North Carolina

[doubleatraining]

If anyone is interested I have a couple of extra roosters that I should let go. I would like to get $5 a piece, but am very flexible. I don't have enough hens for all the roos. . .

I have two beautiful, very fluffy, black silkies, and only need one. They are from east coast silkies and catdance lines. Born mid to late April.

I have one black bantam Ameracauna. I ordered day olds from Jerry Segler, and I have three that have made it to juvenile status. (12 weeks old), and I ended up with 2 roos, and I am still hoping that I have one hen.

And a few weeks ago, I purchased a pair of gold laced bantam cochins, the hen didn't make it, and the rooster is getting beat up by my other cochins. . .he is supposed to be around 10 weeks old.

If anyone would like a picture of any of the above, let me know.

Janelle

I take free roosters and I'm not far from you. I'm just in Franklinton.

 

[JayDubYa]

I take free roosters and I'm not far from you. I'm just in Franklinton.

I know that you do, but hope to keep them out of any stew pot if possible. . .

 

[doubleatraining]

I know that you do, but hope to keep them out of any stew pot if possible. . .

Understand.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Good morning folks

They say it's going to be a hot one today. I hate being trapped
on the bus on hot days. The bus does have AC but it can't really
cool off that big metal can that well and honestly I'd rather be at
home doing things out in the yard and cooling off in a pool. Oh
well........at least the kids are good so far.

hope everyone has a good day

 

[jtbass2756]

And besides that...you are opening and closing that door 10,000 times!! My word for today..... HYDRATE.. HYDRATE.... HYDRATE.....

 

[dutchlion]

Morning NC! ok... so draggin' a bit... but better late than never, i guess!
i have a couple of questions since i'm still new to chickens... i've been winging it so far... reading tons and using what horse sense i have... the "chicken bloggers" all seem to be from places that get colder and stay colder more than we do, so i'm not sure how to deal with the up coming winter...

1) when should i expect the girlies to slow/stop laying? they will be 6 mths old Sept 1.
2) when will they go through a 'big molt'?
3) do i need to put in extra lighting into the coop?
4) any tips for getting chicken ready for winter?

thanks so much!!!

 

[JayDubYa]

Morning NC! ok... so draggin' a bit... but better late than never, i guess!
i have a couple of questions since i'm still new to chickens... i've been winging it so far... reading tons and using what horse sense i have... the "chicken bloggers" all seem to be from places that get colder and stay colder more than we do, so i'm not sure how to deal with the up coming winter...

1) when should i expect the girlies to slow/stop laying? they will be 6 mths old Sept 1.
2) when will they go through a 'big molt'?
3) do i need to put in extra lighting into the coop?
4) any tips for getting chicken ready for winter?
thanks so much!!!

You have lighting in your coop?
And I think that questions 1 and 2 may be breed specific? Some breeds stop laying if the wind changes, and others lay nearly the entire year.

What type of watering system do you have? And even if it is cold, coops need venting or they will become stinky and a breeding ground for bad things.

JW

 

[ramirezframing]

Most chickens go through the first big molt at around a yr old depending on when they hatched, this is when some slow up or stop laying. Depending on breed some will keep laying through their first winter or two, some will stop laying and pick back up in spring. Each laying cycle, your hens will lay a little less, but they still lay (I've had 2 hens still laying at 10 years old, although it wasn't a lot of eggs). I don't light my birds. Most winters they tend to stop laing, but the last couple warm winters I had a few that laid an egg every now and than (depends on breed and age once again). I reuse plastic jugs for waters, this way I can break the ice out and if the jug breaks, I just grab a new one.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

I am losing my mind. Just placed another order for 55 pullet chicks and 25 free cockerels. I can not hatch enough to raise myself, because I have so many egg customers that sometimes we go without. I can't hold back eggs to hatch! I need more pullets badly. Plus I want to have a few to sell in spring at POL. Plus we've been asked to supply 20 cockerels in Feb for a class on processing. So I had to place an order. Sigh. I do have some of Trish Pittman's BBS English Orp eggs in the incubator, and lots of Golden Cuckoo Marans heading toward POL, but I can't count on them to fix this.

I ordered from Mt. Healthy. Yes I know they had the salmonella issues last year. Knowing what I went through with MG, I'd bet my bottom dollar they are as clean as a whistle as they work toward rebuilding their reputation. Plus, my very first batch of 100 Buff Orps came from them, and they were lovely birds who laid consistently year-round. The ones I have now are not as big and pretty and they don't lay as well. I'd like to replace them. So 25 more of those, plus 30 production types, (15 production blacks and 15 Comets) and I earn 25 free birds...cockerels which can go to that class in Feb.

Good grief, but this gets more complicated every time I turn around. The bakery has decided to stick to commercial eggs due to liability issues. That works for me, since I can't keep up with egg customers as it is! Hopefully we can get this well settled before spring.

More chicks to raise. Breaks my heart.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

I am losing my mind. Just placed another order for 55 pullet chicks and 25 free cockerels. I can not hatch enough to raise myself, because I have so many egg customers that sometimes we go without. I can't hold back eggs to hatch! I need more pullets badly. Plus I want to have a few to sell in spring at POL. Plus we've been asked to supply 20 cockerels in Feb for a class on processing. So I had to place an order. Sigh. I do have some of Trish Pittman's BBS English Orp eggs in the incubator, and lots of Golden Cuckoo Marans heading toward POL, but I can't count on them to fix this.

I ordered from Mt. Healthy. Yes I know they had the salmonella issues last year. Knowing what I went through with MG, I'd bet my bottom dollar they are as clean as a whistle as they work toward rebuilding their reputation. Plus, my very first batch of 100 Buff Orps came from them, and they were lovely birds who laid consistently year-round. The ones I have now are not as big and pretty and they don't lay as well. I'd like to replace them. So 25 more of those, plus 30 production types, (15 production blacks and 15 Comets) and I earn 25 free birds...cockerels which can go to that class in Feb.

Good grief, but this gets more complicated every time I turn around. The bakery has decided to stick to commercial eggs due to liability issues. That works for me, since I can't keep up with egg customers as it is! Hopefully we can get this well settled before spring.

More chicks to raise. Breaks my heart.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

IF I remember right Mt' Healthy had an out break earlier this year too and has had 3 so far total.
I hear good things about Cackle Hatchery and suppose to have show quality some times. Either
way good luck with the egg production.