Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

Dennis, do you have pic of male and female Bieles so I can see what she hatched?

No Biel chicks pics, but the autosexing breeds are all sexable the same way. Legbars can be a little tricky with some chicks hard to be certain of, but Biels are strongly autosexing, like Rhodebars and Welbars. The females below are on the left and the males have a large white headspot and far less distinct chipmunk markings. Basically, the cute chicks are the females (just like with people

)

These are Rhodebars.

And these are Welbars.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

So I have three EEs with 5 more coming so hopefully I can have one that lays blue eggs. I really want to get a dark brown egg layer. What breed would be best here in the cold and free ranging in yard? I have plenty of good laying breeds so doesn't have to be great layer just want to have egg baskets that look as great as the pics you guys post of yours! Lol.

6 hrs untill duck delivery two. I'm so freaking nervous even though I know it wasn't my fault last week. Ugh if this one goes bad I don't know if I can handle it. Getting all other brooders fed, cleaned, and watered then in different rooms locked away just in case. Been bringing my 7 week olds outside and they've been playing in around big girls and Oliver (with supervision) without any problems. Makes me hopeful for an easy transition!

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Sorry one more! Stellar broke out of brooder while I was playing on phone and wanted me to pet him. We'll we think its a him. So happy this on survived. All three blues did and they are my favorites. He was very slow to feather but it's finally coming in.

Guess its time to get to work!

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Biggest egg I've ever gotten! My new Peking. Next to KC

 

[dheltzel]

So I have three EEs with 5 more coming so hopefully I can have one that lays blue eggs. I really want to get a dark brown egg layer. What breed would be best here in the cold and free ranging in yard? I have plenty of good laying breeds so doesn't have to be great layer just want to have egg baskets that look as great as the pics you guys post of yours! Lol.

6 hrs untill duck delivery two. I'm so freaking nervous even though I know it wasn't my fault last week. Ugh if this one goes bad I don't know if I can handle it. Getting all other brooders fed, cleaned, and watered then in different rooms locked away just in case. Been bringing my 7 week olds outside and they've been playing in around big girls and Oliver (with supervision) without any problems. Makes me hopeful for an easy transition!

None of the dark brown laying breeds are notably cold hardy (in the sense of Chanteclairs and Hemedoras), but none should have any particular issues in your area other than some frostbite on the roos combs, if the humidity is too high.

The classic breeds are Marans and Welsummers. Barnevelders and Penedesencas are much less common and probably not as good for your purposes anyway. Welsummers and Cuckoo Marans are reasonably sexable as chicks. Welbars and Gold Cuckoo Marans are very sexable, but also very rare.

My best advice is to see which if those are available locally and that will probably decide for you. I think you are out of reach of the chicken train, or I'd try to get some Welbars to you.

 

[hyzenthlay]

So I have three EEs with 5 more coming so hopefully I can have one that lays blue eggs. I really want to get a dark brown egg layer. What breed would be best here in the cold and free ranging in yard? I have plenty of good laying breeds so doesn't have to be great layer just want to have egg baskets that look as great as the pics you guys post of yours! Lol.

6 hrs untill duck delivery two. I'm so freaking nervous even though I know it wasn't my fault last week. Ugh if this one goes bad I don't know if I can handle it. Getting all other brooders fed, cleaned, and watered then in different rooms locked away just in case. Been bringing my 7 week olds outside and they've been playing in around big girls and Oliver (with supervision) without any problems. Makes me hopeful for an easy transition!

I will second @dheltzel 's comment about cold hardiness--I've had several of those breeds, and never had any problem with frostbite in the winter. On free ranging, I think you'd want to focus on birds that have some decent camouflage and common sense, but most of the dark egg laying breeds are ok in those categories (not like my poor little Sultan, for instance--bright white, big crest so she can't see as well, and generally slow/docile--I always worry about her the most as hawk bait, but really the hawks could take out any of my hens). I know I'm starting to sound like a shill for Meyer, but they're only a couple hours from you and they have every one of the dark brown laying breeds dheltzel mentioned except the Welbars. I've had three of their Marans varieties--black copper, blue copper, and cuckoo--and the black copper clearly lays the darkest eggs. I got one of their Welsummers, too, but it turned out to be a roo, so I can't speak to the egg color on those. Alternatively, I think you're about the same distance from the last stop on the chicken train, so if you were willing to drive a bit you might be able to take advantage of dheltzel's offer there.

