Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[patrickschick]

You could, but how often do you want your chickens to die?

gators only eat so often. They don't eat daily. So realistically could have a gator pool. Hmmm...maybe make a donation and watch the rooster that attacked you get eaten by gator!

I would love to see pics of your painted coop! and your chicks too!

As I am very new to all of this..............ie Backyard Chickens forum and have never raised a chicken.................I am wondering if folks might share some ideas about the best first chicken for me to raise.

I was thinking bantams............since they are small in size............and I just thought maybe 2-3 birds to see how it goes...............

Which bantam would you recommend and why?
if not a bantam----what breed would you recommend and why?

I am building the coop over the next few weeks....................and have read a lot. That's where I am at with this whole thing!

Black Breasted Red Phoenix. Have a trio that needs to go

Small birds, Male gets a big tail. Pretty to look at.

lol thanks but not really - got lucky with the timing, out of about 300 shots I got about 4 pics, that was the best one. I wish the 4yr would have stayed in bed, I would have got a ton more as it was darker outside and way easier to see the lightning. Maybe if more storms pop up i'll go out and try and get some more!

Regardless sweet shot.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Lisa:

Post 25850 is the pics....if eggs are not a concern, I'd get some silkies...Both the BOs and Dorkings of my group are pretty friendly...the GLWs are a bit more skidish....but none are mean...there are so many types to choose, that whatever you think you want to start with, won't be what you will end up with....and if you think you want three birds...build a coop for six.....lol...
again, you are more than welcome to visit to get a feel for what you may want....

hope I am not posting twice............not sure what just happened.......

anyway----I love the look of your coop-----huge , deluxe, nice

I don't understand all the abbreviations yet............not sure what a GLW is?

I like the concept of Easter Eggers yet thought they were bantams..................but just read they are bigger actually.
I like the look of the black and white barred bantams..............

I do want to see your coop in person...............your location is sooooo close by!

 

[tweetr1979]

Awesome shot!!

gators only eat so often. They don't eat daily. So realistically could have a gator pool. Hmmm...maybe make a donation and watch the rooster that attacked you get eaten by gator!
Black Breasted Red Phoenix. Have a trio that needs to go

Small birds, Male gets a big tail. Pretty to look at.
Regardless sweet shot.

Thanks guys!

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I like you are a first timer with chickens, I got 6 barred rocks and they are the cutest lil things ever - 12 days old today. Go with what you want to get, what appeals to you. I am already eyeing off a different breed all together LOL

yes I like your ideas--------------that is the fun of it..........trying something and seeing how it goes and going from there.....................with all the reading I am doing I may be psyching myself out!

this is a pretty dedicated and hardcore group! lots of details and things to know..........

 

[Blarneyeggs]

How much did you pay? I was just wondering what the going cost is just in case I can't work up the nerve to do it myself.

i forget what Walter Nolt charges but I think it's about $1.40/per bird.

wow what a great and thorough answer! 1. I would like some eggs and pets.............I am just one person so I don't need tons of eggs 2. How do small eggs taste? I think small eggs and smaller costs sounds better----but I have no experience 3. Not sure as I am just starting..............guessing keeping the bird for 4-5 years 4. I don't need fancy----but some of the chickens just look plain ole ugly-----I don't want that...............I like the barred rock bantams and the easter eggers .........in appearance and what people say about them............I would like a friendly cuddly chicken............I don't want a noisy chicken as I am not sure how the neighbors will react. I think generally a fun project , with some not tons-------of eggs, and a friendly pet.................a diversional fun friendly animal to care for----------

I have Bantam Cochin Pullet chicks. They are pretty sweet and I'm close to you. I'm happy to show you my coops and the eggs that they lay. Oh, and GLW= Gold Laced Wyandotte

Just got this about 30 mins ago - wish I could have got more but the 4yr refused to stay in bed grrrrr

Unbelievable! Great shot.

 

[tweetr1979]

yes I like your ideas--------------that is the fun of it..........trying something and seeing how it goes and going from there.....................with all the reading I am doing I may be psyching myself out!

this is a pretty dedicated and hardcore group! lots of details and things to know..........

