NY chicken lover!!!!

[tgrlily]

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When you're first starting out, it's not a bad idea to get several different breeds. Initially, we had Buff Brahmas, Light Brahmas, BBS, Lavender & Split Orpingtons, an easter egger, Red Dorkings, BBS & White Silkies and Silver Spangled Hamburgs. I wasn't thrilled with the quality of the Brahmas -- so they went. I had bad luck with the BBS Orps having weird bits of odd colors & didn't get a single male worth breeding & I had a LOT of them -- they all went. Most of my split Oprs were boys! So they went. The SS Hamburgs were stunning --- and the most insane chickens I've ever had --- they layed everywhere, tore up the neighbor's begonias & taught the other girls really bad habits. Needless to say, they went!

Out of our original flock, we still have the Silkies & Dorkings, 1 Lavender Orp Rooster and the EE hen. Took me a year & a half to find & grow out black orp hens worthy of my lavs -- out of 16, only 4 stayed! We added 3 colors of Ameraucanas. Had a hard time with that -- paid a bunch of money for Ameraucana eggs that ended up being EEs. Ameraucanas are one of the biggest pitfalls because hatcheries call their EEs "Americaunas" so people think they have Ameraucanas. I got gorgeous Dominique chicks this year, but they seem flightier than I expected.... maybe they're going through an uppity phase.

I'm seriously considering changing my focus here. We love the silkies. Out of the Ameraucanas, I only really "love" the whites. I have so much time & money invested in the Lav Orp Project that I have to keep them --- especially since I'm hatching mottled chicks this year! But preserving the Dorkings is going to be the main focus & that's gonna take a lot of breeding pens!

BTW... 25 hens is not too hard to take care of! 60 grown birds & over 100 chicks takes some time.

 

[happycountryhens]

First day out in the big coop. It's not yet 50 degrees, so I only put them out for and hour and a half.

Doris established the pecking order right away. She is the Queen! End of story.




Chicks got settled in and decided to eat. When they got back to the brooder, they all took a short nap.



Happy Country Hens

 

[happycountryhens]

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How fantastic! I hope someday to have a nice piece of land. We have 12 acres right now... had to fight tooth and nail for every square inch of that... a story for a different time!
Sometimes my friends will tease me for moving back here to WNY, the economy isn't that great for what I do for a living, but after living in several different parts of the country no place is as beautiful as home!

NY has to be one of the most beautiful and diverse places that there is. 12 Acres is great - a little breathing room.

Happy Country Hens

 

[trilyn]

Okay...my dh thinks I've completely lost it...I'm a little nervous myself....I want ducks! Does anyone here have any for sale? Remember, I'm in East Syracuse..don't mind driving a half hour or 45 minutes. But I do think my day trips are done for a while! LOL I think, since I don't plan on breeding (we've all said that at least once, right?)I'm gonna head to TSC...they had Khaki Campbells..cute little chocolate babies!

Renee....OMG....went and had the birds done up....10 del roos in all..Tims and mine....5 each...HUGE! Gorgeous, now they're in the fridge for 3 days to rest, there are so many differing opinions on this, I am taking the middle road on this. But 10 birds in the fridge equals no fridge space! LOL But there's plenty of room in the freezer.....

Many thanks for that processor! She is a wonderful, wonderful person and her hubby is a riot! Definitely would recommend them to anyone!

Tim, thanks for the food-LOL!!! JK! They'll be here when you get back! I promise!!

Hope everyone is having a blast!!

Trish

 

[Sachasmom]

Assuming I don't kill them rather than hatch them, I should have Cayuga and Cayuga/Buff cross ducklings in about a month. I have one duck sitting, so maybe she will do better than I usually do?

I will have excess Runners in about two months from my Holderreads order once I pick out what ones I potentially want for my breeding pen.

Wish I had stuff now, but everything just started laying last month and then it was hard to find the eggs before they froze!

If anyone needs eggs and feels like picking them up I have them for 8.00 a dozen, I have both duck (Cayuga: One male is crested, so chance of crested genetics there) and Cayuga/Buff crosses. I have Purebred Ameraucanas too in BBS (with chance of Lav) this years chicks should be pretty nice, I culled pretty hard last year. I have not test hatched either but the males have been busy, LOL My incubator is full and I can only eat so many eggs!

