Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

@Erba
I was at the poultry show this morning. But they did not have light sussex at all. They had sundheimer and white columbian italian. I am sorry. I'll keep my eyes out for you.

While I was in Scotland I was actually looking for light sussex hatching eggs. You know.. I have to try out my new incubator. LOL And then you would have been welcome to the chicks. But the one guy who was in the area didn't have any. I tried.

 

[Erba]

Oh my goodness, I've got everyone looking for light Sussex now. Anyway thanks a lot for thinking about me and my apparently and annoyingly "rare" breed! I did get a contact through FB who is offering light Sussex hatching eggs. I asked for pictures but they were showing them and would take pictures after..am still waiting for pictures.

As far as my last batch of chicks are looking, there is maybe one that could end up actually looking like light sussex. One looks like it will be pure white, two look like their wings will be mostly black and one is buff brown. If I get at least two pullets, then I've got my flock back up to my original egg production, which was what I was aiming for. The cockerels will be fattened up and eaten, because I'm only keeping the one from my first hatch, he has a good character and gets on with the whole flock well.... at least for the time being.

 

[Papa John59]

You may want to try here......https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de
I found a few listings for Sussex eggs in BW for you. Happy hunting!

So here is was, Saturday morning and my oldest daughter and I were "sureing" up the run and coop. ("sureing" is an expression from the Midwestern states east of the Mississippi River)
I have been allowing her to use the bore machine and pre-drill for me. Well I had to press on the backside of a board, so that she could drill. Her attention was so much on boring straight and level that she did not pay attention to the placement of my hand. Full power and "DAMN THAT HURT!" and with a reaction time of me running a 10m sprint to the kitchen during a break in a game, I pulled my hand back, doing more damage! Yep, she drilled into my index finger...to the bone and my action of pulling back ripped the meat even more!
Have you ever seen a fat man running around in the garden, me neither, but the wife and neighbor lady thought it was a sight to see, driving up in the car, unaware of what had transpired.
Finally, I made my way into the house.....ahhhh cold running water! By then the wife heard what had happened, bringing me our medical kit. So, finally the bleeding stopped and I was able to push the meat back into the opening, saying that I don't need a doctor. Used two butterfly strips and closed it up.
I must have really scared the hens, they stayed in the coop for over an hour.
Yesterday, looking at it, as I did another clean up, I was thinking, "yes, maybe you should have driven into town to have it properly looked at." But, no, it will mend on its own so I will tough it out. Besides, it's too late unless infection sets in.

So? How was your weekend?

 

[abpatchy]

I cannot describe what I felt when I read this. Why on earth did you not go see a doctor? Why WHY??? did you hold the board to drill?? Safety??? Ok.. I am going overboard with this... but teaching your daughter safety?? Oh it must have hurt!!!! I feel sorry for you, your daughter (who must be feeling guilty) and the scared chickens.
I do hope things will heal quickly and that you are not in too much pain anymore... but you should see a doctor anyways. Are you up to date on your shots?

 

[Papa John59]

Yes mom....my shots are up to date. And to be honest, there is no pain. In fact, when I came home from work, I took the wrap/bandage off and it looks fine. TBH, I'm at fault. She was boring above her head and I was not looking. I'll be fine as I've done worst to myself

 

[Erba]

My weekend was a lot less dangerous for one thing! Just reading what happened to you makes me feel queasy and OUCH OUCH! I hope it heals well and not get infected or something. I bet your daughter feels really bad, but they are called power tools for a reason. LOL
This weekend I set up a mini run in the coop for the chicks, fenced off with hardware cloth so the big ones can't bully them. All but the tiny one (think/hope it is a she) are almost fully feathered, so I'm waiting for her to feather up a bit more, before they can go in the unheated coop. Just need to make an opening big enough for them to get in and out, without the others getting to them. At the moment they are still in the brooder making a right mess in it, and still have their ceramic heat lamp on low.

 

[abpatchy]

I was so shocked, I forgot about the weekend
Well, I just relaxed after getting back Friday night from Scotland. We drove 4780km in those 10 days. Did some laundry. Oh and I went to the poulltry show. Just a little local one. That was it.

 

[chickengr]

@Erba
I was at the poultry show this morning. But they did not have light sussex at all. They had sundheimer and white columbian italian. I am sorry. I'll keep my eyes out for you.

While I was in Scotland I was actually looking for light sussex hatching eggs. You know.. I have to try out my new incubator. LOL And then you would have been welcome to the chicks. But the one guy who was in the area didn't have any. I tried.

sundheimer is a good dual purpose breed.

 

[Erba]

Yes they are and I've actually got a Sundheimer breeder right here in Horben! Was seriously thinking about it before I got chickens. They are always selling chicks, hatching eggs and laying hens. Would have made my life easier if I had gone with that breed. Unfortunately they have feathered feet, which I didn't really like that much. I have loam/clay soil here in the garden. If it rains those feathers are gonna stick and dry to their legs/feet, was my concern. But If I really bomb out with the Light Sussex I might still consider it...lol

 

[abpatchy]

I'm sure you' ll find hatching eggs or chicks in spring. Shipping the eggs could be an option. Or maybe you'll find some contacts at the poultry show in Freiburg.
Just don't go with sussex from the hybrid breeders. They are not real sussex... which might be the reason why you ended up with a mixed kinda group of chicks.
I am having issues with my chickens too... they are not laying. Since I got them they only layed about 7 eggs. The last egg I got was early September. So I do hope they will start up again come spring. If not, I will have to get lots of hatching eggs.

@Papa John59 have you heard from the breeding club yet?