Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[missydcpc]

Hey Pennsylvanians!

I just got off work and came home to five new chicks in the brooder. My mom picked up three for our flock (two light brahmas and one black astralorp), and one of each for her friend's flock. And we were only supposed to get two. I think my mom is taking baby steps towards chicken math. I even managed to convince her that we need a BCM, too.

Doesn't sound like baby steps! LOL

 

[rinlareine]

Doesn't sound like baby steps! LOL

Guess she's a natural.

Also, the bulb just burnt out in our heat lamp. Any tips? I'm going to stick a heating pad in there and maybe shine a regular lamp on it. Will that be enough until I can get a new bulb tomorrow?

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

I have 7 leghorn chicks approx. 3 weeks old. They are insane. Any time I go to put food or water in the brooder they fly around screeching like I'm going to have them for dinner.

I'm kinda glad my 6 Aren't the only ones acting like that. I'm guessing mine are between 1.5 and 2 weeks. We've had them for a week now and they had about 1/2 their true feathers when we picked them up. Funny thing is once we bring them out of the flock and are interacting one on one they're completely different loving, cuddling up to us and very calm. Guess it's typical group mentality with them.

 

[mrsjohnson]

Where can I get laying hens in pa?! I'm sure
Some Amish sell them.. I'm from oxford.. Anyone know?! - and what's would silkies be safe with? Cause I know they're kinda fragile.. New to the chicken world! Helppppp!

 

[pagumby]

I'm kinda glad my 6 Aren't the only ones acting like that. I'm guessing mine are between 1.5 and 2 weeks. We've had them for a week now and they had about 1/2 their true feathers when we picked them up. Funny thing is once we bring them out of the flock and are interacting one on one they're completely different loving, cuddling up to us and very calm. Guess it's typical group mentality with them.

I have noticed that IF we can catch one and get it out it does behave much calmer. Stupid birds. My husband picked these out. I knew from the moment I wanted chickens that I did not want leghorns. Do they make good soup

 

[dianaB123]

Top one looks like a Silver Duckwing Old English game bantam. Bottom one looks crested? Better pics? Are these bantams or standards?

We were told they were bantams. But the black one is as big if not a little bigger then the red sex-links we have of the some age. And yes it is starting to get a crest.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Hey Pennsylvanians!

I just got off work and came home to five new chicks in the brooder. My mom picked up three for our flock (two light brahmas and one black astralorp), and one of each for her friend's flock. And we were only supposed to get two. I think my mom is taking baby steps towards chicken math. I even managed to convince her that we need a BCM, too.

I can help with the BCM!

Guess she's a natural.

Also, the bulb just burnt out in our heat lamp. Any tips? I'm going to stick a heating pad in there and maybe shine a regular lamp on it. Will that be enough until I can get a new bulb tomorrow?

Just use the highest watt standard household bulb you have available & move it a little closer to the chicks. Until I went to "big" brooders & started putting chicks in unheated basements in mid-winter I never used anything else. I'm assuming the chicks are in the house & room temps are 65-70F. If so, no need for a heat bulb at all.

Where can I get laying hens in pa?! I'm sure
Some Amish sell them.. I'm from oxford.. Anyone know?! - and what's would silkies be safe with? Cause I know they're kinda fragile.. New to the chicken world! Helppppp!

I'm just below Wheeling, 10 miles from the PA border. I have about 300 birds right now, so pretty sure I can find something you want.

We were told they were bantams. But the black one is as big if not a little bigger then the red sex-links we have of the some age. And yes it is starting to get a crest.

Probably a Polish. The standards are on the small side & look more like bantams as chicks.

I have noticed that IF we can catch one and get it out it does behave much calmer. Stupid birds. My husband picked these out. I knew from the moment I wanted chickens that I did not want leghorns. Do they make good soup

Not much meat on a leghorn, but they lay tons of big white eggs.

 

[rinlareine]

I can help with the BCM!

Just use the highest watt standard household bulb you have available & move it a little closer to the chicks. Until I went to "big" brooders & started putting chicks in unheated basements in mid-winter I never used anything else. I'm assuming the chicks are in the house & room temps are 65-70F. If so, no need for a heat bulb at all.

You can?
When will you have one available?

I found a 75 watt bulb and stuck it in a desk lamp that I propped on top of the "brooder". We actually use an old guinea pig cage for our chicks.

They're in the living room right now. I just always assumed that they needed a heat lamp to keep warm until they were weeks old.

 

[pagumby]

Let's forget about chicken math for a moment. I just did some egg math. 7 leghorns, 3 dozen eggs a week, 12 more hens of different breeds, 14 bantams (my luck not too many roos) 12 ducklings (sex to be determined) what the heck will I do with that many eggs

and I still want more chicks LOL.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

I have noticed that IF we can catch one and get it out it does behave much calmer. Stupid birds. My husband picked these out. I knew from the moment I wanted chickens that I did not want leghorns. Do they make good soup

No clue this is our first flock. I know when I pick up more chicks (after the Cornish Rocks are processed) I'll be looking more towards dual purpose for our meat birds. I don't mind the speed that the CRs will be processing ready, but the issues they can have makes me not want these again. I don't mind waiting if it means my animals don't suffer.