NY chicken lover!!!!

[happyhensny]

Quote:
You know what? That is just not stinkin' funny. And did you hear, snow for tomorrow? Our area is on for up to 2"! Geeze, what a crazy year. The cold I don't mind but the dampness really stinks.

On a good note, my chick barn is clean, the ducks well, are ducks.

The goats are great, just need to close up their windows. Should be good for winter. The cookie tin water heaters are ready to go, DH found a heated water bucket FREE for the goats. It's a little big, but can't complain. After we get some frost I will put some hay bales around the base of the duck coop to keep out drafts under the floor-it's up on blocks. Hawks have been around alot lately. My Australorp Roo is growing into a fine guardian for his girls. I had just opened the gate for them to free range and he spotted a hawk right away and chased them all back into the coop and stood at the gate not letting any go back out. Proud of the HUGE guy. And, he still is a bit timid around me-no sassy boys allowed.

Keep warm and dry everyone!

Annie

 

[rancher hicks]

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How old are the chicks when I buy them? I am willing to pay up to $5 for day olds (pure breed, I transport and take what I get regarding gender) Older chicks, like 7 - 9 weeks old that can be genderized (Hey, I made up a word) I would pay up to $10 (and have). (Again, pure breed, I transport)

With that said, I just paid $35 for a pair of full grown Lav Ameruacanas. (ok, in August, but that's "just", right?) I transported and the roo was kinda a "give away" cuz he will never be Show Quality, but I don't care about chicken color, I care about EGG color and he has the blue egg gene.

If I really really want the bird, for reasons known only to me, I will pay what is asked. BUT I won't pay so much that it brings tears to my eggs if it dies.

Now I have a question for you. How far apart can I "set" eggs? I tucked an egg under my broody silkie yesterday and another one today. IF (caps on purpose, cuz laying eggs doesn't seem to be my chicken's forte) I get another egg tomorrow can I add it to the two she is sitting on? How about the day after? I don't want a lone chick and I have no idea if these are fertile or not. They are my own eggs, so I don't care if they hatch or not, but I still don't want just ONE to hatch and have to listen to that poor chick cry and cry and cry for a hatch mate.

The reason a hen lays a lot of eggs and then starts to sit on them is so they all start incubating the same day when she beings to sit, & hatch at the same time. By putting an egg a few days in a row under the hen, they will all be at different days of incubation. When the 1st or 2nd egg hatches, the hen will get off the nest and the rest won't hatch because they are not ready yet.

This is why I said to take the first few chicks. This advice is from "Minnie Rose Luvgreen" . I'm sure many of us have had hen abandon the nest with eggs left unhatched. Unless we specifically "save" eggs to put under a broody one can never know exactly when they got there. The key is to take them before she gets off the nest with the first chick and breaks from broodiness to the mothering stage. I wouldn't purposely keep putting eggs under a hen, one each day but it can be done.

My last incubator hatch lasted nearly a week. All eggs were set the same day but apparently the chicks had their own idea of when they wanted to celebrate their birthdays. Right now I have 4 chicks and one to go in the incu due to my not moving the hen and things getting messed up near the end. She was doing fine but something must have spooked her. Of course now that I think about it , it is October.

But I have had two or three hens hatch in the coop just fine. Not something I prefer or advise.

Also if you remember when we went to Rome or whatever the guy there said that you can take the chicks and just keep putting eggs under a hen and as long as she hasn't broke broodiness she'll continue to sit. Not advisable but it can be done.

Love ya all,

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Well first , I've charged $5 for my Dels which are pure and my line. However I've driven to your area for "genderized" CM's and paid $10 each. But if I pay $99 a chick from GF or even the $20 for the lavs. it would hardly make sense to sell them for $5 would it? If they are mixed or mutts as they say I usually sell them for a couple of bucks and if they don't sell I just give them away. I do strive and for pures in my Dels of course and will with anything from GF. My BR's are from Kathinmo, have their own coop so they will be pure. Anything in the barred breeds can be sexed at birth.

I completely understand the Amer thing, but I keep EE's as they will lay green , blue or shades thereof. I expect with an Amer lav roo they will lay colored eggs of some shade.

As for your silkies, you can do a stagger hatch but I would mark each egg so you have some idea when they will hatch. As they hatch take each chick put them in a brooder until the hen is done and then stick the first born chicks back under her at night. I wouldn't do this with to many eggs though unless you intend to take the chicks and not give them back to her.

