NY chicken lover!!!!

[acire67]

Hi, I haven't posted here in a very long time. Just wondering if anyone has bantam chicks for sale, or would like a bantam. We hatched out some Serama chicks last weekend, and only one survived. I'd be happy with either situation, this little one is lonely. I'm in Dutchess county, near Poughkeepsie. Thanks- Erica

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member here and am roughly a 1/2 hour S.W. of Syracuse. I'm so impressed with the large, friendly community base here and am looking forward to learning A LOT.

I'm self educating myself this winter in preparation for starting a small spring (hen only) flock with enthusiastic help from my 11-year old son. The primary purpose of these chickens will be for pets / eggs. We love our animals.

At this juncture, I'm planning on finding starter pullets, rather than raising chicks. This is due to a busy spring schedule. However, I welcome any feedback and advice from others based on their past experience(s) with chicks vs. pullets.

I'm very interested in Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps or Americaunas. Looking for cold-weather hardy, friendly disposition birds that are not overly broody. I'm hoping to hook up with someone reputable nearby that is willing to sell me some starter hens in the spring .... ?? I wouldn't mind making a drive somewhere, say an hour or two.

Happy New Year to all, and thanks in advance for info you'd like to share!

"TOB"

Hi & Welcome TOB !!

I have Austrolorps. They are a calm friendly bird. I know you said you wanted started pullets, .................................... but just incase you change your mind I'll have chicks in the spring

 

[marquisella]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member here and am roughly a 1/2 hour S.W. of Syracuse. I'm so impressed with the large, friendly community base here and am looking forward to learning A LOT.

I'm self educating myself this winter in preparation for starting a small spring (hen only) flock with enthusiastic help from my 11-year old son. The primary purpose of these chickens will be for pets / eggs. We love our animals.

At this juncture, I'm planning on finding starter pullets, rather than raising chicks. This is due to a busy spring schedule. However, I welcome any feedback and advice from others based on their past experience(s) with chicks vs. pullets.

I'm very interested in Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps or Americaunas. Looking for cold-weather hardy, friendly disposition birds that are not overly broody. I'm hoping to hook up with someone reputable nearby that is willing to sell me some starter hens in the spring .... ?? I wouldn't mind making a drive somewhere, say an hour or two.

Happy New Year to all, and thanks in advance for info you'd like to share!

"TOB"

Welcone to the group. We have all sorts of chicken breeds among us.

I just got some Brabanters, and they are laying eggs! Yeah...
I also have Marans, Coronation Sussex, Lavendar Orpingtons & Silkies.
Hatching each week. Yes, I have a lot of chickens....LOL
Vernon, NY

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Hi Java Girl 2 ...

As mentioned, I'm still in my early education mode with regard to my backyard chicken endeavor, but my thinking is that with pullets, I'd like them old enough to where they have been acclimated to outside / coop living. I'd like them as young as possible from that point, however, in hopes that it is still possible to begin a bond with the individual birds. I don't know if this is realistic or not, though it seems to be if I put in the effort.

I so appreciate your comments -- where are you located? I'm near Otisco Lake.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

cracrzy4chicks -

thanks for the offer of Australorp chicks. I'm not saying no yet, LOL! As I learn more, I really do think my two top pick-o-the-chicks are Barred Rocks and Australorps...but again, I am keeping an open mind.

I am not sure where your town is located. Our state is a BIG one.


marquisella - thanks to you and everyone else for the nice welcome. It's been great to hear from like-minded people who share my interest in chickens.

TOB

 

[Cass]

.


marquisella - thanks to you and everyone else for the nice welcome. It's been great to hear from like-minded people who share my interest in chickens.

TOB

"like minded"? We're enablers. Build big. LOL Or do you already have a structure on the property? Draft free, good ventalation, with roosts and nest boxes. That's all they need. Power is wonderful, but not necessary. A close water supply is nice, but if you don't have 100's of birds, you can carry 2 gallon jugs down daily without to much stress to the body. However, if you are building a new structure, keep in mind that chicken feed comes in 50 pound bags. If I had it to do over, I would move my coop one group of trees closer to where I park my car. My wagon broke and carrying those 50 pound bags is killing me.

I have tried sand in my coop. Not a hit, but I have a LOT more chickens than I set my coop up for. (Like 3x the amount I said was my max. LOL) I am slowly switching to wood shavings. The sand didn't add anything to the compost pile and I am having a hard time composting the poo for garden use. When I only had a few chickens I could scoop the sand poop free in a few minutes. Now I can't even find all the poop, cuz there are so many birds they have squished it into the sand. (Just my 2 cents regarding floor covering)

 

[rancher hicks]

Keep in mind folks I give a discount with a BYC membership card. I'm saving Birchen Marans, Del and EE eggs though I don't know that I'll start a bunch for a week or two. If I hatch a bunch now I'll have time for another before spring. I'll be running a full incubator each time so there will be plenty. I hope the BR's are laying again soon.

