Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[stake]

Has anyone got chicks at Pickering Valley Feed? Love to hear the results. All my chicks are doing well, but we lost a few of the leghorns in the first few weeks, and I was looking to kinda fill in the ranks a bit, try some different breeds?

CN:

My original 6 were from Pickering (last week in feb last year)....all were pullets and all were healthy until I lost one about a month ago....my impression is that though a bit expensive, you don't suffer any losses in the mail..I've seen Randy(their Chicken guy) giving electrolytes and dunking the noses of the chicks in the feed/water to make sure they know 'food is'. I think their main hatchery is Ideal; but, if you look at their offerings, they are getting some birds from other places. For a backyard operation, they get a big thumbs up...if you are getting larger quantities(50+) you may want to look for better prices....

Lastly, there are a bunch of folks on here with good breeding programs of all flavors...just post what you want and see who has it.....my two cents

 

[fisherlady]

Wing... to prevent any grain from floating... just get a splatter screen (like the kind walmart sells for covering bacon pans) and set it down into the bucket, push it about 1/4" below the water level. It will hold all grains from floating on surface but won't interfere in the fermentation process.

We mix our scratch grain ourselves and we just mix and leave in a garbage can, once mixed it really doesn't 'settle' as long as the drum isn't shook or moved around, even then it is minimal.

I can't say about the fermentations of the grains, but I would think that even if you went with all your own grain the only change you may need to make is the amount of time it is allowed to ferment to allow the grains to get well soaked. So if you currently have 4 buckets in use you may have to expand that to 6 or 8 to allow them to sit for an extra day in the process.

 

[ClucksNasty]

CN:

My original 6 were from Pickering (last week in feb last year)....all were pullets and all were healthy until I lost one about a month ago....my impression is that though a bit expensive, you don't suffer any losses in the mail..I've seen Randy(their Chicken guy) giving electrolytes and dunking the noses of the chicks in the feed/water to make sure they know 'food is'. I think their main hatchery is Ideal; but, if you look at their offerings, they are getting some birds from other places. For a backyard operation, they get a big thumbs up...if you are getting larger quantities(50+) you may want to look for better prices....

Lastly, there are a bunch of folks on here with good breeding programs of all flavors...just post what you want and see who has it.....my two cents

Stake,

I posted this a few weeks ago, today someone kind of dug it up. Anmywyas decided to pick up a few, and am very happy I did. All are 2 weeks old and are doing great.

 

[barbiegirl]

Hiya Guys!

I just figured I'd check in and say howdy. I wanted to give a bit of an update. I got some new birds off craigslist, and they are mingling well with my backyard flock. I picked up some EE's one of whom is a speckled olive egger!!!! Oh i am so excited! I haven't figured out which one of the new EE's it is yet, but they are just gorgeous gals! (I named them Sherlock and Watson--as they tend to be best gal pals)

Here, I'll show them off! Bright Blessings!!

Pretty girls! Awesome find

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Ms Ladyhawk has responded to my pm re: chicks..............thank you everyone for recommending contacting her!

I am getting very excited.......

I have never had my own chicks and next week some time I will!

It seems like I will be getting 4 from Pickering Valley and adding one from Lady hawk.

What do you all think about this...........is it a bad idea to have one chick from a different source ?

They are just babies?

I heard that some people put a feather duster in their brooder too..........do any of you all do that too?

I have to read up now and remind myself on all the stuff I should know about baby chicks..............I feel like an expecting mom!

nervous and excited!

 

[LisaYolkUm]

On another topic


I have been catching small mice in my mousetraps................still not big critter.........but I see their footprints in the snow!

I will need to double check the trap to be sure its set up good...........I want to get the big critter more than the little mice.

the small mice don't really bother me that much but an R ...........that's different and let me tell you I DONT LIKE IT!

 

[stake]

Ms Ladyhawk has responded to my pm re: chicks..............thank you everyone for recommending contacting her!

I am getting very excited.......

I have never had my own chicks and next week some time I will!

It seems like I will be getting 4 from Pickering Valley and adding one from Lady hawk.

What do you all think about this...........is it a bad idea to have one chick from a different source ?

They are just babies?

I heard that some people put a feather duster in their brooder too..........do any of you all do that too?

I have to read up now and remind myself on all the stuff I should know about baby chicks..............I feel like an expecting mom!

nervous and excited!

Lisa:

All chicks are new and if they are the same age/size.....its good to go....

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Wing... to prevent any grain from floating... just get a splatter screen (like the kind walmart sells for covering bacon pans) and set it down into the bucket, push it about 1/4" below the water level.  It will hold all grains from floating on surface but won't interfere in the fermentation process.

We mix our scratch grain ourselves and we just mix and leave in a garbage can, once mixed it really doesn't 'settle' as long as the drum isn't shook or moved around, even then it is minimal. 

I can't say about the fermentations of the grains, but I would think that even if you went with all your own grain the only change you may need to make is the amount of time it is allowed to ferment to allow the grains to get well soaked.  So if you currently have 4 buckets in use you may have to expand that to 6 or 8 to allow them to sit for an extra day in the process. 

So why does everyone ferment their grains and or feed? What's the benefit?

Stake,

I posted this a few weeks ago, today someone kind of dug it up.  Anmywyas decided to pick up a few, and am very happy I did. All are 2 weeks old and are doing great.  

Mine are only about a week only purchased from Pickering, and are doing well also. Clucks, did you happen to pick up any Black Australorps? I think they arrived first and my Black Austrolorp is almost double in weight of my Buff Orp, so I think the Black may be almost a week older. Just an observation.

 

[stake]

On another topic


I have been catching small mice in my mousetraps................still not big critter.........but I see their footprints in the snow!

I will need to double check the trap to be sure its set up good...........I want to get the big critter more than the little mice.

the small mice don't really bother me that much but an R ...........that's different and let me tell you I DONT LIKE IT!

Are you sure what you are after...I dunno...

 

[ClucksNasty]

So why does everyone ferment their grains and or feed? What's the benefit?
Mine are only about a week only purchased from Pickering, and are doing well also. Clucks, did you happen to pick up any Black Australorps? I think they arrived first and my Black Austrolorp is almost double in weight of my Buff Orp, so I think the Black may be almost a week older. Just an observation.

I have two, I will take some pics tonight when i get home, havent notice.