NY chicken lover!!!!

[ag29ande]

I'm in Duanesburg NY (near Schoharie ) right now we have EE's a Golden comet and a White Crested Black Polish Roo. My 9 year old has such a passion for chickens I'm letting him lead my projects. He decided he wants to raise and breed WCB Polish chickens. He also wants to breed WCB polish with Naked Necks and Silkies. We ordered him NN, and WCB. My other son got some Phoenix and lakenvelders ( does anyone have those breeds?) but wants to focus on Runner ducks.. My husband got A Jersey Giant. And I got Brahmas, Wyandottes and Cochins. I can't Waite to have a broody hen !!

Hey neighbor! I'm in Delanson!

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi, I am in Lansing, NY, in the Finger Lakes. This is such a wonderful forum. I've learned a lot, although one thing I haven't figured out, and that's how not too have too many chickens. And I have too many chickens! I have (blush) 25. Five cockerels, two hens, eighteen pullets. Mostly welsummers, four silver laced wyandottes, four EE's, one speckled sussex, one golden comet. And four of the cockerels are Golden penciled hamburgs. (And there are, um, seventeen eggs in an incubator.)

Help?

 

[rancher hicks]

Def: Morehens Disease: (Noun, verb depending on season) Incurable desire to own more birds, including but not limited to: chickens, ducks, turkey, quail, and peacocks. Symptoms begin with the purchase or otherwise obtaining 2 - 6 birds of one species or breed. As disease progresses more breeds of original species are added (usually because they are "cute" or "lay more eggs" or "are dual purpose". Additional reasons have been used by various people to justify adding to their flock) There have been cases of the disease going into remission, usually due to housing constraints. Once the houseing problem is solved the disease progresses to fill all available space. Suffers of this disease are usually carriers too, spreading the disease to neighbors, friends and family members in an attempt to free housing space at their own location so they can continue to obtain more and newer birds. Sufferers should refrain from owning an incubator. See: "hatching fever" .

(If you or anyone you know suffers from Morehens, please stay away from me, my coop is full to bursting and I have the potential to obtain 96 chicks if all the eggs hatch. Thank you)

Aint that the truth. Talked to a friend today who is passing it to a woman at her Gym who now wants chickens.

 

[rancher hicks]

For those familiar with both breeds, how does the SIZE of the EGG differ between production/red sex links and black australorps?
The reason I ask is because all my australorps seem to be laying, but the size of the egg is still pretty small compared to the other hens I have. They have been laying for a month or two. They are supposed to lay a large egg, so I'm wondering (hoping) the eggs will get bigger.
Anyone know?

Production birds are birds bred for the size egg they lay. They put all their energy in to making eggs. Also called Egg laying machines and terminal birds. Terminal in that their laying days are numbered. They lay lots of eggs over a short period of time and then drop off.

Now your Aussies. Are not production birds but dual purpose. Meaning they're for eggs and meat. They may lay only a Large 2 oz. egg over their lifetime but idealisticallly be fit to process and eat too. The size egg they lay may vary depending on Genetics.

This is why these production birds are usually, skinny. Mind you, you may not care about any of this when you have chickens and that,s a personal choice.

Hybrids tend to be better layers than non-hybrids. There is of course always the exception to the rule.

Also keep in mind that diet does affect a hens laying too.

 

[vmdanielsen]

What do you mean by " dyed the vents"? Never heard of this before.

I put some vegetable dye on their vents in hopes to be able to tell which hen laid each egg. Didn't work though.

 

[Cass]

I put some vegetable dye on their vents in hopes to be able to tell which hen laid each egg. Didn't work though.

It is my understanding that you have to put on a glove and insert the dye into the vent so it transfers onto the egg as it passes through the vent. Now me? I'm wondering why it doesn't rub off on the poo and not be there when the egg gets there? I just try to see a hen or two a day actually laying then make note of what their egg has that other eggs don't....like speckles, ring of blue on large end, size/color differences, etc. Then I know who's egg is who's. (to some extent....some are sooo similiar it is very hard to tell) Do you have the space to separate the hens you want to lay eggs to hatch? Might be the only way to know for sure you have what you are seeking.

 

[brahmapapa]

Agreed Brahmapapa.

As a history teacher and historian, I will only say this on the current debate going on here...I learned to take apart arguements, documents and books because as a historian we have to answer the following questions

What is the authors arguement? Where did their information come from? What do they want you to believe? Are the facts supported ? What does the other side of the argument say and is it supported?

Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.

thanks so much for the afirmation,

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

I put some vegetable dye on their vents in hopes to be able to tell which hen laid each egg. Didn't work though.

I did the same thing. It didn't start showing on the eggs 'til I had put dye in about 3 - 4 days in a row.

 

[Henicillin]

Yup. Been there, done that. When I first had too many roosters I tried to give them away on Craig's List. It worked, kinda. I put "if you really want my silkie roos, but already have too many roosters of your own, let's trade". And one person took me up on it. Brought me 2 of her roosters that she didn't need and were all grown up and took 2 of my silkie roosters which are yucky to eat (at least in my mind). The next morning we butchered the new to us roosters that we hadn't named, didn't know from adam with absolutely no guilt or feeling at all. Now I can butcher any of my birds that are no longer needed in my flock. Well, except the D'uccles. They are pets.

Mr. Chabo the Japanese Bantam is a pet, as is my Easter Egger boy from Rancher (he's such a good bird). I'm also fond of my head roo Captain Morgan - he occasionally has to be reminded to respect my authoritah, but he's a good rooster otherwise. The other boys? Meh - I could process any of them with no problem, and need to get off my backside and do a couple.

 

[rancher hicks]

Mr. Chabo the Japanese Bantam is a pet, as is my Easter Egger boy from Rancher (he's such a good bird). I'm also fond of my head roo Captain Morgan - he occasionally has to be reminded to respect my authoritah, but he's a good rooster otherwise. The other boys? Meh - I could process any of them with no problem, and need to get off my backside and do a couple.

When did you get your EE from me? Do you have a pic? Now I have a question too. I've a Lav Amer roo. If I keep the Del and BR hen with him I will get EE's? I just ask because I have some hens from him and my EE's that are laying now. BUT I also have a blue girl that lays blue eggs but not as big as I'd like. I do have one EE hen that lays a nice 2oz. or more sized egg and that's what I'm going for.

I also have a EE/Amer hen with the Dels and she doesn't lay as well/often as her mother does.