NY chicken lover!!!!

[tao chick]

X2?

'Morehens Disease'? Had to read that twice before I got it, first I heard it, Lol
I've been getting a lot of heat for feed costs, we are still getting plenty of eggs, enough for our family of seven to eat all we want, but feed costs are too much. I need to get rid of all cockerels I do not plan on using for breeding. I told the wife I only want to keep the silkies, sussex and giants, feed costs will go down if we get rid of the rest of our laying hens. I planned on doing that as soon as the sussex and giants start laying. Wife says we are NOT getting rid of 'house chickens' the wellie EE crosses, can't get rid of our one girls polish, or the other girls EE broodie.....Well then, don't complain about the feed....

My chickens are going through a lot of food right now. They must not be finding as much forage. By Thanksgiving I want to have 7 to 10 fewer chicken beaks to feed. That will help my feed costs. I understand finding it hard to downsize. I have some favorites that will be staying long term.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I used blue seal feed for years and imo the best layer pellets I've ever bought. Nice pellets never broke up and always had hard shelled eggs without giving them oyster shell.I always picked it up at at their mill in Bainbridge. Unfortunately they closed that mill, it was a couple $ cheaper also.
Been buying TSC lately only cause we're short $ and I can get feed on the card.
I prefer to stay local and was buying from McDowel Walker's store in Sidney. They're mill is in Afton not far from you? Have you checked them out?

We only pay $13 for 50lbs. The girls get oyster shell but only because we feed grower because we have 2 cockerels in with them.

 

[akaruby]

Does anyone know if its OK to mix flocks. I know of someone who is going to let ten four month old chics loose , I have plenty of room to adopt. But is it OK?

I have a mix flock, but I have large breeds that are known to be docile like Orpingtons, Cochins and barnevelders. Going to add some EEs, Marans, Ameraucanas and Isbars (super excited about those).

 

[akaruby]

I'm getting some shipped eggs this next week, I know to let them set at room temperature for 12 hours. Any other advice from experienced hatchers?

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm guessing what you're seeing is A. people with certain ordinances in their cities (or close neighbors, or rental terms), B. people who are strictly getting them for the eggs, or C. people who don't want to deal with the chick situation, period.

I'm all three for the moment, and we try to keep things symbiotic (AKA we give 'em a safe place and feed 'em nice things, they give us eggs and lend a beak with the garden), but when we finally can move out to the country we'll be much better equipped to home multiple roosters. And actually, breeding back the ability to coexist reliably with other roosters throughout various heritages is one of our future goals so that mass cockerel culling isn't a necessity - I know someone on Craig's List has Barnevelders already maintaining that ability.

Different folks, different strokes.

What inspired my rooster comments is folks who contact me for birds for sale who only want the hens and expect me to get left with the roosters. EX. I posted the Marsh Daisy trio. Now Marsh Daisies are an import and not so easy to find. I'd like to see someone buy them who intends to hatch more. Too when I post for sale the hens and roosters together that's what I'm looking to sell them as.

Even when I state they must go together I get folks replying "I can take two hens, etc. etc.

There is nothing wrong with A. and B. I understand folks who can't or don't want to keep roosters. I can live with that, but why hatch knowing you're going to get rooster chicks? Without a plan to rehome them? Too folks who hatch roosters or want to rehome them can't realistically believe there is a farm somewhere with so much money they can keep ALL the unwanted roosters in the world.

C. Is fine too. However it's not fair to expect a chick that would cost $4 - 5 as a chick to sell for that same $4 - 5 as a pullet. Folks should expect the price to go up exponentially the older the bird becomes. ( I feed Dumor 20% grower, it's $18 a bag and I feed it til they're near laying age) I personally never try to pass off an older hen as a youngster. I try to treat others as I would like to be treated.

If however a person is planning to keep chicks, it doesn't hurt to prepare ahead by setting aside funds for brooders and lights etc. etc. BYC is a great place to be as some of us will be getting out of or downsizing and have equipment cheaper than new.

The chicken hoarder comment came about as it's easy to hatch chicks, like some folks let their cats and dogs have puppies and kittens. There was a news article on a trailer getting raided full of animals. Though chicks are easier to get rid of I've learned. I have no trouble giving away grown birds and chicks. I tell folks not to buy chicks as I always hatch more than I can keep. I can't predict how many eggs will hatch so I have to set a few extras. Though if I offer hens they aren't usually pullets.

I do however keep breeds that will lay longer than commercial birds. As I stated previously Big Delores is three at least and I get eggs from her just about every other day. See Marq, for sussex.

These are one of the birds I gave away. Still laying but not great and with no rooster I couldn't see keeping her.



Remember all comments and opinions aren't always directed at the person I quote.

2Fast, I hope we're still around when you move to the country. Even if you don't take any roosters off my hands.

 

[Glasshen]

I am hoping the increased light will start to help any day now. It's been two weeks with the timer, and there are 17 hens getting from 1 to 4 eggs a day. 4 cockerels, Earl, Junior, Carmello and a pretty silver fellow who reminds me of Reveille, so perhaps they will all stay. I seem to be attached. So far peace reigns.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a mix flock, but I have large breeds that are known to be docile like Orpingtons, Cochins and barnevelders. Going to add some EEs, Marans, Ameraucanas and Isbars (super excited about those).

I'm getting some shipped eggs this next week, I know to let them set at room temperature for 12 hours. Any other advice from experienced hatchers?

Yes do not buy shipped EE eggs when you can get chicks or eggs from me. I usually set some EE and Del eggs as a control. If they don't hatch then I know something is wrong as they always hatch well. Point, I always have EE chicks to rehome. Though I do like a trade for horse manure when I can get it.

I know folks who give it away for the taking but I'm busy and I can always use more.

 

[rancher hicks]

I am hoping the increased light will start to help any day now. It's been two weeks with the timer, and there are 17 hens getting from 1 to 4 eggs a day. 4 cockerels, Earl, Junior, Carmello and a pretty silver fellow who reminds me of Reveille, so perhaps they will all stay. I seem to be attached. So far peace reigns.

8 hens in the Marans coop no eggs.

6 hens in the CR. coop and an occasional egg.

6 hens in the EE coop and only big delores is laying.

7 hens in the Del coop and maybe one egg now and then. One hen is new to laying.

2 Daisies and no eggs yet.

I don't count Buckwheat and Frenchy as they're old. I was surprised Buckwheat went broody.

 

[Glasshen]

Had to take a break to flip the biscotti, but wanted to say I've been feeding Kalmbach starter grower which has almost identical ingredients to Flockraiser. Had to buy Flockraiser because JJ Feeds didn't have the starter stuff in because no many were starting chicks now. I think Jen will get me some, though. Checked the grower finisher and it was only 16 percent.

 

[akaruby]

Yes do not buy shipped EE eggs when you can get chicks or eggs from me. I usually set some EE and Del eggs as a control. If they don't hatch then I know something is wrong as they always hatch well. Point, I always have EE chicks to rehome. Though I do like a trade for horse manure when I can get it.       I know folks who give it away for the taking but I'm busy and I can always use more. 

I'll get some chicks from you in the spring then! I know a person who may take some of my chicks if they end up to be roosters. Do you know if the breeds I plan to hatch would be good to process the extra cockerels? They would be Cochins, isbars, Ameraucanas....I've never processed chickens before, I'd probably find someone to do it for me.