NY chicken lover!!!!

[ChickPrincess]

Is anyone else having a hard time selling eggs??? The last week and a half, I swear, I have sold about 3 dozen total. Are people not buying because of the weather?

 

[Nambroth]

I was told that the Coopers hawk that took my hen might be migrating. I didn't know they migrated. Though I've never had an attack before either.

Red tails seem to be a permanent bird here though right?

All hawks can be migratory, and they can migrate by the thousands. There is a location just south of us NYers that is famous for watching hawk migrations by the thousands called Hawk Mountain in PA. This part of the country is a huge migratory channel. See here: http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/hawkmig.htm



Some hawks stay residents if they are experienced in finding food for the winter. Red-tailed hawks are probably the most common resident hawks in this area, though some do still migrate. Other species are more prone to migration, such as red-shouldered hawks, Coopers, etc.
It's one reason I try to discourage people from shooting them (other than the obvious federal and state laws against it). Hawks can have such huge ranges and migrate thousands of miles, so it's sort of silly to expect to get rid hawk problems by shooting individuals.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

RANCHER SAID: (quote button not working right now)

" I was told that the Coopers hawk that took my hen might be migrating. I didn't know they migrated. Though I've never had an attack before either."


We have both Cooper's and Sharpies (Sharp-shinned) that will hang around through the winter months, Rancher. So your bird could be an individual whose territory encompasses your area, or it could be one that has migrated south into our region from territory farther north.

TOB

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Holy Hawks...I've got three flying around today plus a couple vultures. Even watched a red tail and a vulture duke it out in the field across from us. Must be something dead.
I need it to warm up now so I can start building my new coop! The chicks I broke down and got last week are growing quick! Anyone have experience with welsummers? the one I got seems..."slow". Not sick, not lethargic...just a few neurons short of a synapse.

Edited to add now a juvenile bald eagle is challenging the red tail. Who needs tv?!

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks! I'm thinking I'll set them tomorrow night depending on how things are going. The eggs I'm planning on hatching have been sitting in temperatures between 65-70 degrees, I've read that this can cause low hatching rates, should I be worried?

Sorry for all the questions. I should be writing a 15 page paper right now for one of my classes but instead I'm doing a lot of research and getting ready to set eggs. Oppps

I don't miss those days. For one class I used to get up early run up to the campus and slide it under his door. I don't think I ever saw the professor. Perhaps once.

There's not a whole lots you can do about it now. Might as well give it shot, I say. Though a lower temp would be better. 40-50* imo.

 

[blzzrdqueen]

Is anyone else having a hard time selling eggs??? The last week and a half, I swear, I have sold about 3 dozen total. Are people not buying because of the weather?

How much do you sell your for?

 

[ChickPrincess]

How much do you sell your for?

$2.50/doz. I've always sold a lot of eggs for the same price. Some days I won't sell any but then the next day I'll sell out. This has been ongoing for over a week. My eggs are awesome and huge, so no complaints! Strange. That's what made me think weather. I can't fit any more eggs in my fridge. I may have to donate some tomorrow.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Holy Hawks...I've got three flying around today plus a couple vultures. Even watched a red tail and a vulture duke it out in the field across from us. Must be something dead.
I need it to warm up now so I can start building my new coop! The chicks I broke down and got last week are growing quick! Anyone have experience with welsummers? the one I got seems..."slow". Not sick, not lethargic...just a few neurons short of a synapse.

Edited to add now a juvenile bald eagle is challenging the red tail. Who needs tv?!

I'm with you and have expressed a sincere desire to toss our TV, but the boys "do protesteth loudly"!

When we're at our lake cottage, there isn't a single TV and I don't miss it at all. Loons, eagles, owls...the real "nature channel."

Each year I see more bald eagles than the year prior, consistent with their successful comeback from the brink. I never get tired of seeing them.

TOB

 

[featherz]

$2.50/doz. I've always sold a lot of eggs for the same price. Some days I won't sell any but then the next day I'll sell out. This has been ongoing for over a week. My eggs are awesome and huge, so no complaints! Strange. That's what made me think weather. I can't fit any more eggs in my fridge. I may have to donate some tomorrow.

Me too. I sell for the same price and it's been a bit slow lately. I brought 25 dozen today to the schuylerville auction (I get three dozen a day!). Gave a bunch to work and brought some to the food bank as well.

 

[rancher hicks]

Is anyone else having a hard time selling eggs??? The last week and a half, I swear, I have sold about 3 dozen total. Are people not buying because of the weather?

I like to give new customers paper work (copied at the UPS store) on the nutritious value of pasture fed chicken eggs. However it's hard to compete with the stores who sell eggs for $1 doz.