NY chicken lover!!!!

[BakerzDozen]

ALL OPINIONS ARE WELCOME & VALUED.

I have a conundrum... I purchased 13 chicks this spring hoping for pullets & of course I ended with at least 1 Roo.
This is the Roo.. I, of course, feel responsible for him as I am the one that brought this little fellow home. In the city I live in there is a "Anti Crow Policy" policy in effect. Although I think he is going to be a beautiful bird. He has an AWFUL personality and disposition. I would really like to keep him long enough to butcher him. As I have invested time, money and effort into his care.

My question is this... How do you all feel about the anti-crow collars??? I watched youtube videos and it does not seem the birds suffer except for the indignity of the collars and the frustration of not being able to truly crow.

Thank you in advance for you time.

 

[Metella]

Speckles seem to do well in all types of settings - they are very popular in the UK where most have a suburban setting. If had unlimited time and one more coop - I would be raising SS .... they are the very next on my list

I haven't looked in the crow collars ... you could always try one - see what you think by looking at him and deciding how he feels .... or wait until you get a complaint and then process him then - he may not be totally full sized - but certainly a meal and yummy soup.

 

[Beer can]

@Tao chick Sorry about your boxer. I lost mine at eleven yrs.

 

[rancher hicks]

Then I guess I'm not investing money in them. I want real chickens, ones that lay lots of eggs and cook up nicely.

Now don't take what I said about them being aliens to heart. Silikies are friendly and good brooders but don't lay many eggs.

I originally purchased 8 breeds. Three of each and worked down to those that worked for me. I advise new folks to keep a mixed flock so when one breed is down the other is up in laying.

Good dual purpose breeds are tough. My C. Rocks are heavy but lay smaller eggs. My Dels are good layers but aren't heavy. My marans are great winter layers but go broody in the summer.

My EE's are good layers and may or may not go broody.

My lone Sussex is heavy and a good layer but she goes broody too.

Heritage Barred Rocks are good I think. You might try some of them. There is a thread for Plymouth rocks.

So don't put all your eggs in one basket. Choose a mix of breeds. Keep multiple smaller coops if you must.

But if you really like Silkies it's nice to keep some fun chickens too. Something you fancy just because.

I wish you well,

Rancher, talks to much, Hicks.

 

[rancher hicks]

Look up black meat chickens...
We are in Binghamton/Vestal area every couple months
If that's what your after, RIR, new Hampshire and Delaware
6
lLollooked

Ooh I do like New Hampshires. Just have no more energy or space.

 

[rancher hicks]

ALL OPINIONS ARE WELCOME & VALUED.

I have a conundrum... I purchased 13 chicks this spring hoping for pullets & of course I ended with at least 1 Roo.
This is the Roo.. I, of course, feel responsible for him as I am the one that brought this little fellow home. In the city I live in there is a "Anti Crow Policy" policy in effect. Although I think he is going to be a beautiful bird. He has an AWFUL personality and disposition. I would really like to keep him long enough to butcher him. As I have invested time, money and effort into his care.

My question is this... How do you all feel about the anti-crow collars??? I watched youtube videos and it does not seem the birds suffer except for the indignity of the collars and the frustration of not being able to truly crow.

Thank you in advance for you time.

Whooaa, are you sure you're up to opinions. You're sure to get some.

Me I haven't used the collars and there are some here who are opposed.

1. You might talk to a vet and see what they say about any harm it might cause..

2. Find some who use them and see what they have to say.

3. If not expensive and you can afford to try one go ahead see what you think. If you don't like it, you're not out a lot of money.

4. If you do like it and use it, keep it to yourself so folks won't get on your case about it.

Lord knows I disagree with many things but as long as no animals are harmed who am I to say?

Please spay and neuter your pets. This has been a POA by Rancher Hicks.

Forgot to say, ONE! Only ONE? Good garden o' peas. I sold a dozen eggs and out of six chicks that hatched FIVE were roosters.

