***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

To BlackBriars and TTownChics and DustyDave
Sounds like you are all well on your way to great flocks

 

[BlackBriars]

Thanks TTownChics and NanaKat.

NanaKat, your mention of Buckeye hens got my attention. They are the first birds I've had since I was a kid about 40 years ago. I ordered these chicks from cackle, 25 pullets and 5 cockerels.

Do you think I should source my roosters elsewhere?

 

[margaret8]

What can I use to kill flies that will not hurt my birds?

 

[NanaKat]

NanaKat, your mention of Buckeye hens got my attention.     They are the first birds I've had since I was a kid about 40 years ago.  I ordered these chicks from cackle, 25 pullets and 5 cockerels.

Do you think I should source my roosters elsewhere?

I would keep an eye on them as they grow. Keep your best two "to the Standard" roosters and your best Six "to the Standard" hens for your breeders and use the others for table and eggs. Hatch eggs only from your breeders. Not all hatchery birds meet the Standard of Perfection for show. There is an American Buckeye page on Facebook and there are several Buckeye threads here on BYC in the breed sections.
My birds are from a breeder flock not a hatchery. I got mine from Don Gibson and they are Mccary bloodline.

What can I use to kill flies that will not hurt my birds?

Permethrin barn spray helps with both flies and mites. I spray the walls, roosts and the nest boxes when I change the nest material.
I use the sticky tapes too.
Also, PineSol (1 cup to 9 cups of water) can be sprayed as a deterrent.
Someone here uses the fly attractant traps too.

 

[BlackBriars]

Thanks NanaKat, appreciate the advice.

I read a large portion of the second thread and a little of the first.

 

[margaret8]

I would keep an eye on them as they grow. Keep your best two "to the Standard" roosters and your best Six "to the Standard" hens for your breeders and use the others for table and eggs. Hatch eggs only from your breeders. Not all hatchery birds meet the Standard of Perfection for show. There is an American Buckeye page on Facebook and there are several Buckeye threads here on BYC in the breed sections.
My birds are from a breeder flock not a hatchery. I got mine from Don Gibson and they are Mccary bloodline.
Permethrin barn spray helps with both flies and mites. I spray the walls, roosts and the nest boxes when I change the nest material.
I use the sticky tapes too.
Also, PineSol (1 cup to 9 cups of water) can be sprayed as a deterrent.
Someone here uses the fly attractant traps too.

TY

!

 

[DustyDave]

Blackbriars: they are so cute!

@DustyDave
 : I know. I don't think I could bring myself to eat him but you can if you want lol. We don't really want to raise chicks and stuff, just have hens for eggs and then when they get older, get new hens. We bought all 8 together knowing a few would probably turn out to be roos. If you want them, let me know.

I aprepciate the offer but according to The Man we are full up. Chicken Math you know

 

[TTownChics]

@DustyDave , yup I know!

 

[NanaKat]

Well, I've learned a lesson that I wasn't expecting to learn.
I won't be shipping eggs anywhere again.

Rant 1: I had been communicating 2 years with a BYC lady in Colorado who wanted Cochin eggs. I finally agreed to send her eggs two times in back to back shipments back in March and early April. I suggested that since I don't often ship eggs, that I would charge her for the postage ($30.55) and only $2.00 for each chick that was developing at candling in order to insure that she got chicks. After I sent the second shipment, she informed me that she only gets about 25% hatch on shipped eggs because of her elevation in Colorado. Out of over 3 dozen eggs, she had seven chicks hatch from the many chicks that were developing at candling and only 5 of those thrived. She suggested that she would like to try again in the fall. I sent her a note suggesting that since her hatch was low, to just reimburse me for the postage and I wouldn't charge her for the chicks. When I didn't hear from her for about a month, I sent her a reminder note. My generosity has been rewarded with no response at all. So I'm out the eggs, the postage and now trust.

Rant 2: And I must be really gullible...I've been communicating by telephone and email with a gentleman in Indiana since February about Columbian Wyandotte. He has made plans three times to come to Oklahoma to pick up some birds to start a breeding program but the rains have postponed his trips. I've sent him 3 dozen eggs to hatch and he was able to hatch 25. In his favor, he has communicated with me frequently and sadly lost his father last month. Our last conversation was about a trip mid June and payment for eggs and postage...So far...no visit, no payment.

So now, unless someone plans on meeting me somewhere close to my home, to pick up and pay for eggs or birds, I won't be selling or shipping. I don't frequent too many auctions, so I'll be hatching for my breeding programs and for Oklahoma requests only.

On a better note....We have chicks finishing up drying to go into the brooder. Banty babies are hatching today under another hen, and I'll be moving 20 eggs to the hatcher this evening.
My garden is finally clean again. MaryJo and Joe came to visit and it looked horrible...I was so embarrassed! But we had a nice visit. The day lilies are blooming, the elderberries are loaded with tiny berries, okra is blooming, tomatoes are luscious, squash is finally producing, cucumbers, cantaloupe and pumpkins are forming fruit.

 

[mjgigax]

Well, I've learned a lesson that I wasn't expecting to learn.
I won't be shipping eggs anywhere again.

Rant 1: I had been communicating 2 years with a BYC lady in Colorado who wanted Cochin eggs. I finally agreed to send her eggs two times in back to back shipments back in March and early April. I suggested that since I don't often ship eggs, that I would charge her for the postage ($30.55) and only $2.00 for each chick that was developing at candling in order to insure that she got chicks. After I sent the second shipment, she informed me that she only gets about 25% hatch on shipped eggs because of her elevation in Colorado. Out of over 3 dozen eggs, she had seven chicks hatch from the many chicks that were developing at candling and only 5 of those thrived. She suggested that she would like to try again in the fall. I sent her a note suggesting that since her hatch was low, to just reimburse me for the postage and I wouldn't charge her for the chicks. When I didn't hear from her for about a month, I sent her a reminder note. My generosity has been rewarded with no response at all. So I'm out the eggs, the postage and now trust.

Rant 2: And I must be really gullible...I've been communicating by telephone and email with a gentleman in Indiana since February about Columbian Wyandotte. He has made plans three times to come to Oklahoma to pick up some birds to start a breeding program but the rains have postponed his trips. I've sent him 3 dozen eggs to hatch and he was able to hatch 25. In his favor, he has communicated with me frequently and sadly lost his father last month. Our last conversation was about a trip mid June and payment for eggs and postage...So far...no visit, no payment.

So now, unless someone plans on meeting me somewhere close to my home, to pick up and pay for eggs or birds, I won't be selling or shipping. I don't frequent too many auctions, so I'll be hatching for my breeding programs and for Oklahoma requests only.

On a better note....We have chicks finishing up drying to go into the brooder. Banty babies are hatching today under another hen, and I'll be moving 20 eggs to the hatcher this evening.
My garden is finally clean again. MaryJo and Joe came to visit and it looked horrible...I was so embarrassed! But we had a nice visit. The day lilies are blooming, the elderberries are loaded with tiny berries, okra is blooming, tomatoes are luscious, squash is finally producing, cucumbers, cantaloupe and pumpkins are forming fruit.

We didn't think it looked terrible at all. It was abundant and we are completely inspired. We cant wait til next year and are already drawing out layouts.