Hey Rancher,

I do not mind paying for quality and would gladly pay $5 - $10 for quality sexed chicks. Having said that, I am in the unenviable position of having had suspected cases of Mereck's on my farm and so I will only get vaccinated chicks or hatching eggs from a Mereck's resistant flock if chicks were unavailable and I wanted the breed enough. The only birds that I anticipate being in the market for this spring would be EE's or Norwiegen Jahearns.
Myself, I agree with you. My first inclination is to have a hardy bird that does what it is bred to do. With any breeding animal, the purpose of the breed should not be lost. Alas, it often is anyway. From Dogs to Horses to Chickens the purpose will get clouded and lost as we strive for that perfect conformation. It seems to me we should work on purpose first, then retain that as we strive for that beautiful SOP conformation.
I would love to see some Red Orps, but they are not on my list to buy. Perhaps seeing them would bring a new perspective to light, who knows?

For now, just waiting for my pullets to lay.

And looking through guerny's for those raspberry canes.....

Have I mentioned that I planted raspberries? I got plants at CM for $2 ea. Plus gooseberries and red currants. I just hope the take. The raspberries were producing even after I planted them though just a couple of berries. I went on the ME web page for berries and learned how to prune and plant them. Oh and about the different varieties that are good for cold areas.. I figure if it works in Maine it should work here.

As for GF, my purpose in asking was to see whether I would able to sell chicks or not. I don't have to hatch eggs of course. Or if I do I don't have to hatch for more than myself.

As for Mereks. I suppose if GF vaccinated for it I would have it done. I've not read to many getting it nor how common it is. I really should research it more I suppose. One thing is for sure and that is to practice Biosecurity. I do keep a pretty much closed flock though. I've not had new chicks from anyone since my BR from MO. Also quarantine is a must. Auctions are an absolute no, no. I might sell there but I haven't bought anything there since I bought some hatching eggs there two years ago. While they hatched they were dirty and I won't do that again. Just know that if you come for chicks, you will not be allowed in my coops. You can see the birds over the fence but no touching or any of that. I will have your chicks or birds secured for inspection before you come if I can.

Well take care I have to buy some chick feed for these 4 possibly five in the incu. Lord help me, I so did not want to do chicks now. I just didn't have the heart to toss them. And besides that they were so close to hatching and one of them was peeping, what was I to do? So far 3 dels and an EE I think, Could be a Blk orp. It's black with black legs, though the mother wouldn't be a black orp since I have none. Keep me in mind in the spring for EE's. The dad will be a Lav Amer roo and the moms EE's. Some of which are barred.

Ta, ta for now,

Rancher

 

[Framac]

Quote:
I guess what folks pay will depend on how and to whom you market almost as much as the birds.

Taking the risk to bring in a few birds at 99 a pop hoping to get a few hens and a rooster to wait to hatch hoping that people will buy them is no small undertaking. Myself, I’m not in the position to do that just getting back into Poultry and finding my ways again. But you bet I would love to get some of the reds, chocolate, or Jubilee Orps. I would be willing to pay 15-20 dollars for rare chicks that I wanted. I don’t think it Is unreasonable considering the potential risk.

If you do get some, keep me in mind for chicks.

Chris

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I guess what folks pay will depend on how and to whom you market almost as much as the birds.

Taking the risk to bring in a few birds at 99 a pop hoping to get a few hens and a rooster to wait to hatch hoping that people will buy them is no small undertaking. Myself, I’m not in the position to do that just getting back into Poultry and finding my ways again. But you bet I would love to get some of the reds, chocolate, or Jubilee Orps. I would be willing to pay 15-20 dollars for rare chicks that I wanted. I don’t think it Is unreasonable considering the potential risk.

If you do get some, keep me in mind for chicks.

Chris

Thanks so much for the reply. This is what I was looking to find out.

When I first got started with Dels there was no one in NY near me that had them. So when I found a rooster to go with my hatchery girls I jumped at the chance. When I was offered the entire flock of 5 I said yes. None of which came from the hatchery. So I've been working with those and dumped the hatchery girls. I do have a pair from Speckledhen however.

So when I order from GF I don't want to be giving chicks away and hope to at least recoup some of my money and expense. I've offered to do a split order but no one wants to risk it I guess.

I figure the odds of getting a pullet and roo are pretty good with a trio of the breed. If I get two hens and a roo I can go from there. If I get two roos and a hen I can go from there too. Of course the hen will be in heaven what with two guys all to herself.

Of course the odds are even greater with each extra chick.

