Oregon

[1chicken fan]

We lived the Midwest (Chicago area) for approx 10 years. So greatful to be back in Oregon. We had lived in the Willimette Valley for 20 plus years.

I have a few friends that are breeders that I buy from, although I have had good luck with craiglist!

 

[birdnbeast]

Where do most of you buy your chickens here in Oregon?

I think I just love your 'handle' name!!! I keep wanting to respond to your postings and I almost always just pm folks as I am too shy for most stuff public =;~) and I am computer illiterate......

There are many ways to get your chicks. I wasn't sure which breed(s) or type I would like except that I love d'Uccles (hubby got me those for valentines) so I found an ad on C-list for half of an order of dual/heavy hatchery youngsters that were old enough to be out but just not yet to POL (sorry, point of lay -ing). So, CraigsList is very full of chicks come spring. By the same way, you can get with someone that is driving distance and do a hatchery order and split it at an age and details as agreed by all parties. We don't have but a few shows around here so while that is the best experience I could recommend, travel and time from your home is always an issue even for those of us that want to exhibit not just go for the day to look around and meet breeds and owners. The big ONE is over on this west side of the state in just a couple of weeks. Almost all feed stores will get chicks in for the spring. Of course, a breeder of poultry, local or across the state, is never going to say don't buy local as that would just be loco =:~) as we all have feed and bedding to buy all year. Some breeders will even have both exhibition standard bred stock and production bred stock so you don't have to order hatchery chicks for egg layers if you don't want to but feed stores usually have a warranty of sorts for pullets/cockerels. There are as many ways and places to get chickens as there are chickens.

As a poll I have got them from feed store, C-list, hatching eggs ordered/mailed and local pick up, breeder trades, local breeders, swaps, shows

I think we all really love 'new' people because it is so invigorating to experience it all anew so Thanks for joining.
back to lurk-dom...
k/

 

[chickened]

Where do most of you buy your chickens here in Oregon?

Most people buy them from the farm stores as chicks but for POL hens from either CL or members... like me.

 

[DeannaOR]

I think only three of mine are from the feed store...all the others I got from breeders or hatched myself from eggs that I bought here and from breeders in my community. I have really enjoyed meeting others who are chicken crazy..especially the ones in my own neck of the woods. The swaps are super fun!

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I recommend any feed stores with little chicks. That way, you have more selection and get to raise them from when they are chicks. Craigslist is risky (to me at least) because you always have to worry about the birds have mites/live and desieases.

 

[Nelson-90]

I recommend any feed stores with little chicks. That way, you have more selection and get to raise them from when they are chicks. Craigslist is risky (to me at least) because you always have to worry about the birds have mites/live and desieases.

ypu can get some good birds from cl but the point you made is true the whole quarantine thing and all that is a pain in the behind

 

[DeannaOR]

ypu can get some good birds from cl but the point you made is true the whole quarantine thing and all that is a pain in the behind

ALL new birds, no matter where you get them should be quarantined.

 

[Nelson-90]

ALL new birds, no matter where you get them should be quarantined.

yeah i know thats the prob but if you dont take risks you can never have new birds or what you want. rigth?

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote: Yes, well some risks will lose you your entire flock. I have a friend who is a long time breeder (20 years plus) of my breed of choice, and he lost EVERYTHING recently, even though he quarantined...at some point his biosecurity measures weren't enough...he even had to cull an 8 year old hen that he went out in a hurricane to rescue...broke his heart...and mine...our country will likely never see the likes of those birds again....
Point I'm trying to make is, keep long term consequences in the front of your mind, rather than "what you want right now"...it could literally mean the difference between life and death for your entire flock.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Do what kinda light do y'all suggest and what kind of cycle on only at night on all the time help

I do not put artificial light in my coop. A hen has a finite number of eggs she is able to lay in her life. If you push her to lay more eggs per year by providing artificial light, she won't lay as late into her life. When given artificial light, yes, she will lay like crazy for her first 2 or 3 years, but if allowed to do it naturally, she'll lay a few less eggs per year, but will lay until she's 5, 6, or even later. I've heard of birds laying until they were 10 or more when allowed to do it naturally...