NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Dont do it, they will go into a molt! I start to lessen the light on the timer when it corresponds to what I've been giving them. I usually change the timer to go on later as the daylight increases, until the daylight is equal to the time my lights are on. I decrease the light time accordingly until I can turn them off completely. If you suddenly turn your lights off, they will think is time to molt, and you don't want that.. Hens need 15 hours of daylight for laying well.

Ok I won't.

 

[Lynzi777]

I was JUST at JJ Feeds this afternoon picking up some things and I totally forgot to ask them about their chicks that will soon have. I know they had them last year and I believe I saw a sign up last month about them getting them this spring. I wonder if they get their's locally....

 

[rancher hicks]

I bought from that hatchery just about a year ago, I really wanted some Buff Orpington chicks for my broody to raise. I drove up there, they grabbed the sweet little yellow chicks and I took them home. The bill of sale says Buff Orpington. When they got older, they just didn't look like BOs, I called the hatchery, they said oh yes, it's just genetics, sometimes they don't get that buff color right away. When they were fully grown I called again. They remarked again about genetics, instead of telling me that they were really red sex links that they had sold me by mistake. I become angry whenever I think of them. If someone can't admit that they made a mistake, I don't think highly of them, and I will mention my experience when asked. No way, no how are these buff Orpingtons, and to make it worse, One of them is my egg eater, just by chance...in all fairness, they probably had nothing to do with the egg eating, unless that is contained in their faulty genetics. Sorry, will stop hyperventilating now. OHMMMM, OHMMMM.

What is sad is I drove down to PA to Hinkjc farm and brought up chicks for folks. I posted all over this site if anyone wanted some and we would up. Only one person took me us on my offter. Her BO's are the best. The rooster I gave to a friend, he was super big and nice. Just saving on the gas alone then was worth having me pick them up for you, but no one wanted in.

As for Brahmas I'd suggest buying egg to hatch.

While I did order from Ideal and the chicks were ok and all survived.

Heck I just sold hatching eggs and gave hatching eggs away. I have the marans that GF sells for $49 per chick, and I'm giving hatching eggs away? I've been all over the internet and some pf the pictures aren't really all that nice for this breed. I'm glad I didn't pay $49 a chick and would be leary of buying anything from GF or anyone touting them as a source. Of course what happens to them after they get them from GF is anyones guess. My BR's came from Kathy in MO. I've seen people pay plenty for her eggs and I just gave eggs away? These are not the skinny egg lines the hatcheries are pushing. My CR's are from Scott and his eggs sell for $50 dz on this site. Nice meat and egg birds.

I offered hathcing eggs on CL for $12 dz but just can't bring myself to really let people pay that much.

I had hoped to make another trip to PA this year but I have no use for BO's. My Lavs are nice as are the blks so once I start hatching from them I'll be all set.

Ok I've said my piece,

I hope everyone finds what they're looking for.

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

Sorry double posted.

 

[happyhensny]

If we don't hatch them, we eat them. Making bread pudding now. SO glad eggs are back!

And Cass - I will have more chicks the end of March. Promise to only give you 4.


or 14, 15, 16. Packing peanuts for that LOOOOONG drive home....

 

[vmdanielsen]

Dont do it, they will go into a molt! I start to lessen the light on the timer when it corresponds to what I've been giving them. I usually change the timer to go on later as the daylight increases, until the daylight is equal to the time my lights are on. I decrease the light time accordingly until I can turn them off completely. If you suddenly turn your lights off, they will think is time to molt, and you don't want that.. Hens need 15 hours of daylight for laying well.

Marque....One of the blue copper marans(Actually she turned out just blue, but man she is a friendly bird!) has gone broody. I intend to break her, but I will be hatching buckeyes soon, so I have a question: Does this breed typically hatch and brood well?
Ginny

 

[vmdanielsen]

I've just read so much about hatchery chickens losing the natural behaviors of being a chicken (like going broody). I would just rather have my own hatches or buy from local people who have real mama hens.

Besides, do some searches on the internet to find out what happens to all the unwanted chicks (mostly roos). I'm by no means an animal rights activist, but that's just not right.

I grow out the roosters and eat them. I really can't keep them all, but I have heard terrible things about hatcheries day old cockerels.

 

[vmdanielsen]

so what do you do with all of your extra roosters when you hatch your own? I can't see people keeping 50% roosters.

All I can say is....they tasted really good...........

 

[vmdanielsen]

I have ordered from hatcheries, bought at Agway & TSC, gotton more at tailgate sales, incubated eggs, just about all the options out there. Yes, hatcheries do "discard" the males in any number of ways, it is definitely awful. But, the thing to consider is if people would take those males then they would not have to get rid of them. Not saying it is right, but it seems to be what consumers want vs reality. If you order from a "hatchery" choose one that only sells straight-run. Chick Hatchery (John Blehm) and Sandhill Preservation are some. I have hatching eggs for sale and will have chicks too and I cannot tell you how many people do not want males. I am not a hatchery, nor a real "breeder". I have "pure" breeds that do quite well at shows but will not claim breeder status. So, if you want hatching eggs or chicks find someone here or someone out there but make the decision based on your situation and how you would like chicks sold.

Off my crate now... Sorry.

Happy, I do agree with you. I would not have gotten started in the madness if it weren't for my first few hatchery birds. Having said that, I will probably not buy from a hatchery ever again and encourage people to buy more local whenever possible. Especially with all the resources we have here!

 

[stonykill]

yup, dinner! Eating one shortly! Delicious!

and he was delicious! Cooked 10 hours in the crock pot. Over angel hair pasta and homemade chicken gravy with a few vegies. Delicious!