I will most likely order chicks but won't plan on offering chicks for sale. I'd have to much invested in the project. I'd have to order 6 chicks minimum and the shipping is $60. While I can reduce the cost by ordering two breeds that still is a lot to invest. Of course I wouldn't be asking $99 a chick. Perhaps $50.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I've been trying to catch up on the thread for at least an hour now around the kids and chores. I didn't quite make it.

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go. It's employee appreciation day. They're having food catered and a tent set up outside to eat under. Snow and tent....makes a whole lot of sense!

Later i'll have to post pics of the pumpkins we carved this weekend. It took the chickens a day to decide to eat the one they could reach.

Hope everyone has a good day.

 

[rancher hicks]

Me again,

Just went and bought a bag of Med. Chick starter. $16.99 !!!!!!! Purina . I will probably just keep chicks on this for two bags worth and then switch to Dumor grower after that. Still expensive but what can I do?

 

[greymane]

Annie, you should be mighty proud of that roo!

Rancher, how many chicks do you have? I would think two bags would last a long time for chicks.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
I guess what folks pay will depend on how and to whom you market almost as much as the birds.

Taking the risk to bring in a few birds at 99 a pop hoping to get a few hens and a rooster to wait to hatch hoping that people will buy them is no small undertaking. Myself, I’m not in the position to do that just getting back into Poultry and finding my ways again. But you bet I would love to get some of the reds, chocolate, or Jubilee Orps. I would be willing to pay 15-20 dollars for rare chicks that I wanted. I don’t think it Is unreasonable considering the potential risk.

If you do get some, keep me in mind for chicks.

Chris

Thanks so much for the reply. This is what I was looking to find out.

When I first got started with Dels there was no one in NY near me that had them. So when I found a rooster to go with my hatchery girls I jumped at the chance. When I was offered the entire flock of 5 I said yes. None of which came from the hatchery. So I've been working with those and dumped the hatchery girls. I do have a pair from Speckledhen however.

So when I order from GF I don't want to be giving chicks away and hope to at least recoup some of my money and expense. I've offered to do a split order but no one wants to risk it I guess.

I figure the odds of getting a pullet and roo are pretty good with a trio of the breed. If I get two hens and a roo I can go from there. If I get two roos and a hen I can go from there too. Of course the hen will be in heaven what with two guys all to herself.

Of course the odds are even greater with each extra chick.

I will most likely order chicks but won't plan on offering chicks for sale. I'd have to much invested in the project. I'd have to order 6 chicks minimum and the shipping is $60. While I can reduce the cost by ordering two breeds that still is a lot to invest. Of course I wouldn't be asking $99 a chick. Perhaps $50.

If you wait a few years, the offspring from the birds GF sells will be much cheaper. I'm buying pure GF Coronation pullets, about 5 months old for $10 each. The person sellinng them bougtht a trio for $250.00 the 1st year they were offered. Its those first couple of generations that get the high prices, after a few years, everyone and their brother will have them & be sellinng them much cheaper. I know its hard to wait, I'd like to get some lemon cuckoo Orpingtons, but not at $99 a chick...

 

[happycountryhens]

Hey Rancher,

If I buy anything from you, I would trust you. We would be able to meet somewhere and I would not be offended not to come to your place. (Much as I would love to see the work you have done there.)

Where the Mereks came from is a mystery to me. We had 6 day old chicks from TSC for one month, then bought some chicks from Tigrlilly. After I had them for six weeks, the orps were put into my lama turn out barn that we remade into a coop for the chickens. We started losing the orps at 11 wks old. We only had one other chicken who we had gotten 5 months before. We did go to one auction, but we put on different shoes then we ever wear to the coops and we went right into the house afterwards, threw the clothes in the washer, disinfected the shoes and took showers. Sprayed the car with disinfectent too on the seats and floor. It was way too much like work and we didn't go to an auction again. It was heartbreaking to lose those beautiful orps and we then lost my EE rooster (so now we are roosterless). Don't want to chance spreading that to anyone elses coop, so I decided we either ship in vaccinated birds, use eggs from resistant flocks or buy vaccinated or resistant chicks from people we trust so we can meet somewhere to trade chicks and money and not risk another flock. In June we got vaccinated chicks in from MM.

Anyway, I almost called you about your frizzle this past summer, but then I found out about the Merecks and decided to figure out my flocks health and investigate my biosecurity breech before I added to the flock. So far everything is well with the vaccinated birds from MM hatchery. One bird had an episode of lameness, then recovered. Everyone else is good. No more losses from the small coop after we lost the EE rooster and no losses from the birds from Tigrlilly.

I enjoy talking with you on this forum. What is CM? Those are good deals on plants.

ETA: I will definately keep you in mind for the EE's. Would love some barred ones.