NY chicken lover!!!!

[stonykill]

I had no idea I had the self control I used today. I went to the local hardware store, and they had chicks from a farm down the road for sale. AND chocolate Indian runner ducklings. If I didn't have 37 eggs going on lockdown tomorrow, and have to reload it with sumatra's and Indian runner eggs, I would have brought home those ducklings.

 

[happyhensny]

I got my little fuzzy butts! Happyhen's 3 Orpingtons (1 blue, 2 black, Tab kept the splash for breeding) plus 4 Ancona, 1 Australorp, 1 GLW and 1 EE (looks the same as the GLW right now). Everyone is happily cheeping and running around. Tomorrow morning is the TSC trip for a few more!

Fun! Congrats & thanks!

Did you win dinner? Learning how to shoot is a good thing. Keep practicing!!!
edited to say, I didn't hit quote....this is for Annie happyhensny!

Claire won the "big" ham = 2 halves and I won one. 3 hams. Girls bringing home the bacon, err... ham!

Did the Cortland TSC run this morning, only had part of the 625 chick shipment, rest comes in Tuesday and Wednesday. Today they had a huge bin of Buff Orp, bin of Tetra Tints, one of Golden Comet/Red Sex Link and one of Cornish Rock cross. Not what I was hoping for. Guess I'll make a couple trips after work the next two days to see what else they get. Still hoping for Sussex, Wellsummer and Dominique, maybe another Australorp or EE.

I have BA eggs and/or chicks if you want them. Chicks would have to be hatched but I am putting some eggs in for Cass this weekend.

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, I know you keep your room temp high when you are hatching...but let me tell you what happened with my recent adventure into bator hatching.

I bought that little bator....cost like $20 with shipping....it's molded plastic, no insulation at all. Has hollow legs to put water in. Cat tipped it over and the eggs were on the floor for a while. Put them back in. We heat with wood and the furnace is set to come on when it hits 62*....soooo my room temps can be anywhere from 62 - 85....and the bator was on a small box near the floor so it probably never gets anywhere near the high the thermostat reads. I still got 50% hatch rate...which is great when you only have room in the bator for 2 eggs....I will admit that the 7 watt bulb kept it a constant 100 degrees when I checked it...but I didn't check it in the middle of the night, only after the fire was started,etc. (creature comforts before chicken duties, sorry) So I am not sure that the room temp has to be as high as you keep your room....as long as the incubator has the power to keep the internal temp constant, it shouldn't matter what the room temp is...below 65 probably isn't a good idea, but most people keep their house 65 or above.

My information is based on the article from Practical Poultry magazine and it works for me.

Certainly things differ with each individual but I would be very disappointed to have a 50% hatch rate. While the thermostat may read 65 there are warm spots and cold spots in most homes. Too, incubators have instructions and I do recommend following them since the manufacturers test them in varied situations.

Also the altitude can have an affect on hatch and temp and humidity as well I think.

My first hatch with an old incubator yielded one chick. The person who loaned it to me had, according to them great hatches. They heat with a pellet stove. We all need to work out our system and what works for us. That's why I say never give up.

 

[Searls99]

What Tractor supply? I have been trying to find. Thanks I live around the Cortland Ithaca area. Going to check Tractor supply down here again tomorrow .

Just went to our local tractor supply store and guess what they HAVE SILKIES! I'm so upset because after all this searching around I just go into the store for supplies and BOOM there they are and I can't even buy them! Why can't it just be the end of May already!

 

[Lynzi777]

This was the one in Clifton Park, outside of Albany. I told her I would be back tomorrow sometime or call in the morning if I could find someone to take 3 or 4 of the 6 minimum purchase I would need to make but I'm doubtful that will happen. I'm making a trip up to Syracuse this weekend Friday night or Saturday morning if you want me to bring you any that may still be available. I just don't think even having 2 for myself would work right now.

Can you let me know what they have available at the Cortland store?

 

[Lapeerian]

I'll be calling the Cortland store in the morning. They are due to get 625 chicks this week for Easter. This morning they had Buff Orp, Tetra Tints, Golden Comet/Red Sex Link and Cornish Rock Cross. Hoping they get more variety in so I can mix and match a batch of 6 to finish our little flock. *resisting chicken math* I'll try to post on here what they have in, it would be sometime after 8am.

On another note, hubby has declared he wants a chicken tractor for grass fed eggs!

So the little coop with wheels may be more mobile than I anticipated, rethinking how to keep it light enough to move...

Quote:

This was the one in Clifton Park, outside of Albany. I told her I would be back tomorrow sometime or call in the morning if I could find someone to take 3 or 4 of the 6 minimum purchase I would need to make but I'm doubtful that will happen. I'm making a trip up to Syracuse this weekend Friday night or Saturday morning if you want me to bring you any that may still be available. I just don't think even having 2 for myself would work right now.

Can you let me know what they have available at the Cortland store?

 

[Cydney83]

Are you kidding! Chocolate! How did you do it? Are you saying the new pair are laying also?

I had no idea I had the self control I used today. I went to the local hardware store, and they had chicks from a farm down the road for sale. AND chocolate Indian runner ducklings. If I didn't have 37 eggs going on lockdown tomorrow, and have to reload it with sumatra's and Indian runner eggs, I would have brought home those ducklings.

 

[brahmapapa]

My problem with goats (and it's minor, really) is that goats GIVE BIRTH....which means they can have problems with the birthing process....which means I have to be a midwife to AN ANIMAL....not my idea of a good time, really....oh and to get goats milk they HAVE to give birth. That means you need a billy goat too....does anyone see "chicken math" happening on 4 legs here? Cuz *I* do....and many, if not most, goats give birth to TWINS. Chicken math to the max.

CHICKEN MATH............I STARTED OUT WITH 2 NICE ALPINE DOES AND A BUCK AND WITHIN 6 YRS I HAD OVER 100,

 

[brahmapapa]

Ok so I know people have recommended NOT getting silkie chicks from hatcheries, but what about other breeds? Like Buff Orpingtons or Bantam Cochins? Would I still be disappointed as I would if I ordered silkies?

HONESTLY IT DEPENDS ON THE BREEDS AND THE HATCHERY, I HAVE HAD GREAT LUCK WITH MCMURRAY HATCHERY WITH BUFF ORPINGTONS, GOT SOME GREAT BIRDS.

 

[In His Service]

Quote: My little rumpless Araucana roo is such a sweetheart. I am keeping him, and don't know what to do with the EE and Ameracauna roos. The EE is so pretty and looks like he will be a really good roo like his daddy, but I can't keep them all.