NY chicken lover!!!!

[happyhensny]

MY DH bought the kids to a 4-H event last night, he dosen't ususally go to these as I am the "leader" of the group but I had a prior commitment. We have 65 eggs in the incubators due 3/12, chicks coming from a hatchery due 3/13. He does not really like chickens, which is fine. He brings home 17 chicks. ACK! I do not even know what they are. Some look like EE, maybe Brahmas, no idea. I was totally shocked. Pleased, but still shocked. They are peeping behind me in the brooder now. So sweet!

 

[Cydney83]

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Maybe he has the chicken fever and it will pass! and then maybe not! Not sure what I would do if my did that! Be in shock also.

 

[happyhensny]

Need to go to TSC to buy chick starter. Wasn't prepared to have chicks this soon-ours aren't due until the 12th.

 

[Cass]

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UT OH.. isn't that where the chicks came from? Stay strong...NO MORE CHICKS until yours hatch, at least.

 

[rancher hicks]

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I agree with Renee. I have a whole flock of chickens various breeds from Karen and Rudy. They were just here for the 4H meeting. Very nice people and I don't know for sure but I would think they would want to know. I have 3 different leghorns and the lay pretty good and Anconas and they are very nice. Give they a call. It can't hurt. Maybe it is a bantam thing?

The thing with chickens is you can't tell how old they are sometimes. I contacted the girl who got the single combed bantam leghorns and she has check fertility. Hers are not great layers either. While I could except the laying as they are not good in confinement, which they are til spring, the fertility is another matter.

I hadn't intended to keep them and tried to sell them. Now I'm glad I didn't due to the fact that it would have been one more than what I paid and two on me that they aren't very good.

Since no one wanted them and they aren't common, at least around here I think, I had hoped to hatch out a few more hens to have a small flock of four or five. Apparently that will mean breeding to increase fertility in the roos. Or I could just cut my loses and give them away. I couldn't in good conscience sell them now could I?

This is why it's dangerous to breed for looks rather than utility.

 

[happyhensny]

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UT OH.. isn't that where the chicks came from? Stay strong...NO MORE CHICKS until yours hatch, at least.

No, we got them at a 4-H science meeting last night. No one else wanted them. Can you imagine?

 

[featherz]

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I just went to our TSC in Saratoga.. wasn't tempted at all to get more chicks.. One bin of Cornish X, one of Straight run sussex, one that said 'pullets' that had two little pasty butts and one of ducks. Nothing for me, thankfully!

 

[rancher hicks]

Even though it's TSC that doesn't mean the employees know much about chickens. Country max takes orders and while the folks here are friendly enough, I don't think they care one way or another about customer service or what they do or don't sell.

Take care and have a nice day

Rancher

I forgot the new Practical Poultry is out.

 

[Cass]

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I'm lucky in that regard. At the Glenmont TSC there is one employee that "knows her stuff". And it seems that the others listen to her and learn a little to be helpful when she is not on shift.
Case in point, I had a Mallard duckling that wasn't growing. She explained that sometimes in transit they sustain spinal injuries and it might hit a growth spirt. At no time did she say it was going to die, or that it was going to live. (It died at 6 weeks of age having only grown to 2 week size) So not only is she knowledgable, she's dipolmatic.

But you are right, most employees don't own chickens (or any birds) and can't be counted on to know where the packing list is that tells what breed of bird they recieved. But they will help you load 50# bags into the truck. That has to count for something, right?

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

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The address is:
689 Burrows Rd.
West Winfield, NY 13495

I know... it is a long time & also a long drive for me! I used to drive over to Bridgeport around 7, then go home or run whatever errands you can do at the crack of dawn...lol. Hope there's a good breakfast joint near there.

Its a 45 minute drive for me, I drop off the birds, and leave. There is no reason to stay because they mail you your money the next week. You can't get it after the auction anymore.

I've heard that Kings also has a store called Kings Backroom. Does anyone know if it is open on auction days?