NY chicken lover!!!!

[Chicken girl 15]

The cold won't make them sick. I never restrict mine from the run, but after the first snow falls they aren't very interested in free ranging. I snow blow the run for them and they come out into it every day.

that was my plan as well. Snow blow, or make the kids shovel, so they can go play. I just didn't want to kill everyone by not asking a stupid simple question. Thank you.

 

[Pyxis]

that was my plan as well. Snow blow, or make the kids shovel, so they can go play. I just didn't want to kill everyone by not asking a stupid simple question. Thank you.

No problem! It can actually be worse for them if you keep them locked up - the buildup of moisture and ammonia can cause frostbite and respiratory issues. Adding heat can cause coop fires and death if the bulb blows. They are remarkably hardy things, cold-wise, and though mine don't like snow, the cold never seems to phase them.

 

[akaruby]

Maybe we can schedule a hatch at the same time. I've never hatched either. Would be neat to have another newbie to share with.

I hatched once before and got 9 out of 12 to hatch with a little giant with auto turner. I added a computer fan too to help. I'll probably hatch more out with you guys in the spring!

 

[Beer can]

Maybe we can schedule a hatch at the same time. I've never hatched either. Would be neat to have another newbie to share with.

If you want, maybe there will be a hatch-a-long around the time we decide to go for it.
Waiting till spring cause I don't want chicks in the house any longer then necessary, and the ones I want to hatch haven't started laying yet, and I've heard it's best not to hatch pullet eggs.

that was my plan as well. Snow blow, or make the kids shovel, so they can go play. I just didn't want to kill everyone by not asking a stupid simple question. Thank you.

Mine refused to go out in the snow last yr, like it was going to kill them. I had a wide shoveled path to our wood pile and then to the coop, had their run shoveled out as well, they never went in it once the snow came.
Had their main door open all one sunny summer day and while shoveling the roof off on our garage, decided it was time and shooed them out. They didn't go down the six foot wide clear shoveled path to the clear driveway, they flew in all different directions landed in the snow and didn't move for a half hr. I had to walk through knee deep snow in nine different directions and pick them up and carry them back. They were pathetic, wings spread out laying there motionless like they were traumatized.
They might this yr though. I had a similar instance giving them a cabbage hung from a rope in the coop, they were scared of it even after I ripped pieces off that they did eat. Week later I took it down and they ate it. They will eat hung cabbage now.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

The more the marier. Maybe some of us could hatch together and meet up . I know there is Chickenstock but due to health problems with my oldest daughter that is just not possible for me to attend. I have a bit of property and there are several of you not all that far from me.

 

[2Fast2Curious]

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.

Ah, I hear you. Any time we see "selling __ together," I assume there's a reason. Sorry other people aren't catching that. I'm hoping the chicks'll fly off the shelf so we don't have to deal with that, but hopefully with our new car we'll also be able to tempt people into buying 'em by offering delivery.

If we had the accommodations for 'em, your trio would be gone yesterday. If you're still in the area (our plan's a guestimate of 10 years max), you're guaranteed to be relieved of some roosters! We're really interested in preserving the struggling heirloom egg-layer and ornamentals in particular. Redcaps are on that list, for example. At some point we might get involved with a 4-H group to educate about chicken raising. I'm an environmentalist at heart and I've been involved in some community organizing activism - soon as I get the pain under some sort of management, probably going to be going back in that direction.

For now, well. I'm evidence that chickens are low-maintenance enough for the disabled to handle.

We'll probably be keeping some from the first Easter Egger batch if they're crested. I know a lot of people have and are looking for EEs. Shamless self promotion: PM me if you're looking! We've got a Polish/Rhode Island lady who's definitely fertilie with Easter Eggers.


(She's grown since this picture.)

I lost my favorite rooster Tesoro this morning to a freak accident

He was my last boy out of my first rooster, Honey. He was such a sweetheart and had the same good temperament as his father. I found him the coop this morning behind the dog crate I use for broodies. He was still warm and rigor mortis hadn't set it so he had just passed. I'm not sure if he was fighting with Pretty Boy or what but somehow the entire back of his comb was ripped open and he bled out. His wattles were completely pale. I'm gonna miss that boy

Hopefully one of my Halloween chicks is out of him. I guess this means I can keep that really pretty chick if it does turn out to be a rooster, but I'd rather have had Tess.




He'd really filled out since that full body picture - I wish now I'd gotten a newer picture of him.

I'm so sorry about Tess. He looks like a beaut. Hope things start looking up for you soon, and that that chick's a charmer after all.

 

[Beer can]

I did 'hatch' three this yr, wellie/EE crosses under a EE that went broody. Well two hatched, three didn't. The wife put them under a light bulb and one more hatched three days latter. We had that one in the house for waay too long...

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Ours just started laying a couple months ago so no hatching this year, and I DO NOT want house chicks all winter. The hubby would cull us all, though I don't think I would taste well as soup. Lol. You all seem to have dedicated breeds you are hatching, I'm doing backyard mixes.

 

[horsekeeper]

Mine refused to go out in the snow last yr, like it was going to kill them. I had a wide shoveled path to our wood pile and then to the coop, had their run shoveled out as well, they never went in it once the snow came.
Had their main door open all one sunny summer day and while shoveling the roof off on our garage, decided it was time and shooed them out. They didn't go down the six foot wide clear shoveled path to the clear driveway, they flew in all different directions landed in the snow and didn't move for a half hr. I had to walk through knee deep snow in nine different directions and pick them up and carry them back. They were pathetic, wings spread out laying there motionless like they were traumatized.

They seem to have very poor depth perception when everything is white and that makes them afraid to move. Try putting down a little hay, straw, or dried leaves. They will get a lot bolder about going out and it helps protects their little bare feet from the cold.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

If winter keeps going on the path it is this year we might not have to worry. Its gotten cold but dang it the kids want to sled.