Peeps in Europe!

[chickengr]

happy new year! (sorry for delay but I had to fix my car yesterday.)

 

[chickengr]

@Maiahr how are you?

 

[BDutch]

This question make me curious about you too Chickengr. How are you and your flocks doing? Do you still have Dutch and several other breeds to breed with? Did you succeed to add geese last year?

I would love it if all peeps in Europe visitors would share a simple update of their flocks and activities in 2025!

I have 6 hens and 2 pullets in my flock today:
- Ini mini, gold partridge Dutch bantam and a 10 yo sweet lady.
- Black and Pearl, 9 yo black Dutch twin sisters.
- Janice 5yo gold partridge mix breed and daughter of Ini mini.
- Kraai, a black with brown speckled 6 yo Dutch and a gift from a child.
- Katrientje, red bantam RIR 3 yo.
- Gin and Tonic, my biggest young chickens ever. They are twins or half-sisters, both black/white striped Amrock bantams and hatched last year.

I’m pleased with my flock as it is today and have no plans for another breeding ‘expedition’.

 

[BantyChooks]

My update, still no chickens in the forecast sadly, but my canary and rabbit are doing quite well. Planning to spend my free time upgrading their care and setups.

 

[chickengr]

This question make me curious about you too Chickengr. How are you and your flocks doing? Do you still have Dutch and several other breeds to breed with? Did you succeed to add geese last year?

I would love it if all peeps in Europe visitors would share a simple update of their flocks and activities in 2025!

I have 6 hens and 2 pullets in my flock today:
- Ini mini, gold partridge Dutch bantam and a 10 yo sweet lady.
- Black and Pearl, 9 yo black Dutch twin sisters.
- Janice 5yo gold partridge mix breed and daughter of Ini mini.
- Kraai, a black with brown speckled 6 yo Dutch and a gift from a child.
- Katrientje, red bantam RIR 3 yo.
- Gin and Tonic, my biggest young chickens ever. They are twins or half-sisters, both black/white striped Amrock bantams and hatched last year.

View attachment 4023765
I’m pleased with my flock as it is today and have no plans for another breeding ‘expedition’.

thank you for asking. I have dutch bantams, they are great chickens. I keep them in the coop as they are small and find easily some place to hide when they get broody. with my dogs that I keep free at night is a big no. as soon as I finish my new geese and ducks coops I'll make a new coop and run for my dutch bantams. I might put a pair of guinea fowl with them. I have egyptian fayoumis, pita pinta asturiana, silkies, 4 egg layer hybrids and 2 (no idea) beautiful hens. besides chickens I have toulouse mix geese, african geese, white and pied african geese (a project), indian runner ducks, khaki campbell ducks, cayuga ducks and a few muscovy ducks that I plan to sell. muscovy ducklings ate each other maybe due to lack of space so I cannot keep troublemakers. I also have a pair of burbon red turkeys (to breed), a few bronze turkeys (for meat), a pair of vietnamese pigs and goats (3+1). and 2 pairs of phaesants, lady amherst and yellow golden. I hope I didn't forget anything.

 

[abpatchy]

Due to difficulties in my life I had to cut down on chickens. I will probably just have the bantam Sulmtaler in the future. I can't quite let them go all the way... I have only one breeding group left 1.4 and 2 bantam groups 2.4.

 

[BDutch]

Due to difficulties in my life I had to cut down on chickens. I will probably just have the bantam Sulmtaler in the future. I can't quite let them go all the way... I have only one breeding group left 1.4 and 2 bantam groups 2.4.

Sorry to hear you had to cut down so much.
Did I understand correctly that you have one group with large Sulmtalers and two groups with bantam Sulmtalers now?
1.4 is one rooster and 4 hens isn’t it?
If so I presume you have 2 bantam groups with each two roosters and 4 hens?
17 is still a lot of chickens compared to what I have. IMO bantams easier to manage than large fowl, but just as great character wise. It gives you more time to enjoy at lower costs.

 

[Maiahr]

Hi guys...Looks like you are all happy and flocks are good!!! I am good too. I have over 100 chicken now, who are really faithfully laying eggs and making money for their own food. Grain/wheat has gone up twice in the past 4 months here, but the chicken know they need to lay more and they do it. So everybody is happy. @chickengr how do you clean the ducks? I am about the cull my last duck tomorrow (they are too messy) but always had difficulty cleaning it from the feathers....

 

[abpatchy]

Sorry to hear you had to cut down so much.
Did I understand correctly that you have one group with large Sulmtalers and two groups with bantam Sulmtalers now?
1.4 is one rooster and 4 hens isn’t it?
If so I presume you have 2 bantam groups with each two roosters and 4 hens?
17 is still a lot of chickens compared to what I have. IMO bantams easier to manage than large fowl, but just as great character wise. It gives you more time to enjoy at lower costs.

Almost... I have two roosters and 4 bantam Sulmtaler hens. So 11 birds. I won't be able to have as many chicks due to not having enough hens.
Yes, that is why I chose to have bantams. I had an awful time getting the LF ready for the shows. Sulmtaler are pretty big (the rooster can be 4kg).. they eat a lot. It is a lot more work cleaning. You end up with a lot more waste. That bantam poop is almost cute!! Almost! hahaha

 

[chickengr]

Hi guys...Looks like you are all happy and flocks are good!!! I am good too. I have over 100 chicken now, who are really faithfully laying eggs and making money for their own food. Grain/wheat has gone up twice in the past 4 months here, but the chicken know they need to lay more and they do it. So everybody is happy. @chickengr how do you clean the ducks? I am about the cull my last duck tomorrow (they are too messy) but always had difficulty cleaning it from the feathers....

glad to hear you are ok and still keep chickens.

I don't butcher and clean my animals but was told the secret. keep the (butchered) duck upside down (keep the feet with your hands) pour the hot water so that water falls on feathers the opposite way of growing. never put ducks in a bucket of water like chicken, you will not be able to clean it.