NY chicken lover!!!!

[boskelli1571]

Two hour school delay here, which I am not minding at all with this cold weather. Our road ditches have been a problem. Culverts are plugged up, so all the water has been running over our driveway. Which then froze over into a lovely pond of ice at the end of the driveway and just below the driveway is ice all across the road. The Amish driveway just uphill from us is the primary source of this problem, narrow buggy wheels do more damage than you think.
Got the heat lamp set up over the brooder last night to get the right height. Got it adjusted then left it in for a few minutes to make sure temperatures held, came back to a blown bulb. Got a spare, but very glad I don't have chicks yet. Will buy another new spare when I do get chicks.
Thinking of calling the Ithaca and Vestal TSCs to see what they have in. Becoming impatient for some chicks, because I'm thinking of when they would start laying this summer.
ETA: Vestal only has BR and red pullets. Ithaca has Golden Comet, BR, bantams, GLW and Tetra Tints. Now if this weather would straighten up, I'll be making a trip to Ithaca after work.

Have you tried the poultry hatchery in Fayette? After my disaster with chicks in the mail, I'm going to give them a try this weekend.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

I dont extend my bare hand to my roos for treats ...LOL.
He may have not meant to hurt .
With all the Crowing Neck action ..my roosters have one heck of a peck ...even when they are just pecking at food

I wasn't reaching toward him at all and I don't feed out of my hands. This was an intended attack coming from across the coop spurs and all. I don't tolerate any aggression with roos and people.

 

[rancher hicks]

We lost power for about 3 hours today... I wrapped the two incubators in blankets, moved the chicks into the dining room crate and all next to the heater and laid down to take a nap. Was all I could do. Praying the power stays on.

I got up at 3 and couldn't sleep being worried so I had to check all brooders to make sure lights were on.

 

[Lapeerian]

Have you tried the poultry hatchery in Fayette?  After my disaster with chicks in the mail, I'm going to give them a try this weekend.

I haven't. That might be the one that others had problems with though, breeds are not as stated. Not sure.
When I first got started, I was going to order from Meyers but Travis hooked me up instead I got some TSC chicks last year, for production purposes. At least then they are already shipped and I don't need to worry about DOA. I wanted more GLW from the girl that I got them from before, but she now has SLW instead and hasn't gotten back to me. Ill still get some quality birds from you crazy enablers out there.

 

[Glasshen]

I bought two BO from Fayette, nut they turned out to be some kind of sex link and one of them has spurs. I contacted the place a couple of times, but they gave me the run around, trying to pull the wool over my eyes, never admitting even that they made a mistake...I'm still pretty mad at them. They do not vaccinate the chicks, if that matters to you. If I were to buy from a place, I would try Natureberry Farm. I hear great things about that place.

 

[rancher hicks]

Two hour school delay here, which I am not minding at all with this cold weather. Our road ditches have been a problem. Culverts are plugged up, so all the water has been running over our driveway. Which then froze over into a lovely pond of ice at the end of the driveway and just below the driveway is ice all across the road. The Amish driveway just uphill from us is the primary source of this problem, narrow buggy wheels do more damage than you think.
Got the heat lamp set up over the brooder last night to get the right height. Got it adjusted then left it in for a few minutes to make sure temperatures held, came back to a blown bulb. Got a spare, but very glad I don't have chicks yet. Will buy another new spare when I do get chicks.
Thinking of calling the Ithaca and Vestal TSCs to see what they have in. Becoming impatient for some chicks, because I'm thinking of when they would start laying this summer.
ETA: Vestal only has BR and red pullets. Ithaca has Golden Comet, BR, bantams, GLW and Tetra Tints. Now if this weather would straighten up, I'll be making a trip to Ithaca after work.

I have Del chicks and if you weren't so far you could have some. Iv'e got them posted to CL but if they don't sell I'll have to give them away. I've been in contact with a friend in MO and will be getting some of hers next month Lord willing.

 

[rancher hicks]

FYI - If you have a septic system check the toilet paper you use. Even if the label says it's safe to use.

What I've learned recently is that the new toilet paper DW bought breaks up. Our old TP apparently while the package says is okay does not. We've been having trouble with our since we moved in. We would get clogs and hear gurgling sounds or it would not go down. I've had to root out the pipe a few times since winter began and we've had back ups into the yard.

What I suggest is to take your TP and put a few sheets into a bucket of water or let it sit in the toilet. Give it a swirl and see if it breaks up.

Our new TP is softer and does. We had some of the old and I started to use it and now it's gurgling again. So it's back to the new stuff.

Just thought you should know.

 

[JWEBB]

I got up at 3 and couldn't sleep being worried so I had to check all brooders to make sure lights were on.

I feel ya, I get worried when power goes now those babies need heat. I have a charger thingy I can plug into but where was it but dead and out in the garage..

Gonna get some of those hand heat packs to keep in case of emergency too. It will be better than nuthin for the babies.

 

[JWEBB]

I bought two BO from Fayette, nut they turned out to be some kind of sex link and one of them has spurs. I contacted the place a couple of times, but they gave me the run around, trying to pull the wool over my eyes, never admitting even that they made a mistake...I'm still pretty mad at them. They do not vaccinate the chicks, if that matters to you. If I were to buy from a place, I would try Natureberry Farm. I hear great things about that place.

I could tell you stories that would curl your hair of those two nuts from personal experience. JMO stay away from Fayette.

I'm really happy with Natureberry. Their stock is vaccinated for Mareks. The 6 chicks I got a week ago are thriving. Everything there was organized and set up nice, clean. Really a nice couple. They use and sell the feed from Pine Creek Mill. The feed mill is near there, Pine Creek Feed. They have fishmeal you can add to your mix and will make you custom mixes. I like the fact that they will bag and sell non GMO feeds. I am very anti Monsanto.

 

[rancher hicks]

Snow blowed the drive and cleaned off DW's car. Then did the path to the coops. Very sore even with a machine. Have to clean off my car since I didn't do it yesterday.

Paths to coops muddy. Should have done them last night. Then the ground would have froze.

As previously stated I have Del chicks. While I have EE's and BM those I intend to keep but since I expect to get Del chicks from MO the ones I have can go.

I also expect to down size some Del hens when I get the new chicks. They're laying very well considering the weather and all. They take a short break when early winter comes but they're back like crazy. I get nearly 100% from these girls. Even Buckwheat laid and eggs yesterday. She's my little frizzle.