***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Mattok1]

Matt in ok I sent you a pm with my number last week. I don't know if you got it or already have a new roo. Just wanted to let you know in case you didn't see the pm. Or if I did it wrong.

CLS I'm sorry I didn't get back with you. I did see your message and meant to respond but hadn't done it.
We're still trying to decide if we'll keep our boy or not. Leaning toward not.
Out of curiosity, do you have any Cochins?

 

[CLSranch]

No Cochins. RIR cross.

 

[keiferlou]

I'd like to offer a little bit different perspective and I hope you'll take it as kindly as possible. A number of years ago I got a house in the country with a little bit of land and quickly bought some sheep as I had grown up raising them and thoroughly enjoyed having them. My next door neighbors had a dog that was very nice and I would never have minded her visiting. One day, however, that dog who I don't believe had ever hurt or chased any animals, got with a pack of other neighborhood dogs (who probably were also normally nice, gentle animals) and they attacked my sheep, killing one, maiming one to the point that I had to put her down and injuring another severely. My sheep were in my backyard that was fully fenced, but someone else's dogs were able to find a way in and kill and hurt my animals because their owners did not have them fenced in or tied up.
What I'm saying is YOU know your dog is never going to hurt anything. The neighbor knows that most dog owners will say the same thing. They have animals THEY want/have to protect and understandably will do so by any means necessary.
I'm sorry but none of us knows what will happen when our sweet, loving dog/animal gets into unfamiliar circumstances. You said that he will take eggs on the ground, but you think that's fair game - what if your neighbors don't? You said he digs but not much - what if your neighbors think any digging is too much? You said he's playful and likes wrestling with other dogs - maybe you neighbor doesn't like playful dogs or ones that might look aggressive because they're being playful.
Having a pet of any kind means taking responsibility for it and if we're unable to then that pet should go to a different home. You're looking for a new home for him which is commendable however I wanted to add a different perspective for your neighbors. Maybe they're crummy, maybe they're not, but I'd probably do the same thing they're doing if a dog kept coming in my yard after I'd made it clear they weren't welcome.

I absolutely understand the points made. All very good points but I know the full history we've had with these neighbors and their efforts to annoy not only us but every other neighbor out here. Now, if he had been doing annoying things to other neighbors or they had anything bad to say about him, I would absolutely give credit to these people and say they have a point but that's not the case. There's a reason the other neighbors got along with him and they didn't. He didn't bother anything or anyone when he roamed according to the others. He just roamed and barked. The old families like us that have been here for a few generations refer to time as "before them" and "after them" if that tells you anything. They reach over another neighbors fence with a stick and trigger their hog snares, get caught on game cam, confronted about it and that's ok but that same neighbors little lap dog crosses that same fence just to smell around (nowhere near their house or yard or their animals) and they threaten to shoot it? They leave the gate open and their stud horse comes through 2 of our fences, fights my dads stud horse through the fence and causes hundreds in vet bills plus broken fence that they don't even offer to repay and that's ok but my chickens hunt bugs in their driveway at the edge of our fence and they call the sheriff? When I say unreasonable, I mean unreasonable. I believe most people are reasonable and compromises can be made but honestly, after 30+ years, it's getting real old trying to make it work and be nice. The other neighbors stopped trying long ago.

The main goal of the post was to find a safer home for Newt, which I did. He is about 40 minutes from me on 23 acres with no neighbors for 4 miles in any direction and the nearest one is kind and communicates with the new owners and from what I gather, has already met Newt and likes him. He's got chickens to look after and two new sisters to play with which he loved immediately. They came out to meet him and brought one of their current LGD's and they were best buds right away. New owner is a retired vet tech and former humane rescue officer so I feel pretty good about where he ended up.

 

[Turion1973]

Hello Okies! Does anyone on here know where to get Bantam Silkies in Ok. We have been looking around. I know that Tractor Supply gets a very limited shipment but 99% of the time they are sold out in seconds. I know this time of year they are hard to get since Easter seems to provoke a buying frenzy on chicks. Lady at Tractor Supply told me its amazing how many little kids and their mothers are buying up the Silkies just to learn 3 weeks later that they made the wrong choice and they realize that the little chick is now a chicken and they don't want them anymore. We are looking to raise Silkies and my daughter wants to show them in FFA.

 

[dunnmom]

Hello Okies! Does anyone on here know where to get Bantam Silkies in Ok. We have been looking around. I know that Tractor Supply gets a very limited shipment but 99% of the time they are sold out in seconds. I know this time of year they are hard to get since Easter seems to provoke a buying frenzy on chicks. Lady at Tractor Supply told me its amazing how many little kids and their mothers are buying up the Silkies just to learn 3 weeks later that they made the wrong choice and they realize that the little chick is now a chicken and they don't want them anymore. We are looking to raise Silkies and my daughter wants to show them in FFA.

What part of OK are you located? I believe there are several Silkie breeders in OK. My mom has purchased Silkies locally in the past, but they tended to not be very hardy. I'll ask her when I get a chance if she knows any breeders she trusts.

 

[Turion1973]

What part of OK are you located? I believe there are several Silkie breeders in OK. My mom has purchased Silkies locally in the past, but they tended to not be very hardy. I'll ask her when I get a chance if she knows any breeders she trusts.

I live in South Central Oklahoma around the Ada area

 

[dunnmom]

I live in South Central Oklahoma around the Ada area

I found a link for you. I don't know anything about them, but someone else on here might. http://www.sonrisesilkies.net/about-us.php

 

[LindseyC]

Hi, fellow Okies! I'm new to the backyard chicken party. I have never had chickens before and I'm looking at getting a couple of Easter Eggers, a couple of Buff Orpingtons, and a couple of something else. I'm wanting chicks and no roosters. Thoughts? Also, does this seem like a good pick for a beginner? What would you suggest as the other 2? I would prefer good layers for the final 2. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[NanaKat]

@LindseyC
Your choices of breeds is very good. Both EE and Orpington are tollerant of other breeds. To your mix you could add Wyandotte, Australorp or Cochin.
You indicated chicks with no roosters....it is often hard to determine the sex on chicks until they either crow or develop mature feathering. Are you wanting new hatched chicks or juveniles?
This close to Easter, stores like Atwoods and Tractor Supply often have chicks in ample supply.
I'm also in central Oklahoma.

 

[LindseyC]

Thank you! I tried our local Atwoods and all they had were straight run assorted chicks. I am such a noob that I had to google "straight run" while in the store. Someone on a Facebook group I am a member of said they had Buff and Easter Egger pullets at a feed store in Okc. Hopefully, I'll luck out there. I was wanting fairly young ones, but with feathers. I've read that sometimes they can be sexed fairly young. Is this true? I realize this isn't a 100% foolproof method, but I really, really don't want to end up with a rooster.

We're practically neighbors. I live in north Shawnee in the North Rock Creek area.