Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[TillyPeeps]

I would never pick Marans or the German New Hampshires (the one you got from me) for my laying flock. I consider them "show birds", like silkies, ornamental but hardly worth having for the eggs. I disbanded my New Hampshire flock for that reason (you got one if the last offspring from them) and would certainly do that with the BCM's, but for the constant barrage of customers wanting them. I never recommend them as layers, I can't sex them as chicks, yet still people travel long distances to get them. Must be the French mystic or something. They are pretty, well mannered, and seem very hardy, but not my first choice for productive layers.

Welsummers are way better, IMO, and even my Welsummers are not what I'd like in terms of laying and hatchability, which is why I'm trying to scale up on the Welbars or locate another dark egg strain of Welsummers to infuse new genes into my line.

In general, I find the dark egg layers a bit more frustrating than the blue egg layers. The Legbars and Black Sexlinks are wonderful. I also really like purebred Ams, though they take a long time to sex out. They are otherwise close to perfect, IMO.

I have a box of 50 chicks coming today from John Blehm. They are Ameraucanas and Chanteclers, I don't know how many of each breed or color, that's going to be a surprise, but I'm excited to find out what is in that box. One of my goals this year is to upgrade some of my existing stock, and getting better Ameraucanas is on the top of my list.

Just curious: what is reason that you are interested in Chanteclers? I heard that they are flighty and not good layers.

 

[fisherlady]

Hi All

Noob checking in from Schuylkill County (Tamaqua).

We're considering setting up for 6 hens, and looking for local connections for gear, and birds, if anyone knows of any.

Welcome
You aren't on my end of the state but we are a pretty mobile bunch around here... if you find something in the Central, West Central or Northwestern areas and need help getting it your way just give a holler and we may be able to assist.
What is your goal for your flock, egg production, meat production, pets? Some breeds are pretty specific for needs, others cover most of the bases.... most of us have started with one type and expanded or specialized after a bit of experimenting on what works for us.

 

[TillyPeeps]

Well folks:

Kicked my young ones out side this afternoon....they were totally overwhelmed
(and loving it) ...stayed close as I've had fox issues and young chicks are fox bait....well at 6:30 the dog alerted and I set him loose.....he went out with his ears back...and he hasn't returned yet, but I am sure he's chased the fox for a few miles.... went down to pen #2 and gathered the sleeping chicks up and locked them in the coop...day one is looking pretty good....nothing like a good pooch.....

We has fox here too. My neighbor's dogs are doing very good job to chase them away.

 

[stake]

I'm not Dennis, but this is a subject I am interested in. I and several others have a few marans in our flocks to add color to our egg baskets, They lay dark beautiful eggs. The hens themselves are friendly and good flock birds. They make wonderful olive eggers, but they lay the fewest of any breed I have. If egg production were my #1 criteria, I probably wouldn't have any but they make up for their egg production in other ways.
The next bit of information was said by someone who was raising marans, that their fertility isn't as good as some of the other breeds. Usually the number given is you need one rooster per ten hens. At one point I had one rooster for 18 hens and I never cracked an infertile egg, but I was told with black copper marans a better ratio is one rooster per five hens.

my experience is somewhat limited, but my original pair from H&H (near Harrisburg) laid pretty well and all winter....3-4 eggs per week, 2 during winter....usually in the #6-#8 range....went back to them to get more and they were no longer breeding them....I did notice that their birds really had some flaws regarding showing birds, probably why they gave up on them....

 

[TillyPeeps]

Hi All

Noob checking in from Schuylkill County (Tamaqua).

We're considering setting up for 6 hens, and looking for local connections for gear, and birds, if anyone knows of any.

It looks like that you are not too far from Pottstown? Then as the "official poultry dealer for west PA", dheltzel has very good choices of chicken breeds for you. There are many other members in the area too, I'm sure you can find what you are looking for.

 

[TillyPeeps]

@dheltzel I wanted to let you know, both rhodebar girls laid their first eggs today

it was a really nice surprise

That's great!

Rhodebar is a great breed and so friendly. I'm sure there are lots of customers want them.

 

[dheltzel]

Just curious: what is reason that you are interested in Chanteclers? I heard that they are flighty and not good layers.

I'm not, but the deal is cheaper for any surplus chicks from his hatch, so any Chanteclers he hatches beyond what he has orders for will be included. I'm sure I can find some people interested in them, if not, I know they will be awesome free ranging on the farm. I am hoping for mostly Ameraucanas of course.

Plus, it's the excitement of not knowing what will be in there. Like opening a Christmas present or looking into an incubator when you hear peeping.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I'm not, but the deal is cheaper for any surplus chicks from his hatch, so any Chanteclers he hatches beyond what he has orders for will be included. I'm sure I can find some people interested in them, if not, I know they will be awesome free ranging on the farm. I am hoping for mostly Ameraucanas of course.

Plus, it's the excitement of not knowing what will be in there. Like opening a Christmas present or looking into an incubator when you hear peeping.

it will be a good Christmas present for you.

I really like Ameraucanas' fluffy look, too bad they are difficult to sex. Luckily, Brownie seems have fluffy cheeks and pea comb and will look like an Ameraucana other than her color. She is almost solid dark brown with insignificant barring.

 

[Chaos18]

I'm not, but the deal is cheaper for any surplus chicks from his hatch, so any Chanteclers he hatches beyond what he has orders for will be included. I'm sure I can find some people interested in them, if not, I know they will be awesome free ranging on the farm. I am hoping for mostly Ameraucanas of course.

Plus, it's the excitement of not knowing what will be in there. Like opening a Christmas present or looking into an incubator when you hear peeping.

Why don't you like the Chanteclers?

 

[dheltzel]

it will be a good Christmas present for you.

I really like Ameraucanas' fluffy look, too bad they are difficult to sex. Luckily, Brownie seems have fluffy cheeks and pea comb and will look like an Ameraucana other than her color. She is almost solid dark brown with insignificant barring.

She should not have any barring at all. Now I'm worried that she is a he. That would certainly explain the "cockiness".