NY chicken lover!!!!

[sarahandbray]

I really want to try to avoid hatchery Wyandottes, though I'm probably going to keep getting chickens from McMurray in the future since
A) I am mainly interested in eggs
B) I like that they can sex them (though I get it's less humane...but I am SO ATTACHED to my Roos that I'm having a tough time parting with them!)
C) cost is cheap!
D) Vaccinations for Marek's and Coccidioysis (sp?) for a whopping .38 cents per bird

I would like to have some "bling/eye candy" in the yard--I like big, fluffy, Heritage breeds. Hence, the attraction to Orpingtons and Wyandottes. Not big into the smaller, flightly, super-rare, or speckled birds. Don't know why--just like a solid, meaty looking bird. My Welsummers & Brown Leghorns are pretty & shimmery, but crazy hard to catch in the yard! I like the more chill, relaxed Pioneers and Orps and Rocks for hanging out with. Hoping Wyandottes have a similar laid back personality

I like pretty & practical. Wonder what other breeds fit that bill? Heritage + Pretty + Practical (great egg layers of big eggs) + Friendly.

Sarah

 

[rancher hicks]

I really want to try to avoid hatchery Wyandottes, though I'm probably going to keep getting chickens from McMurray in the future since
A) I am mainly interested in eggs
B) I like that they can sex them (though I get it's less humane...but I am SO ATTACHED to my Roos that I'm having a tough time parting with them!)
C) cost is cheap!
D) Vaccinations for Marek's and Coccidioysis (sp?) for a whopping .38 cents per bird

I would like to have some "bling/eye candy" in the yard--I like big, fluffy, Heritage breeds. Hence, the attraction to Orpingtons and Wyandottes. Not big into the smaller, flightly, super-rare, or speckled birds. Don't know why--just like a solid, meaty looking bird. My Welsummers & Brown Leghorns are pretty & shimmery, but crazy hard to catch in the yard! I like the more chill, relaxed Pioneers and Orps and Rocks for hanging out with. Hoping Wyandottes have a similar laid back personality

I like pretty & practical. Wonder what other breeds fit that bill? Heritage + Pretty + Practical (great egg layers of big eggs) + Friendly.

Sarah

I too like a variety for the yard. That's why I keep EE's just for the colored eggs. I work with Birchen Marans, Delaware and Columbian Rocks.

I do have some Barred rocks, a couple of frizzles and a Light Sussex. I don't find it hard to integrate a hen or two of another breed. Point being you can have a variety of breeds just fine, but work with one breed hatching as you like.

Find someone you like and trade back and forth for pullets of the odd pretty yard candy breeds.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[marquisella]

I really want to try to avoid hatchery Wyandottes, though I'm probably going to keep getting chickens from McMurray in the future since
A) I am mainly interested in eggs
B) I like that they can sex them (though I get it's less humane...but I am SO ATTACHED to my Roos that I'm having a tough time parting with them!)
C) cost is cheap!
D) Vaccinations for Marek's and Coccidioysis (sp?) for a whopping .38 cents per bird

I would like to have some "bling/eye candy" in the yard--I like big, fluffy, Heritage breeds. Hence, the attraction to Orpingtons and Wyandottes. Not big into the smaller, flightly, super-rare, or speckled birds. Don't know why--just like a solid, meaty looking bird. My Welsummers & Brown Leghorns are pretty & shimmery, but crazy hard to catch in the yard! I like the more chill, relaxed Pioneers and Orps and Rocks for hanging out with. Hoping Wyandottes have a similar laid back personality

I like pretty & practical. Wonder what other breeds fit that bill? Heritage + Pretty + Practical (great egg layers of big eggs) + Friendly.

Sarah

Blue laced red Wyandottes were the first birds I started breeding back in 2003. I had them for 6 or 7 years, then gave up. They are not good layers, nor are they very big. Yes they were pretty, but even that was hard to accomplish. They were popular for a while, and then died back some. I think because the frustration in trying to breed good birds. I didn't see any better personality in them than any of the other breeds I had. Just my experience, and at one point, I was 1 of about 4 serious breeders of them in the US. Jerry Foley even bought a roo from me when he first started. I don't think any of them are still breeding them now.

 

[sarahandbray]

Thanks for the feedback!!
Right now, due to the Special Ramdom Mix I got from McMurray and the specific breeds I have from Chicken Scratch, I'm at 37 birds (sold 5 last wknd).
Here's what I have:
--Welsummer-small flighty, FAST, shiny & pretty
--Brown Leghorn--ditto
--One lone Delaware Roo (no hens)--he's one of my favorites--GORGEOUS coloring, super personality, curious but not pushy
--One lone Buff Orp hen--she's no where near as big and fluffy as my HinkJC line Lav Orps, but sweet & shy
--Pioneer/Dixie Rainbows--I know they're more of a meat bird, but I LOVE these guys & gals. Super sweet, very friendly, and HUGE!
--Lav Orpington--super pretty & fluffy--gorgeous "seagull" color, big, round eyes
--Ameracuana--embarrassed to say I can't tell which ones these are!! But I know I have them somewhere! Black for sure...but I can't tell between them and Olive Eggers!
--Olive Eggers--super pretty to look at w/chipmunk cheeks and iridescent black/green feathers. Pretty and precocious.
--Red Sex Link--two boys, two girls. No where near as large as the Pioneer, but girls are similarly colored
--Barred Rocks--mostly boys--thanks, McMurray!! Theae guys are growing on me...
--Black Copper Marans--VERY pretty, friendly, relatively petite. These guys are going to be good-looking adults, I think!!
--White Plymouth Rocks--two Roos only.

