NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

The solution is quite simple. It's time to buy a homestead of your own. Buy as much land and as far from the city as you can afford.

(be aware that cochins do go broody)

That is the plan...unfortunately we cannot do that until we see where DH's job takes him this year. He has been let known that our next move will involve us purchasing not renting and I would like to build more than anything. This way I can have a barn go up the same time as the house.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

Holy Moly I'm beat! Just shoveled the lower half of my driveway. That was quite the workout considering it's all hill and the further down the driveway you go the higher the yard gets and the higher you have to launch the snow! Upper part of the driveway will be later. I guess the called the garbage trucks off the road yesterday because my garbage man never came. They're coming today apparently. Hope I managed to get enough snow away from my mailbox as well so my mailman delivers. I remember him not delivering for almost a week last year because of all the snow the plows would throw in front of it. Once of them even took the box right off the post!

I've been doing A LOT of thinking lately about how unhappy I am with my current chicken arrangements. I got into chickens 2 years ago with the goal to focus mostly on silkies. Well after taking an orp along with those first 2 silkie chicks I ended up adding the lavender orp, a BR, Gru the Roo and now I have a blue Orp hen. I'm just about at my max for larger chickens with the two EEs I have growing out. And if I want to add more silkies I'll need a larger coop for them which means now 2 large coops and 2 separate chicken yards. And this I do not like. I want one coop and one chicken yard for everyone to live together happily in. Now keep in mind I rent here and my landlord has been so nice as to letting me have these chickens in the first place, however when I first asked his permission I asked if he would mind us keeping 5-6 chickens. I am now up to 5 ducks, 5 in the big coop, 3 in the small coop and 2 EEs growing out. I wanted to focus on silkies yet they are the least amount I have. If I continue to hatch out of the orps I either have to sell the chicks or sell the ones I have to make room for the chicks. With that all said I'm seriously thinking of rehoming the large breeds and starting fresh with the silkies I have, and possibly getting into a bantam size breed that I could use with the silkies - such as frizzles and cochins so that this way I can keep more because I have the space for more and I will also have the room to grow out chicks and make decisions as to who to keep/sell from there. It's just such a huge decision because I love my Orps and I love Gru. It just stinks that I am limited for space and not even concentrating on what I wanted to concentrate on to begin with. I'm so torn.

I feel for you Lynzi -- I am headed straight for exactly such a scenario, I am certain. Although we own and have space, aesthetics, ease of use, and efficiency are also priorities for me. I just can't keep developing "chicken acreage" without a firm plan. I originally envisioned a large mixed laying flock and a smaller breeding flock, but logistics do get in the way (annoying!). Keep us posted on your process.

 

[Aria]

Enablers!
Hubby and I discussing chicks again, and he raised the number Im allowed to get again lol.  I contacted the girl in Morrisville that I got some of my first year chicks from, which is my surviving GLW roo and 2 NH hens.  She may not have them this year, but will have breeding pens of SLW, Silkies and Wheaten Americauna if she can find a roo.  Hoping I can get some SLW and Americauas from her, although not sure when.  Then more of everything else!  Think I want to start with a group of chicks earlier, so they start laying late spring rather than late summer.  Then a group of TSC chicks later.  I like the variety package I have going, makes for an interesting group to watch.  Some day I may choose one breed to work with, but until then I'll get purebred chicks from you all to add to the menagerie.
Hubby is home this snow day, collected 3 eggs at 9am, there were none at 7am.  Said when he took his gloves off to put them in the fridge, 2 of the 3 cracked.

Would you share the gal's name in Morrisville who has Silkies? We have Silkies only
and would like to add to our flock. Aria

 

[Lapeerian]

Would you share the gal's name in Morrisville who has Silkies? We have Silkies only
and would like to add to our flock. Aria

Sent you a PM.

 

[Lynzi777]

Just got back from dropping some hatching eggs and extra EE chicks off to payner59. Hope she has a better hatch rate than I have had.

I broke down this week and purchased some Silkie hatching eggs from someone in Ohio. I want to try out my Brinsea but don't want to hatch any more Orp/BR eggs. My silkies arent laying and I lost my favorite splash so I purchased eggs that should be JUST splash. The woman I purchased from has some good tips on how to care for shipped eggs and how to start them in the incubator so I'm going to follow those instructions and hopefully my Brinsea will do the rest! They weren't too costly so I won't be devastated if I get nothing out of these but would be happy if at LEAST 2 hatched! She has really nice looking silkies.

