***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[hotcurltr]

Hey, guys...

What if poultry hatcheries were like puppy mills? Like, illegal? And it was advised that you either purchased from a responsible breeder or adopted from a shelter?

That's a very difficult question for me. Hatcheries are inspected by the USDA where puppy mills are not. We don't know how much line breeding or inbreeding they do , however. If that happens I'd have to do more research. I would always prefer to buy from a reputable breeder. I wouldn't personally, think at this time, I couldn't adopt from a shelter unless the birds were tested and vaccinated for MG, and that would be pretty pricey. I guess since I'm such a nut case, I'd be leary of Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum. Both have been eradicated in commercial flocks, but backyard flocks could still have carriers. NPIP tests for these diseases and they are the ones that scare me the most since they can be carried in the eggs, if u can get them to hatch, on then to the chick. Some states such as Florida require testing before showing or sale on Pullorum.
I do believe in shelters for other animals. We have 6 large house dogs and all but one are rescue dogs.

They do make test kits we can buy for these diseases, but they are really pricey.

All in all, I'd just have to get over it. Nothing is ever for sure as I've come to find out with all the wild birds and other animals out there that carry diseases. If we'd start to vaccinate our birds like we do our dogs, horses, cats, cattle etc. I believe we could help to start to eradacate the bad diseases. As I said, the ones that scare me the most are these because they can ruin your breding programs and be carried by birds to others. I don't mean to sound like doom. Good responsible breeders are must in the poultry industry.

Very good question. It's one of those that makes u think.

 

[NanaKat]

I've had several requests to post pictures of the Wyandotte/Cochin cross hens I have been raising. A Columbian Wyandotte rooster over Blue Cochin hens.
They are nice and fluffy like the Cochin and lay earlier and thru the winter like the Wyandotte. They make great mothers and don't go broody as often as the Cochin although Wyandotte do go broody. The feathers on their feet are not as full as the full Cochin, yet are attractive and stay cleaner. Yes, the extra cockerels make nice dinners as they plump up like the Wyandotte and the meat is tender.
As yet, I have not kept a cockerel to full grown size so I don't know how he would behave as a flock leader. But both Cochin and Wyandotte cocks are good provider/defenders.
Here are some of the hens.....These girls are 11 months old and have been laying about a month...nice light brown to tan eggs.

A Blue and a Black A Lemon Blue laced (Shelbydog liked her) with Columbian Wyandotte
She has the Cochin comb


Two views of the same Blue hen shows the rosecomb instead of a blade





A Black and a White with light Columbian neck feathering. She is the only one from a White mother. Notice the feet on both.

 

[artsyrobin]

@NanaKat oh my!! What a wonderful cross!!


@TRUE5 Oh they can really sling that food!! Sonny wouldn't touch the scrambled eggs with oatmeal today, gotta find something high protien

 

[leah9114]

Greeting fellow Okies!

I haven't posted much since hubs and I first got our chickies last Spring, but. I hope to become more active here on BYC from now on. My name is Leah and. I'm a 30-something married, mother of three in Cache, OK (Lawton area). I have 8 hens and this year, want to add 7 more to our existing flock. I've been scouring local craigslist adds, searching old posts here on BYC and watching local flyers at my Atwoods and TSC... Hoping someone has some laying hens for sale. Was kind of hoping to find some pullets or young hens already laying.... Have not been lucky as of yet though, so I suppose I'll be ordering chicks in the coming weeks. I'm specifically looking for some EE's, some of the new Olive eggers, a white leghorn and maybe a few rare heavies. If anyone in the Lawton, Ok area has any for sale or knows of anyone looking to sell, will you please let me know? I'd prefer not to buy day old chicks from the hatchery if I can avoid it.

 

[NanaKat]

Robyn...try hard boiled egg yolks crumbled in yogurt. The texture is more appealing. Then add a little cracked corn, BOSS and Calf Manna...should get the protein up. You can refrigerate the egg/yogurt and add the dry when you "set the table".

 

[i-love-my-honey]

I would just get a small coop with a few hens and no rooster. I just know the old bitty would probably complain about the crowing. On warm days I have never smelled my neighbors coops before I even had mine and both on each side of me have a lot of chickens. I wont even go into detail about the neighbor on my left. He's such a grump... and that's me putting it VERY nicely. In fact its actually a complement to what level of wrong that he is. So anyway, Just a few chickens never hurt anyone. I guess if anyone does the "what next" thing just assure them that you won't be getting anything else. Do the "besides, my yard isn't big enough" comment. That might shut them up. Sure they will complain behind your back but it is your right to have them and don't even tell them when you get them. Quietly let them be in your yard and after a time has past they will "I thought you were getting chickens" and say "They have been there for weeks now", they will see how they were over reacting. But this is all just suggestion. I hope it all works out for you because I just love having my flock. I have never enjoyed any animals as much as I have chickens. Good luck!

Great idea! I am so excited - I just want her to leave me alone... :0)

 

[artsyrobin]

Robyn...try hard boiled egg yolks crumbled in yogurt. The texture is more appealing. Then add a little cracked corn, BOSS and Calf Manna...should get the protein up. You can refrigerate the egg/yogurt and add the dry when you "set the table".

hadn't thought about texture!! thanks!

 

[i-love-my-honey]

you could contact 'custom coops' he is on here an built mine, he will do custom work, he could give you some ideas- this is the one i got from him- he is in tahlequah

That looks beautiful! I just contacted him. Thanks so much for the referral!!

 

[mjgigax]

You know the scrolling pictures on the home page? One has eggs and talks about more calcium...one has chicken coop of the week, chicken pic of the week and one has a beautiful black bird with white bordered feathers and it is titled chicken breeds...that's the chicken I don't know what it is...but I think I want some lol... Pretty soon I will have had just about every breed possible.

That pic was posted on the BYC page on Facebook. The breed was identified in the comments but now I am not awake enough to remember what it was. Those are just beautiful!

 

[mjgigax]

Found the page - Double Laced Barnvelders (sp?)