down some sorghum syrup. The sample of sorghum molasses they had to try tasted amazing! It's nice to learn more of the process. Thanks for sharing the article.