Oh, and that's a big egg!! Also, I really like the frosty blue color coming in on your BLRW. That's my favorite shade of blue for the BLRW, even though "real" fanciers seem to prefer a deeper, steely color.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

The flock is so happy and content today! Yesterday, we butchered 3 mature roos. They were really wreaking havoc on the girls and nobody was ever relaxed out there. Now there are just 2 mature boys running with them. It's amazing how much difference a couple boys can make. There are at least 8 juvie boys that will be making their way to the freezer over the next couple weeks.

I also made a small tractor yesterday by repurposing an old 4 tier greenhouse from TSC that had the cover ripped apart from wind last year. It turned out surprisingly good! Not only will I be using it as a playpen for babies but it will work as a pen to take to swaps, a devider for broodies and babies, a small tractor, and a seperater top use when introducing new chicks to the coop

 

[Lelanae]

If you can do this, I would recommend what I did. Last time, I built my own coop. Not expensive, but I immediately wished it had been bigger.

When I moved, I called up local shed companies. Asked if they had any used sheds in stock. I was able to find an ugly 10x12 for $375 including delivery. I had to re roof it and paint it, but it's nice and big. You may be surprised when you start purchasing materials, how it can add up quickly. Here are some pics of my before and after. For reference, I am a young(ish) woman with no previous building skills. Thank God for Youtube!

You are right about the cost of supplies. I paid close to 400. to enclose my son's playground --including stuff I had lying around for flooring and shingles. (Shown in background.)
I have to duck to get in it and I need another nest box and bigger IS better with coops! I am glad to hear feedback about the little TSC Coops. They always have tempted me for a possible addition/quarantine set up--but not is they fly apart!

 

[BullChick]

Biggest egg I've ever gotten! My new Peking. Next to KC

Pekins do lay some big eggs! It's too bad that I don't really use mine. I don't bake much lately, and I seem to use chicken eggs more for eating.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hey guys, candled my turkey eggs tonight. All five seem to be developing, but one has a problem. It has an air cell on the side of the egg. Is there any hope with an assisted hatch?

No experience with Turkeys. But, I did have a Swedish Flower from someone on here. When I candled the air cell was completely on the side. I thought there was no way it would make it. The only adjustment I made was that I tilted the egg so that the air cell was fairly close to upright (it made the egg fit awkward in the bator). She pipped correctly and hatched without intervention. Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks! That's very encouraging!

Dennis, do you have pic of male and female Bieles so I can see what she hatched?

No Biel chicks pics, but the autosexing breeds are all sexable the same way. Legbars can be a little tricky with some chicks hard to be certain of, but Biels are strongly autosexing, like Rhodebars and Welbars. The females below are on the left and the males have a large white headspot and far less distinct chipmunk markings. Basically, the cute chicks are the females (just like with people ) These are Rhodebars.

Thanks! Looks like the first one may be a Roo. But I did see another Biele pipping earlier. I'm trying to leave the poor gal alone. .

The flock is so happy and content today! Yesterday, we butchered 3 mature roos. They were really wreaking havoc on the girls and nobody was ever relaxed out there. Now there are just 2 mature boys running with them. It's amazing how much difference a couple boys can make. There are at least 8 juvie boys that will be making their way to the freezer over the next couple weeks. I also made a small tractor yesterday by repurposing an old 4 tier greenhouse from TSC that had the cover ripped apart from wind last year. It turned out surprisingly good! Not only will I be using it as a playpen for babies but it will work as a pen to take to swaps, a devider for broodies and babies, a small tractor, and a seperater top use when introducing new chicks to the coop

Awesome news about the relaxed flock. Good to know. If I get a Biele Roo, I'd like to keep him, because Dheltzel days they are very calm. And I just love big chickens!

If you can do this, I would recommend what I did. Last time, I built my own coop. Not expensive, but I immediately wished it had been bigger. When I moved, I called up local shed companies. Asked if they had any used sheds in stock. I was able to find an ugly 10x12 for $375 including delivery. I had to re roof it and paint it, but it's nice and big. You may be surprised when you start purchasing materials, how it can add up quickly. Here are some pics of my before and after. For reference, I am a young(ish) woman with no previous building skills. Thank God for Youtube!

You are right about the cost of supplies. I paid close to 400. to enclose my son's playground --including stuff I had lying around for flooring and shingles. (Shown in background.) I have to duck to get in it and I need another nest box and bigger IS better with coops! I am glad to hear feedback about the little TSC Coops. They always have tempted me for a possible addition/quarantine set up--but not is they fly apart!

That's so cute, using your son's playground. But yes, costs for building supplies add up quickly!