NY chicken lover!!!!

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all! Well, ever since the 2 boys we processed on saturday have been gone from the terrorist coop, things have been better. I have been working with the last 4 on building trust and being handled (only enough so they know I wont hurt them but so I can check them over from time to time). One is definately on the got to go list. He was relentless after one of my older hens last night and her 3 big sisters had to come to her defense. He may be a little bigger than them, but they outweigh and outnumber him and took him down. Psyco Betty went head to head with him and it was a draw, neither willing to give. So he will be gone. I did get some good input on the rir thread that at least the boys that I do have are pretty close to heritage rir so that makes me happy. I have always been interested in genetics and breeding so it gives me another project to work on. The girls are pretty close to.

Rancher--I know how you feel with that broody. Every evening I to to war with my broody silkie girls because they sit in the run (they refuse to be in the coop and its been too hot to lock them in). I have to use a shrub rake to lift and push them out of their spot and they are screaming and attacking and carrying on. Of course Little Man comes running to their defense, which doesnt help matter any. I think he was aggravated with them yesterday because after I kicked them out of the run, he was chasing them down and pecking them to get them to go where he wanted. Poor Guy. He puts up with so much!

Wish I was closer so I could go to the meet. Off to earn the chicken feed!

 

[rancher hicks]

Last year we had a rooster and a rabbit. Everyone was pleased with their winnings....(well, except the father of the child who won the rabbit, but it did come with the cage and all)

Since it is a chinese auction, only those who are interested in the item put their tickets in the cup/bag for the item. Everyone wins that way. If you are going to bring an animal for the auction, it is best to let the group know, so anyone who might be interested in bidding on it brings a box or cage to bring the creature home in.

I would supply the box. No way would I put an animal in an open cage in DW's car. These most likely will be pullets. Or perhaps some chicks if anyone thinks they are interested. If not they could be taken back home I guess.

We do have other items too. At our age we've collected a lot of stuff. I wouldn't bring anything junky.

 

[Framac]

Anyone have Amers or EE hens that they are willing to part with. I have a friend who is looking for a few blue/green egg layers.

I was surprised by the quality of some of the birds at Kings yesterday. There was some very nice BR's, and a lot of bantams . I didn't buy any, but was surprised. There was even some golden campines

 

[JayLyn07]

Anyone have Amers or EE hens that they are willing to part with. I have a friend who is looking for a few blue/green egg layers.

I was surprised by the quality of some of the birds at Kings yesterday. There was some very nice BR's, and a lot of bantams . I didn't buy any, but was surprised. There was even some golden campines

I almost brought the polish roo there yesterday. Its about 10 mins from my house but had to work. Thinking I may be bringing him there on there next auction the 26th. How where the prices?

 

[ChickPrincess]

Just curious about something...
At the auction the other day, I was shocked at how much guinea hens (sp?) were bringing. $12 to $24.
Why so much?

Also, anyone in my area (Canandaigua) want a free rooster (producer)? He's 16 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly.

 

[Framac]

Large single roosters were in the 7-11 range. Small roosters single were 2-5, a polish went for 9. Multiples (Hens and Roos) were going in the 3-6 per range. Pens of roosters 1-3 each. Big Hens (BR Austra Buff Orps) were going in the 5 range.

Framac

 

[marquisella]

Just curious about something...
At the auction the other day, I was shocked at how much guinea hens (sp?) were bringing. $12 to $24.
Why so much?

Also, anyone in my area (Canandaigua) want a free rooster (producer)? He's 16 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly.

Guineas always go for more....what people don't realize is that they will not stay in a new place.

I know....I bought 2 batches of adult guineas, kept them locked up for a month, and sure enough, within a week of being let out, they were gone.

What I finally did was get a hen & roo, kept them in the coop until she laid eggs, set the eggs under a chicken, had her hatch them out, raised them like a chick with other chicks, and then they stayed when they fially grew to adulthood. They would sleep & eat in the chicken coop, but during the day, they would fly over the 5 ' fence, rangearound the fields, and come back at night to roost.

If you want to have a laugh, have a chicken hatch out guineas and see the confusion for a couple of days until the guineas finally understand the hen.,,it can be very entertaining....keats running all over the coop, not understanding when the hen is calling to them, and the hen, getting hysterical because her babies won't come when she calls. Obviously, you hae to keep them locked in a small area so the keats don't get too far away....my life must be very borning....LOL

 

[rancher hicks]

As much as I like Guineas, I don't dare get any. They are really loud talkers aren't they? I hear my roosters at 4:30 and I worry the neighbors will complain but I think they sleep through it like DW does.

Framac - I've been giving my girls EE eggs to hatch since my roo is a lav and he seems to be dancing with the only two EE's I have that lay colored eggs. I have two black and one blue hen who just started to lay but I'm building up my girls so I can put a couple with my maran roo to get some olive eggers.

My two EE's are nearly 3 or more and still lay very well. Nearly every day and nice sized eggs too.

 

[featherz]

As much as I like Guineas, I don't dare get any. They are really loud talkers aren't they? I hear my roosters at 4:30 and I worry the neighbors will complain but I think they sleep through it like DW does.

Framac - I've been giving my girls EE eggs to hatch since my roo is a lav and he seems to be dancing with the only two EE's I have that lay colored eggs. I have two black and one blue hen who just started to lay but I'm building up my girls so I can put a couple with my maran roo to get some olive eggers.

My two EE's are nearly 3 or more and still lay very well. Nearly every day and nice sized eggs too.

Guinea keets are like chicks on crack.. Then when they get older.. whoo boy.. 'really loud talkers' doesn't cover it. I loved my guineas - my husband wanted them for tick control so I kept 17 until they were around 4 months old and I just could not take it anymore. They got along fine with the chickens, roosted with them etc.. but the noise!! They 'buckwheated' NON STOP from dawn to dusk..

 

[Lapeerian]

Since the 'big discovery', I have gotten 2 eggs on Friday, 1 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday and 3 today. So it would take how long for 63 eggs to accumulate? Yeah..... I know the GLW cross is one of the girls laying, she left a feather behind today. Pretty sure the 2 NH girls are the other layers. The 3rd egg I got today was smaller, maybe someone else is starting up? Thankfully, they are all laying in the litter box and never had to do a lock-in. I have searched the entire run every day with no trace of eggs. But I am noticing that I will need to take some erosion control measures now, they have dug up the weeds as I wanted, but now I have dirt sliding down the hill. *doh!*