LOL they all seem to know their stuff which is great for newbies like us, you can read all you want in a book but someones first hand experience is awesome.

After looking around the forum I already want a different coop LOL the one we bought second hand (since been totally cleaned out) I think will be too small now, no real area for roosting ect.

 

[missydcpc]

I'm right about there.

LOL so Barbie's not all alone anymore!

Todays chicken tails.....1 painted the new coop....results two BOs painted green and one dog with white nose. 2. chicks did the jail break again (5 of 6)...enticed two with food and intimidated the other three...seems they don't like wet feet and, roost on the gate, then decide to forage the neighborhood...need to find a way to keep them away from the gate....

When you figure it out let me know!

my baby guineas went in with most of the chicks, have you noticed, theres always a couple stupid ones that don't go up the ramp into the house with the rest of them, and just stand there cheeping.

Yup DH was complaining about 1 lone chicken out after even all the ducks were in!

hope I am not posting twice............not sure what just happened....... anyway----I love the look of your coop-----huge , deluxe, nice I don't understand all the abbreviations yet............not sure what a GLW is? I like the concept of Easter Eggers yet thought they were bantams..................but just read they are bigger actually. I like the look of the black and white barred bantams.............. I do want to see your coop in person...............your location is sooooo close by!

All of the questions that Silkie asked are good starters. When I was looking into getting ours, we decided on 12 breeds, 3 birds of each....just so I could try them out and see what I liked. The only bantams we wound up with are Sebrights, I now have a duo of golden and a duo plus a roo of silver. I love most of them (on of the silver roos needs his attitude adjusted) They are not necessarily the easiest to get your hands on, though. And no, small eggs taste no different than large, jumbo, or even duck eggs. GLW is golden laced wyandotte.

 

[rdilbarova]

lol thanks but not really - got lucky with the timing, out of about 300 shots I got about 4 pics, that was the best one. I wish the 4yr would have stayed in bed, I would have got a ton more as it was darker outside and way easier to see the lightning. Maybe if more storms pop up i'll go out and try and get some more!

Nice shot! It can be hard getting the timing right when it comes to lightning photography, so if your camera can switch to manual mode (where you control the settings, not auto), here is what I would suggest to make it easier: switch to a lower ISO and a slower exposure rate. The lower ISO for all intents and purposes makes the image darker and compensates for the fact that you are using a slower exposure, which makes it lighter. The exposure is how long your lens stays open. Longer= brighter. So, if you do something like a 20 second exposure (which is long considering most people take pictures at 1/60th or faster), then if the lightning shows up within those 20 seconds, it shows up in your picture. Yay!

wow what a great and thorough answer!
1. I would like some eggs and pets.............I am just one person so I don't need tons of eggs
2. How do small eggs taste? I think small eggs and smaller costs sounds better----but I have no experience
3. Not sure as I am just starting..............guessing keeping the bird for 4-5 years
4. I don't need fancy----but some of the chickens just look plain ole ugly-----I don't want that...............I like the barred rock bantams and the easter eggers .........in appearance and what people say about them............I would like a friendly cuddly chicken............I don't want a noisy chicken as I am not sure how the neighbors will react.

I think generally a fun project , with some not tons-------of eggs, and a friendly pet.................a diversional fun friendly animal to care for----------

I have two barred rocks (non bantam). One is the worst creature I have ever kept as a pet. The other is a complete and total sweetheart and likes to come up to me and 'chat (aka cluck away)' while I am in the coop. I think she really believes we are communicating.

 

[motherhen71185]

Just had to crawl through the run because mamma silkie decided it would be a nice night for her and the kids to sleep under the stars..... In the storm.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Hey Wing… are you busy?

No goat babies yet…. apparently my does are sticking to the 'Doe Code'. We weighed the goats today. One pregnant doe is 65 pounds the other is 72? I wrote it down somewhere. Our unbred girl (Candy), who is the teeniest thing, is 40 lbs. YAY! Candy, is without a doubt, the best papered doe we have, and the oldest. But she was just so teeny, we held off breeding her till next year. Looks like all the extra sweet feed and grain coming her way is helping bulk her up. I'm simply tickled! Now if those babies would just Hurry Up!