TOB , Do be set up with a secure predator proof coop and by all means build for double whatever your planned flock size is.

I wish you well,

Rancher

Please remember to buy local and keep your money where you live.

 

[featherz]

Welcome TOB!!! I'm with some of the others, I think you should try chicks. More fun, easier to socialize and good education. And I also agree build big!! I started with 8 birds and now have over 50! LOL.. I do have a very large property but it's still a lot of birds!!

(I'm downsizing in the spring.. really I am really! LOL)..

I have or have had one of almost everything except silkies/bantams, although I two have a few smaller chickens that could be considered bantam. I love my australorps! My barred rocks are a little strange but good layers.

 

[stonykill]

"like minded"? We're enablers. Build big. LOL Or do you already have a structure on the property? Draft free, good ventalation, with roosts and nest boxes. That's all they need. Power is wonderful, but not necessary. A close water supply is nice, but if you don't have 100's of birds, you can carry 2 gallon jugs down daily without to much stress to the body. However, if you are building a new structure, keep in mind that chicken feed comes in 50 pound bags. If I had it to do over, I would move my coop one group of trees closer to where I park my car. My wagon broke and carrying those 50 pound bags is killing me.

I have tried sand in my coop. Not a hit, but I have a LOT more chickens than I set my coop up for. (Like 3x the amount I said was my max. LOL) I am slowly switching to wood shavings. The sand didn't add anything to the compost pile and I am having a hard time composting the poo for garden use. When I only had a few chickens I could scoop the sand poop free in a few minutes. Now I can't even find all the poop, cuz there are so many birds they have squished it into the sand. (Just my 2 cents regarding floor covering)

I agree wit hall but the draft free part. Total myth.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member here and am roughly a 1/2 hour S.W. of Syracuse. I'm so impressed with the large, friendly community base here and am looking forward to learning A LOT.

I'm self educating myself this winter in preparation for starting a small spring (hen only) flock with enthusiastic help from my 11-year old son. The primary purpose of these chickens will be for pets / eggs. We love our animals.

At this juncture, I'm planning on finding starter pullets, rather than raising chicks. This is due to a busy spring schedule. However, I welcome any feedback and advice from others based on their past experience(s) with chicks vs. pullets.

I'm very interested in Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, Australorps or Americaunas. Looking for cold-weather hardy, friendly disposition birds that are not overly broody. I'm hoping to hook up with someone reputable nearby that is willing to sell me some starter hens in the spring .... ?? I wouldn't mind making a drive somewhere, say an hour or two.

Happy New Year to all, and thanks in advance for info you'd like to share!

"TOB"

Welcome! I joined in the spring and love, love, love it here and ADORE my chickens. I have red sex links, "production" reds (still not sure what the difference is), tetra tints (1 or 2 have definite EE traits) a buff orpington and a bunch of australorps. The reds are good producers but the ones with the black on the tail fly the fence constantly, even with clipped wings. The tetra tints seem to have slowed the laying way down in the winter. Most lay brown eggs, though I have 1 who lays a green egg. I have 1 buff orpington who was always skiddish but seems to be more personable as she ages. She'll come up to me now. I also got her as a 4 month old, so she wasn't raised from a chick. I have 15 australorp pullets and 2 roos. I may breed them in the spring. I still haven't decided. I can tell you that they seem to start to lay quite late. Mine are 25 weeks and have just begun to lay. I do like their personalities.
I agree to build as large as you can. I started with a 12 x 12 coop, and my husband added a 10 x 10 room to it (almost all from recycled stuff... yay dh!). Electric is a huge help. Water heaters in the winter and a fan on the really hot summer days.
Being predator proof is very important. Those insistent little boogers will try to get in any way they can.
Good luck and enjoy!

coons coming out over 40? Someone forgot to tell coon this.......coons eat when hungry. Period.

Guess I shouldn't let my guard down then huh?

Sorry for your loss.

I was really hoping you would prove me a liar.

Me too. Thanks.

Sorry to hear that ..I agree . He was able to go peacefully . You did what you could . Sometimes we dont know what to do or whats wrong .
Do you have any of his babies ?

I don't. I was going to save some fertile eggs, but I would never know who the father is. I have 3 other roos.

Oh, on a side note...
I was the one who was dealing with bumblefoot in my one hen. I had finally given up after many soaks and medicated soaks (tricide neo) and surgery as far as I was brave enough to do. Many mornings I had to help her get off her roost. She wouldn't go by herself. I noticed the other morning she had already flown down on her own. Her feet look SO much better! I have to say, they look almost normal. I'm shocked! I just hope they stay that way. I guess treatment did help, it just took awhile.