Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

I am doing ok. Our family just got over covid. Wasn't bad at all, thankfully!
I am done hatching for the year. The chicks look really healthy and are growing very fast... well like any other chicks.
No bird flu around this area or at least not that close. A lot of areas up north are dropping the lockdown for the birds. That is very happy news.
I am sorry for the ones who lost some hens. So far I have been spared more bad news.

I did have a surprise in one of my hatching groups. White chicks! Well, dirty white. I talked to the breeder I got my birds from and he says it happens to him too sometimes. I guess those old old genes from way back when pop up and say hello! I will be selling them or butchering them. I don't think anyone would want to buy a white wheaten colored bird. I am selling those hens in that breeding groups as I don't know which one of the 3 caused the white chicks.

The last chicks moved into the coop today. It's so quiet at home. I miss them already!

Nice to hear Covid did no real harm to your family.

I think lots of people are happy to buy the misfit hens for a reasonable price. Many people don’t go to for the standard you are looking for. But just like to have a few nice hens for eggs and company.
I would try to sell them from > 6 weeks (no heating necessary) or as soon as you know they are female.

 

[BDutch]

Good luck @chickengr !
Just curious , how much € is the feed now for a kilo? Or how much ( % ) more expensive?

 

[chickengr]

Good luck @chickengr !
Just curious , how much € is the feed now for a kilo? Or how much ( % ) more expensive?

a 40 kg bag of whole corn went from 12 to 20 eur. for the rest of feed they pack 30 kg instead of 40 so that it looks cheaper.

 

[BDutch]

a 40 kg bag of whole corn went from 12 to 20 eur. for the rest of feed they pack 30 kg instead of 40 so that it looks cheaper.

Here the price of a 12,5 kg bag organic feed, I usually buy, didn’t go up (yet). The price is € 14,50 .
Suppose I better not wait much longer to buy a new bag. But it needs to stay fresh so it’s not okay to stack.

 

[abpatchy]

I ordered enough feed for the chickens for the rest of the year.. hopefully. I got 97 chicks atm... but that way I got a rebate and free delivery. I was worried that I won't get what I need later on. I pay around 20 Euros for 25kg of feed for chicks and young roosters or young hens. It's not organic though. With the amount of feed I go thru I can't afford organic. LOL
I know so many breeders that ordered enough feed for the rest of the year.... I hear sometimes some feeds are hard to come by.

 

[abpatchy]

Nice to hear Covid did no real harm to your family.

I think lots of people are happy to buy the misfit hens for a reasonable price. Many people don’t go to for the standard you are looking for. But just like to have a few nice hens for eggs and company.
I would try to sell them from > 6 weeks (no heating necessary) or as soon as you know they are female.

Thank you!
For sure! Lots of people want hens that don't meet the standard. And that what helps me too! What else would I do with all those birds that are not perfect? Bad enough I have to butcher so many roosters!

Speaking of butchering roosters. Friday will be the day for Mr. Attack. He's been kung fu jumping me a few times already. Tried again this morning but did not pay attention to a post that was in the way and it that instead. Enough is enough. I have a couple of hens I would have liked to check out because they were not looking like they were ok. I did not because of him. They looked better this morning. But my point is.... he is aggressive... I can't have that. He was meant to babysit the young roosters. I can't have him babysit the new roosters, what is he going to teach them. So I made up my mind... Friday I have time... Friday his time has come.

 

[BDutch]

I ordered enough feed for the chickens for the rest of the year.. hopefully. I got 97 chicks atm... but that way I got a rebate and free delivery. I was worried that I won't get what I need later on. I pay around 20 Euros for 25kg of feed for chicks and young roosters or young hens. It's not organic though. With the amount of feed I go thru I can't afford organic. LOL
I know so many breeders that ordered enough feed for the rest of the year.... I hear sometimes some feeds are hard to come by.

Prepared feed shouldn’t be bought for a whole year. It has an expiring date. The quality diminishes quite fast.

 

[abpatchy]

I understand that. But it will last until the end of the year... and it lasts that long. I was more concerned not to get any payable feed than with feed that is not as fresh anymore.

 

[chickengr]

Here the price of a 12,5 kg bag organic feed, I usually buy, didn’t go up (yet). The price is € 14,50 .
Suppose I better not wait much longer to buy a new bag. But it needs to stay fresh so it’s not okay to stack.

your salaries are much higher than here so all the prices are higher as well. there is no organic feed where I live so I cannot compare the prices. if you have a small flock it is not a big deal to feed them. but when you have 40-50 chickens, ducks, gees and turkeys and people stopped to buy fertile eggs/chicks then you have to downsize that number. the other 3 hens left today - araucanas.

 

[Maiahr]

@chickengr are you selling your chicken? I missed the topic ...

I saw Sultan chicken today for the first time and I liked them! I have ordered a pair and I will have them in the beginning of May.
I have 3 broody hens, 15 eggs each and a broody turkey with 35 eggs under her Looks like this year (again) I will not use any of the incubators.