NY chicken lover!!!!

[Overhill Flocks]

With all due respect, don't think you'll get the money or even half what you pay at GF around here.

Their Birchens are $49 a chick. I couldn't even get $5 a chick. Heck I gave away eggs, couldn't get people to pay for them.

Marq got two chicks for free. I doubt she would have paid for them. My hope is, in the future we can work together to improve what we have. I traded the orps to Tabs, so I'll have room to keep any and all chicks I hatch in the future.

I had Swedish Flower hens and was lucky enough to get $90 for them at laying time. I sold the lot. Lost money too, but such is life.

So what's my point? Plan to keep them to yourself. Don't expect to recoup any of what you pay for GF chicks.

Also be aware there are unscrupulous people out there who bought a few chicks and are now crossing them with like breeds passing them off as pure. Don't even think cuz they pass themselves off as breeders and you pay a high price you're getting quality stock. Genetics are funny things and can throw surprises your way.

I offered to have others go in on and order from GF but got not takers. They will do a mixed order you know. So if you want some of one breed and can find someone who wants some of another you might work it that way. I was told they'll ship as few as 6 chicks.

Just thought you should be aware.

Thanks for looking out for a newbie, Rancher, but no worries! I've got no plans for on buying anything from Green Fire, I mostly just lurk. I'm a sucker for different breeds, but I'm certainly not going into the rare breed business around here! I just enjoy them!

 

[why do birds]

I dont know know if there is a course or not but i want to be a chicken vet. I love chickens and dont mind alittle blood. I talked to my vet about my chicken and they looked at me like a was wearing the dang thing on my head or something. From what i know i think i still have a few years on my GI bill to help pay for stuff but atm dont know what to go for or where to go. I dont thinkg i would mind the animal sitting job but finding enough people who are going out of town often enough to pay your bills would probaly be hard to do. Not to mention the cost of gas and if something goes wrong they hold you accountable wich i wouldnt mind but lets face it freak things happen with animals that we cant control but you know someone out there will blame you then try to sue you. If i did the sitting think i would have to walk around with a video cam strapped to my head so i can show what i did or didnt do lol. I love animal and wouldnt mind learning more maybe i should see what it takes to be a farm vet.

Or the Chicken Whisperer!

For the urban chicken enthusiast!

 

[rancher hicks]

Not only will they cross breeds but you also don't know what they breed for. They could start out with GF chicks only and don't cross breed but few generations later they have the line so messed up from mating the worst looking chickens or not setting up breeding pens and just saying oh he's the main roo it has to be from him...

Think we have talked about this within last few months lol

IMO one should steer clear of those selling hatching eggs, who have lots of different breeds.

Also better to stick to your own line than end up with a bunch of sick birds. If you don't know the breeder or who you're getting chicks or eggs from becareful. Don't mix them in til they're a year at least. (see below)

IMO the average person doesn't understand enough about Marek.

There are four recognized and relatively common forms of Marek.

It's caused by various types of herpes virus.

Marek virus is contagious and can survive for several months. As a rule chickens will be infected early in life

A bird may die from other causes before the presence of Marek becomes apparent. A knock on consequence of the virus is that it suppresses the sufferers immunity, with the result thce of Marek's even becomes apparent. (This says to me that one can have Mareks in the flock and not even know it.)

Favorites among the potential causes of trouble are COCCIDOSIS AND EGG PERITONITIS. (interesting when you think you have coccidosis but don't suspect the route cause is Marek.)

The infectious virus is shed from the feather follicles and then gets inhaled. (This tells me to beware of the dust I have in my coop. I have to buy a small shop vac and keep dust to a minimum. Also to improve ventilation)

Age is a key factor in susceptibility, too. While the disease can affect birds ranging from just two weeks old right up to examples that are five years old, IT WILL MOST OFTEN STRIKE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE, TYPICALLY FROM ABOUT FOUR MONTHS ONWARDS.

I was just thinking, perhaps I could use an exhaust fan with a furnace filter over it and run it years round in my wooden coop. That one has the most dust and cob webs.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well see thats the problem, we're not big jam/jelly fans here. A friend of mine back in CT started pickling this summer and they were the best pickles I've ever eaten. I bought 2 jars from him and had my brother bring another 2 when he came up for Thanksgiving. This year I plan on buying at least 6 when I visit there. LOL I don't have a pressure cooker so I guess that rules out the chicken.

Pickles too can be done easily enough. Check out the canning thread.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks for looking out for a newbie, Rancher, but no worries! I've got no plans for on buying anything from Green Fire, I mostly just lurk. I'm a sucker for different breeds, but I'm certainly not going into the rare breed business around here! I just enjoy them!

I lurk too and would order at least three chicks or less. If someone wanted to go in with me we could trade chicks or eggs back and forth, which is what I hope to do with Marq.

I do like the Hedemora and Marsh Daisy's. Maybe someday.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

I lurk too and would order at least three chicks or less. If someone wanted to go in with me we could trade chicks or eggs back and forth, which is what I hope to do with Marq.

I do like the Hedemora and Marsh Daisy's. Maybe someday.

Aha! I'm fairly obsessed with the Marsh Daisys as well. It looks as though the site was updated sometime this week -- a breed I was interested in previously (Barthuhner) is gone, and they have listed Malines for the first time.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Lynzi--you can use canned chicken for any recipe you want. Makes for a quick meal. I have canned chicken and venison and beef stew. I like canning my own stuff cause I know whats in it.

 

[Overhill Flocks]

I took my Marraduna Basque cockerels in for processing yesterday, so have been doing some poultry window shopping online to cheer myself. I'll probably just try to add pullets to my laying flock this year. We're expecting a new puppy this spring, so will have our hands full -- don't really want to run multiple coops/runs this summer. I'm trying to add a few examples of different breeds to try to narrow down which breeds do well with us and which I really like. If I can do that, I would like to eventually concentrate and breed one or two more seriously.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:

 

[Overhill Flocks]

Marquisella -- do you have Brabanters now? How do you like them?