 

[boskelli1571]

Oooooh, Speckled Sussex are GORGEOUS!!!

They kind of remind me of one of my favorite banty chicken the Mille Fluer D'uccle as far as coloring.

Do they do well in confinement? I have an urban setting . I have a pretty large coop and run, so they won't be overcrowded. (I have 13 and can fit 30+ hens) Plus I did put up a 5ft high temporary fence in my yard so they can free range there a few times a week. Next year we are putting up a permanent 6ft high privacy fence. However, they need to be confined for the most part.
Do you know anyone that breeds Speckled Sussex? I really would rather buy from personal flocks rather than a hatchery. I would like a Roo and 3 or so girls.

Natureberry farm had some Speckled in May - don't know if they still have some.......

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Does anyone know a NY breeder of buff or partridge brahmas?

I'm hoping to incubate eggs.  I think it will be a fun learning experience for me and my kids.  Eeep.  It makes me nervous because I've never done this before.  I can get fertile hatching eggs locally for 2 of my wish list breeds.  I found an Ohio source for brahmas, but was hoping for someone closer.  If I could get my dream lot of hatching eggs I would be happy.

I apologize if someone has already answered this, but haven't been on in a few days & trying to catch up. I think @cutipatooti has blue partridge brahmas, but ull have to ask her direct. Brahmas are big, fun, and hearty. Love their fluffy legs!

 

[Pyxis]

It was a busy day today. I have a broody buff orp that hatched one egg out of about 15 that she was on that I didn't think were fertile. It hatched from an EE egg and Raptor my cemani rooster must be the father. It's a gorgeous chick. I also stuck one cemani cull under her that hatched two days ago, so she'll be happy. I have another broody orp who's in a huge communal nest that probably has thirty eggs in it. She's been sitting for about five days now so tonight I'm candling and tossing any that aren't developing. And a third orp has gone broody on Witchypants' nest, so I may have little silkies soon. Plus, my pekin duck has gone broody. They're not supposed to, but I guess she thinks otherwise. Which means Hershey the drake has no one to hang out with, so I decided to use the opportunity to try to introduce the lone khaki survivor of the brooder flood, but nope, he just keeps trying to chase her down and was harassing her so much she was getting exhausted, so I put her back with the cemani flock, sigh. I did move two juvenile white silkies into the laying flock that had been living with the cemani flock and the hens didn't look twice at them, so at least that worked out. And of course Green is still out and about with her six two week old chicks. It's a circus over here!

 

[Lapeerian]

Lapeerian what breeds do you have? I'm looking for hopefully a Roo for the girls so come spring we can start a second round of craziness. This chicken mess will be the death of me. Its gone from having a few birds to keep us with eggs to a full blown "I want more" psychosis or obsession.

I have a mixed flock, just sold 4 partridge Rock and 1 buff Orp cockerel from my valentines hatch. I do have 4 mixed breed cockerels left. My mixed hens are great layers. I buy pure eggs from breeders and toss some of my eggs in too when hatching. Just had a broody hatch out 5 EE (1 disappeared?) and 2 Wellsummer. You are welcome to any cockerels.

[COLOR=4B0082]Oooooh, Speckled Sussex are GORGEOUS!!! [/COLOR]   e [COLOR=4B0082]They kind of remind me of one of my favorite banty chicken the Mille Fluer D'uccle as far as coloring.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=4B0082]Do they do well in confinement? I have an urban setting . I have a pretty large coop and run, so they won't be overcrowded. (I have 13 and can fit 30+ hens) Plus I did put up a 5ft high temporary fence in my yard so they can free range there a few times a week. Next year we are putting up a permanent 6ft high privacy fence. However, they need to be confined for the most part.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=4B0082]Do you know anyone that breeds Speckled Sussex? I really would rather buy from personal flocks rather than a hatchery. I would like a Roo and 3 or so girls. [/COLOR]

The breeder I got my one from only has a trio left, so very few hatching eggs available if at all.