NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I found pictures of the Battery hens!
http://fingerlakes.craigslist.org/grd/3687435154.html

This reminds me of a book I read/listened to when I first got chickens. "Love Ruby Lavender". Great kids book. Back then I took out every book that had to do with chickens and even read the kids books.

 

[rancher hicks]

Forgive my ignorance, the only Deaton's Agway I find in a Google search is in Pulaski. The only Agway I knew of in Fulton was by the railroad tracks on Broadway, but it closed years ago & now has a collision place there... could you point me at the right place?

OMG I so remember this place. I used to drive to Oswego every day for my job. Lots has changed since then. I so miss Fosters. Dick and Roe were such nice people.

 

[rancher hicks]

I found pictures of the Battery hens!
http://fingerlakes.craigslist.org/grd/3687435154.html

In my OP this is a sucker job. These birds are most likely "production" leghorns. Bred to lay lots of eggs real quick and then drop off considerably. Please do some research. Production birds are also referred to as "terminal" birds.

These birds might have lots or years left in them, but I highly doubt they are "laying" years. I bet $3 is more than they'll get at the processing plant. The commercial egg laying business can be sad at times.

Buyer beware,

Rancher

 

[Lynzi777]

In my OP this is a sucker job.  These birds are most likely "production" leghorns.  Bred to lay lots of eggs real quick and then drop off considerably.  Please do some research.  Production birds are also referred to as "terminal" birds.  

These birds might have lots or years left in them, but I highly doubt they are "laying"  years.  I bet $3 is more than they'll get at the processing plant.  The commercial egg laying business can be sad at times. 

Buyer beware, 

Rancher

This was my thinking, especially seeing that second picture and they state they up to 1000 of them!

 

[Cass]

In my OP this is a sucker job. These birds are most likely "production" leghorns. Bred to lay lots of eggs real quick and then drop off considerably. Please do some research. Production birds are also referred to as "terminal" birds.

These birds might have lots or years left in them, but I highly doubt they are "laying" years. I bet $3 is more than they'll get at the processing plant. The commercial egg laying business can be sad at times.

Buyer beware,

Rancher

Agreed. And the picture in the ad was of a snow white bird, so I would have to agree with Rancher.

Personally I think these folks (the ones selling the birds) are not overly good at business management. The ad claims they bought the chickens as pullets for $9.75 almost 2 years ago. Now they are selling them for $3 and/or sending them to become (most probably at their age) soup. Not sure why they are sending them to Canada, NJ might be closer and campbells buys old egg layers for their soup.

If I ever go completely insane and decide to become an egg production farm, I would grow the birds from chicks that I hatch. Even with feeding them for 4 - 5 months it would be cheaper than buying the birds from someone else who raised them to laying age (and there is no garentee that a "pullet" will start laying instantly, so you might still be feeding a bird that isn't laying for a month or two)
That's what the local egg farmer did....had a huge area they ran around and ate and drank and grew until they were old enough to go in the cages for laying and egg collection. (the chicks never went outside, but otherwise they ran around and acted like chicks) Of course I will never go that insane, cuz to make money at it you would have to either totally automate the system or work at it 8 hours a day and I just don't want to work that hard.

I wonder if they make or I could make a nest box that the egg dissappeared into the back so the hens can't eat them, poop on them or do those other things that hens seem to find a way to do when they discover where the last sista laid their egg.

 

[Cooped Up Chick]

Cass, I'm new, but yesterday I did see a thread with pictures that someone did just that because they had an eggeater. If I find it I'll post it.

 

[Cooped Up Chick]

did I miss Lisa's entrance?

Thanks Rancher. I just joined yesterday.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

blzzrdqueen---its both a way to mark where I read up to and a word game. I like to post a word and see who comes up with another to go with it. Word association games are fun.

So the cheep are uber mad that the evil white stuff has returned and ruined their freeranging time. Dh got to hear it today as I had to work and he didnt have to go in. Hehehe. For once I am off the hook. It was not fun sliding down the mountain this morning and by the looks of it the plow only came through at 530 this morning. Our road really needs scraping. At least it wasnt crazy at work.

Candling eggs tonight. We shall see how many silkies are still growing. Loving my new incubators. They are really holding the temps and humidity well. I will have blue bearded silkie chicks for sale once they hatch, in case anyone is interested. I am sure Rancher will want at least 6! (Hehehe) Cant wait for my heritage rir eggs to hatch either.

I am hoping this is the last roar of the march lion. I really need spring to be here and warmer temps. Once the divas go to their new forever home, I have a lot of work to do on that tractor to get it ready for the newbies. Its due for a good scrubbing and new paint and stain. Always good to freshen things up and make them look nice. I am sure the neighbors apreciate it as well. I try to keep a neat yard and clean coops so nobody has anything to complain about. I cant keep the boys from crowing but at least they dont crow a lot, so thats good.

Almost done with my baby blanket I am crocheting. I think it will be nice once I am done. Not bad for a beginner. I guess old dogs really can learn new tricks.

 

[larry529]

I told you, I needed a bigger blanket, the one your making will hardly cover my feet

 

[rancher hicks]

Just came in from snow blowing. It's snowing again. Chickens don't like the machine. Two Dels in the nest boxes and it's late for them. They're usually done by now. Broody? I doubt it, but the snow might have thrown them off.

I do have two orps and the RIR girl on eggs. Just one or two each. I don't think Buckwheat will have anything. I candled and it don't look good.

CM has another pet food recall. Seems they have a lot of those. Never any chicken feed sales though. Ugh! Which btw , those chickens going to Canada are most likely not going into soup.

Should start candling eggs soon. It will take me a couple of days to do them all. Now remember I'm always up for a trade. I don't intend to keep all these chicks.

Don't tempt me Pharm, I might take you up on a Blue silky rooster and stick him in with some Marans and Amer hens. Just to see what happens. It's so wet here though , I'd have to shave the poor guys feet and legs.

Too bad I couldn't cross him with a duck too. Chickens that lay dark brown eggs and swims like a duck. That is really what I need in this mud hole of a yard!

Take care, love ya,

Rancher