I think that's it...probably 18-20 hens and I'll keep 2 Roos, hopefully. Aiming to keep two out of these guys: Lav Orp, Black Copper Maran, Delaware (just b/c he's so great!), or Welsummer. We'll see who earns a spot and who gets re-homed!

 

[Lapeerian]

Do some research on the vaccinations. I think I seen in the southern NY thread that someone had vaccinated birds, therefore any new ones also needed to be vaccinated. The hatchery birds will shed the killed virus in droppings and potentially infect your breeder birds. Can't remember exactly though, so someone else chime in? We had an avian vet tech floating around here somewhere...

 

[sarahandbray]

Oh really? Ugh. That would stink! A friend lost her entire flock last year to Cocci (super clean coop, well cared for pets). I was worried about that when I orders but was excited when vaccinations weren't $$. Birds from Chicken Scratch are Marek's vaccinated but not Cocci. Hope I didn't endanger them!
Man, the learning curve on chickens is STEEP!!!

 

[Beer can]

Do some research on the vaccinations. I think I seen in the southern NY thread that someone had vaccinated birds, therefore any new ones also needed to be vaccinated. The hatchery birds will shed the killed virus in droppings and potentially infect your breeder birds.

HUH! When I grew up my father always had many chickens, he never had them vaccinated for anything, mostly rose comb RIRs, some mixed with what he called 'fighting banties'. Never had any diseases, sickness or problems of any kind, except for a weasel that almost took out the entire flock in one night.

 

[kadoer12]

Thanks for the feedback!!
Right now, due to the Special Ramdom Mix I got from McMurray and the specific breeds I have from Chicken Scratch, I'm at 37 birds (sold 5 last wknd).
Here's what I have:
--Welsummer-small flighty, FAST, shiny & pretty
--Brown Leghorn--ditto
--One lone Delaware Roo (no hens)--he's one of my favorites--GORGEOUS coloring, super personality, curious but not pushy
--One lone Buff Orp hen--she's no where near as big and fluffy as my HinkJC line Lav Orps, but sweet & shy
--Pioneer/Dixie Rainbows--I know they're more of a meat bird, but I LOVE these guys & gals. Super sweet, very friendly, and HUGE!
--Lav Orpington--super pretty & fluffy--gorgeous "seagull" color, big, round eyes
--Ameracuana--embarrassed to say I can't tell which ones these are!! But I know I have them somewhere! Black for sure...but I can't tell between them and Olive Eggers!
--Olive Eggers--super pretty to look at w/chipmunk cheeks and iridescent black/green feathers. Pretty and precocious.
--Red Sex Link--two boys, two girls. No where near as large as the Pioneer, but girls are similarly colored
--Barred Rocks--mostly boys--thanks, McMurray!!

Theae guys are growing on me...
--Black Copper Marans--VERY pretty, friendly, relatively petite. These guys are going to be good-looking adults, I think!!
--White Plymouth Rocks--two Roos only.

I think that's it...probably 18-20 hens and I'll keep 2 Roos, hopefully. Aiming to keep two out of these guys: Lav Orp, Black Copper Maran, Delaware (just b/c he's so great!), or Welsummer. We'll see who earns a spot and who gets re-homed!

Did you get your ameraucanas from McMurray?

 

[Beer can]

WOW, kinda new to BYC, I found a upstate NY thread! Looking for a heritage meat bird breed, non-cornish x frankenbirds and hope to try a few in the spring. I plan on trying Breiss to see if they live up to the hype and have found a breeder driving distance from me selling breeding trios for $125, more expensive than some but after paying for 15 minimum for chicks and shipping at places I've found they really are not and I can breed their numbers up. Does anyone know where I can find Jersey Giant, non-hatchery, preferably white? I planned on getting some blacks from "Marias Giants", she from what I've read has the best but I'd rather not have them mailed If I can find some local. I read a old thread on BYC where a guy was looking for big heritage JG whites wanting to preserve the breed, and I'm thinking white ones would dress out nicer. Plan on ordering some cheap roos from Meyers also to practice canonizing before trying it on the Breiss and JG. Anyone know where I can find JG heritage big bred birds (I've heard hatchery ones don't grow to as big as they say) in upstate NY? I live between Binghamton and Oneonta.

 

[sarahandbray]

No, I got the Ameracuanas, Black Copper Marans, Olive Eggers and Lavender Orpingtons from Chicken Scratch Poultry.