I have Coturnix Quail eggs too, 4.00 a dozen, I haven't hatched any of those yet this year either.

Email me at [email protected], I always forget to check the darn PM's!

Dawn

 

[Fyrekitten]

This is just the bestest Site! Crap, just spilled a couple drops of the precious Merlot on the keyboard. Now I'm gonna have to fill back up. No, not a big drinker but a pain day and even though I'm not supposed to mix the two it does help take the edge off more than Naproxen

Tgrlily, I almost choked when I saw your message - I will pm you back shortly. Cydney83 that all sounds great too.

I have a disease called chicken hoarding now I think....I went to TSC (dang them!!!

) and saw those gorgeous chocolatey brown khaki campbell ducklings,,,,,OMG I am sooo in love! Then I saw the MOST gorgeous Silkies in there in Silver and partridge - got 7 more of the evil little buggers. About 1-2 days old if I'm lucky! Look like they hatched there at TSC they are sooo small - I had really thought one of the ones I got was a cochin but on better examination it has that little fluffy hat already started too. Do you think that is to block our tinfoil????

Anyway, I had really only gone in there for chicken feed, shavings and medicated chick feed - not to feed my addiction. I'm know one of the girls in there and a couple of the guys - I'm going to ask if I can put a "Resistance if Futile" sign up over there by the chicks......there was this little girl in there begging her mom for chicks or ducks - she said they could put them in with the pigs when her mom asked where they would put them. Need I say anymore about THAT disaster if it happened????

Tgrlily, you're right about the SS Hamburgs. I have two that I put outside today of my four that have survived and when I got home from the store one was out and one was hiding. I caught them both but they cuddled up to me like I was their Momma (which I guess I am hee hee

) Anyway, I put them back down in the basement with the lone Seabright, Sumatra and the other Silkies, SL/GL Wyandottes and other SS Hamburgs and the lonely Nankin that I have. (only one nankin out of a dozen eggs hatched - most didn't even get past the initial 7 days!

) They really are generally a bit flighty - shocked the daylights out of me once we caught them that they just cuddled in my hand.

Hensey:7 0 acres is VERY nice, I think I might just be envious of you

- I would love it but I would regret it too because I would always be trying to plant or raise something on it.

We actually have a contract on a place here if we had decided to stay that was 24 plus acres with a pond, great barn and two chicken yards already built. A very very cool place. Thinking about it makes me almost regret moving out of NY..... DANG IT!!!

I went and bought another egg turner today since I have begun to be tired of hand turning these eggs too! I need to give them all a check soon anyway since they are running onto the 7 day marker for viability.

It is 60 here today and the Sun is shining - loving it!

 

[marquisella]

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who did your birds? I did 8 myself today with husband, and my back is killing me

 

[trilyn]

Her name is Faith...she is out in mexico...about 45 minutes from me..a bit of a drive for you..but to me-well worth it! She charges 2.00 a bird. Pm me if u want her number..not sure if she would like me to make it public lol!

 

[rancher hicks]

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You have completely lost your mind. Its those d.... silkies , I just know it. I got tired of wearing tin foil so I left town. When I get back I'll be making little tin foil hats for them to wear instead.

I don't know who is looking to try Del chicken more me or DW, so I wouldn't eat them. Tell Mark he has my sympathy and to put both feet down.

Rancher

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
You have completely lost your mind. Its those d.... silkies , I just know it. I got tired of wearing tin foil so I left town. When I get back I'll be making little tin foil hats for them to wear instead.

I don't know who is looking to try Del chicken more me or DW, so I wouldn't eat them. Tell Mark he has my sympathy and to put both feet down.

Rancher

Well.....too late! Bought 4 khaki campbells.....too cute for words! Friendly and omg....they looove the nipple waterer! Funny to watch them go at it!
You know I wouldn't eat them! LOL. I don't want Betsy mad at me!

The silkies.....hehehehehe...ask Renee about her new program...."will work for silkies"! LOL

Take care...will email ya later...got duckies to play with! Yay!