Wow! Can't believe how much I've missed since we've been on vacation the last couple of weeks....You all have been quite busy adding to the poultry world!
I spent the two weeks prior to our departure trying to re-home all the excess cockerels I ended up with from my 21 chick order in March (10-11 were boys...). I kind of hated to sell/trade them but too many boys throwing their weight around at the ripe old age of 12 weeks! I did keep one (with one EE still unknown if boy or girl) I think he's a Blue Copper Marans but he's kind of splash blue--he is turning out gorgeous though, but still crows like he's hacking up a hairball.
Looking forward to seeing if this swap gathering can work out--might be best if it doesn't though, willpower may weaken upon arrival.
"mlaff," did your Cream Legbar girls ever arrive? If you really were only planning on keeping 3-4 and had 7 coming I'd be really interested in buying the remaining three. It looks like you might be doing a swap for some others, so totally understand if not an option. I'm just really interested in adding 2-3 CL pullets to my flock, but no more boys
"loveourbirds,' cannot imagine how in the world you are able to keep track of 600+ birds...I can't even keep count of my 23 lf girls, plus four bantams...well, the bantams are easier--they have their own coop/run and I can count to four easily...the larger group is constantly moving...kind of like herding cats. Would love to see your place someday--admire your ability and appreciate your knowledge!
"baseballchick," So sorry to hear of your flock loss--that's awful! Did any of the missing birds ever show up? I've lost a BCM hen to what I believe was a Red Tailed Hawk--nothing but some feathers left, like an aerial hit, although she was a good sized bird. No other explanation though--close to the house, middle of the day, we have two dogs and lots of activity--coyotes, raccoons and foxes around but not 20 feet from the house (between house and coop)...have had close calls by both Red Tailed and Coopers Hawks, but girls all screamed a warning and ran for cover--always when loose on the yard. Anyways, sorry you lost any....and I like your call tag--baseball for you or a family member?
OK, enough rambling...oh yeah, one more thing..."Cluckitall," your Rhodebars are beautiful! Didn't you have the incubator with Silkie and EE eggs at Champion Feed earlier this summer? That was a great idea! I went back near hatch day and of course they had only just begun...I only have one beautiful Silkie left, living with three MF D'Uccle hens, probably just as well I didn't see any more Silkies or the temptation may have been too great to resist!
Now, back to unpacking and laundry...and maybe go mess with the birds for a while
Not a problem-- I figured you had seen how cute the babies were and changed your mind
welcome to the thread!
. Everyone is doing well in the brooder. I came home to egg yolk droplets all over the backyard. I only have one pullet laying and her egg was in the box, although the other six are egg laying age. My first thought was an egg that broke in the chicken but I checked everyone's vents and cant even figure out who it is. This is a first for me any suggestions or advice would be helpful. I am having trouble uploading pics but I have a ton of fluffy baby pics for you guys.
im sorry ive scared you, they cant be impossible to raise; there are to many out there. I just have never found the right combination to raise them with my setup. I can tell you I wouldn't try to stay organic with them, and look them over each day. a few people have suggested crossing barnevelders with welsummers for diversity, then breeding back to barnevelders 8 generations to consider them "full blooded"Welcome Mstarr and Big Medicine! Arff113 your coop looks great! So today was a big day for me, I drove all over northeast ohio collecting up a brooderful of chicks! Blue Cochins, Welsummers, Blue Andalusians, easter eggers, and some double laced barnevelders, that I am now afraid will die, Thanks loveourbirds