Talked to the kids today about what my plans might be this Spring as far as the bigger birds go. They didn't seem too upset about it so it's now just convincing myself to go thru with it. It just stinks because I'd like to hold onto at least 3 of the bigger birds - My Lavender, My Blue and Gru. But again, they'd have to be kept separate from the others. Which, in fact, may not be a big issue. I can always give their big coop to the smaller birds and make a smaller coop for the trio and let them free range. I would miss having normal size fresh eggs in the fridge.

 

[rancher hicks]

I feel for you Lynzi -- I am headed straight for exactly such a scenario, I am certain. Although we own and have space, aesthetics, ease of use, and efficiency are also priorities for me. I just can't keep developing "chicken acreage" without a firm plan. I originally envisioned a large mixed laying flock and a smaller breeding flock, but logistics do get in the way (annoying!). Keep us posted on your process.

Well you must post pics of your situation so we can brain storm a solution for you. There are some great minds here.

From what I can tell two coops, one small for breeding and one larger for your mixed flock is all you need.

Now if you consider a hoop type coop for your mixed flock it can be designed/built so additions can be easily added on as your flock grows. When spring comes you must come for a visit if you're interested. There really quite simple and easy to build.

 

[Lynzi777]

Well you must post pics of your situation so we can brain storm a solution for you. There are some great minds here.

From what I can tell two coops, one small for breeding and one larger for your mixed flock is all you need.

Now if you consider a hoop type coop for your mixed flock it can be designed/built so additions can be easily added on as your flock grows. When spring comes you must come for a visit if you're interested. There really quite simple and easy to build.

I would love to build a hoop coop however I need something that can easily come with us in the event we have to move again. Once we have our property with our own land I will definitely consider a hoop coop. I think one of those would be great for the silkies especially.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

Well you must post pics of your situation so we can brain storm a solution for you. There are some great minds here.

From what I can tell two coops, one small for breeding and one larger for your mixed flock is all you need.

Now if you consider a hoop type coop for your mixed flock it can be designed/built so additions can be easily added on as your flock grows. When spring comes you must come for a visit if you're interested. There really quite simple and easy to build.

Rancher, you're the best. I'll post some pics when I won't risk frostbite in obtaining good shots! We have hoop benders in two sizes (walk-in and low), use them extensively for plants, and will be utilizing them for garden bed sized "chicken tractors" this season, now that I've got calmer, friendly hens of my own. I'll be very interested to see how you use yours. Thanks!

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Just got back from dropping some hatching eggs and extra EE chicks off to payner59. Hope she has a better hatch rate than I have had.

I broke down this week and purchased some Silkie hatching eggs from someone in Ohio. I want to try out my Brinsea but don't want to hatch any more Orp/BR eggs. My silkies arent laying and I lost my favorite splash so I purchased eggs that should be JUST splash. The woman I purchased from has some good tips on how to care for shipped eggs and how to start them in the incubator so I'm going to follow those instructions and hopefully my Brinsea will do the rest! They weren't too costly so I won't be devastated if I get nothing out of these but would be happy if at LEAST 2 hatched! She has really nice looking silkies.

Talked to the kids today about what my plans might be this Spring as far as the bigger birds go. They didn't seem too upset about it so it's now just convincing myself to go thru with it. It just stinks because I'd like to hold onto at least 3 of the bigger birds - My Lavender, My Blue and Gru. But again, they'd have to be kept separate from the others. Which, in fact, may not be a big issue. I can always give their big coop to the smaller birds and make a smaller coop for the trio and let them free range. I would miss having normal size fresh eggs in the fridge.

If you want fresh normal sized eggs I could help you out with that any time you want...I'm sure we could work something out..

barter maybe. We aren't that far apart!

 

[Lynzi777]

If you want fresh normal sized eggs I could help you out with that any time you want...I'm sure we could work something out..

barter maybe. We aren't that far apart!

This is true, my neighbor has them across the street too. I'm actually contemplating asking her if she would like some of my hens and that way the kids can visit whenever they want. I don't think it would be a big deal for her to add 2-3 hens to her flock seeing as how she has so many down there in the pasture. They'd blend right in with hers.