Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[sharron]

Brahmas were a bird I seriously considered but went with the Light Sussex instead... and I have to admit I am totally loving the LS we have so far. I have a couple who are 6 months and another 10 or 12 who are 2 weeks to 5 months and they are all friendly, curious and just adorable to have around so far.
The breeder I got my hatching eggs from says his hens routinely go broody once a season and a few are twice a season, so I know I am going to have a couple more broodies come next year but honestly just can't complain. DH and I are both totally in love with watching the broody hens with their chicks and since our birds aren't a source of income for us the loss of egg production is secondary.

and one major plus I have found with the LS so far.... we had an extra cockerel who had split wings so I had to cull him... and wow, a beautiful carcass for an 18 week old heritage bird! So DH and I already figure next year that any hens who are in the mood to be broody will be welcome to set on LS eggs.... pullets can be sold and cockerels can go to freezer camp.

i had the coronation sussex, still do, just so old that i get an egg or two maybe once every two week, but never ate any, was thinking about trying to find some more , if i do, will try the cockerels. i just love the looks of the brahma's, egg production isn't that great but i don't do it for the eggs, usually give them to the son or friends, just keep as i need.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Everyone talking about absinthe, Yuck! It's so nasty is unbelievable! We actually have half a bottle in the cupboard from the Czech Republic. Hubby HAD to try it and while he was deployed, he ordered some (sent home of course. No alcohol there). It tastes like anise (YUCK!). Hubby drinks it on VERY rare occasions. Even he thinks it's gross but it does give a very different type of drunk.

 

[sharron]

well THANK you so very much!...I was opposed to feathered leg birds...just because of the whole "stuff" sticking to them, but having these two babies w/ feathered feet..i see it is not so much of an issue....HUmmm, Brahmas.....will have to check them out a little more too...I know Sally-S. raises them ..do you Sharron?
YES-YES...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!..glad hubby took good care of you!!

yes, sure do, but now i have to wait til some grow up, slow growing birds, but i do enjoy watching them, they remind me of the way the germans used to march, high stepping, course they also remind me of a teenage boy that has to grow into his feet, graceful, they're not lol

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Everyone talking about absinthe, Yuck! It's so nasty is unbelievable! We actually have half a bottle in the cupboard from the Czech Republic. Hubby HAD to try it and while he was deployed, he ordered some (sent home of course. No alcohol there). It tastes like anise (YUCK!). Hubby drinks it on VERY rare occasions. Even he thinks it's gross but it does give a very different type of drunk.

..ooo mannn, I am so jealous!!!.I do enjoy the flavor...but I can no longer "do" the alcohol...

i had the coronation sussex, still do, just so old that i get an egg or two maybe once every two week, but never ate any, was thinking about trying to find some more , if i do, will try the cockerels. i just love the looks of the brahma's, egg production isn't that great but i don't do it for the eggs, usually give them to the son or friends, just keep as i need.

I hope she gets back to normal too for you!

yes, sure do, but now i have to wait til some grow up, slow growing birds, but i do enjoy watching them, they remind me of the way the germans used to march, high stepping, course they also remind me of a teenage boy that has to grow into his feet, graceful, they're not lol

cool!!

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you everyone on the feather-foot issues...lots of insights for sure!!
I don't believe I have too much growing around here that would hurt the birds....some egg plants/potatoes/..rhubarb...but they don't get to go "willy-nilly" through that stuff.

One other note about feather legged hens.... if they go broody you have to watch that their leg feathers don't get matted up or there is a risk that a chick can actually get caught up in it. It can have tragic results for the chick.

on the left was the "shell" but that entire thing is egg white encased in membrane. It was so odd looking. And the yolk was completely in tact. ... off to the right of that whole thing. So wierd. I'm hoping she takes tomorrow off and lays normally the next day

We have had pullets lay odd eggs, sometimes one normal one early in the day, then a soft or no shell one later in the afternoon or evening. It did seem to work itself out after they had been laying a couple of months

i had the coronation sussex, still do, just so old that i get an egg or two maybe once every two week, but never ate any, was thinking about trying to find some more , if i do, will try the cockerels. i just love the looks of the brahma's, egg production isn't that great but i don't do it for the eggs, usually give them to the son or friends, just keep as i need.

If you like the LS I got mine from someone who is only about 20 minutes from you.... one of the youngsters I have now is a coronation, it is carried in the genetic line he has and they do show up once in a while. I put up a couple of pics of the older teens last week one day, if you look back in the pic line up they aren't too far back. Absolutely gorgeous and large birds.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Kada:

Lisa Y. has a cross beak, you might pm her....I have also heard of folks filing a bit of the beak in certain situations....hope this helps....

yup ----I do have a scissor beak or crossed beak chicken!

She is a silver laced Wyandotte and she is doing great!

What everyone told me---------was that as long as she can eat she will be fine.................and she can eat!

I also initially made sure that the food bowl was deeper and that she had a good chance to get to it...............however-----her personality has helped her so much...........she has always been a leader and a smart one...............if some of my other gals had a crossed beak they would have had a harder time due to their temperament................at least I think this would be the case!

 

[wingstone]

What you can get depends on location and time of the year.....at that age why not just process and keep in freezer, I would hate to put all that time in and then let someone else enjoy that meal.... Surely you can fit in a few chicken with funny looking beaks. Been meaning to ask if hubby ever took to the ducks, and to think he was hesitant to make the drive for pick up...if you make a nice cozy location, they will go broody in the spring.

He ordered an incubator. I want them to raise their own. We shall see what happens. It looks like 4 girls and 4 boys to me. Will the drakes fight in the spring? Do they pick one mate or will everyone mate with everyone? Trying to figure out if I will need to seperate the males.

I have never had to seperate, the boys will occasionally have a quick tiff but always work it out quickly and without bloodshed, nothing like the roosters......I do notice the girls have their favorite and will not cooperate for another drake.

This is a very pretty mixed breed roo that runs around the farm. I love all the colors, I don't think there is any established breed that looks like that. Another example of how it would be nice to perpetuate that look, but it's nearly impossible. Wow, his saddles look like they are braided, very nice colors there.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Had a birthday this week and hubby could not have done better.
I got a brand new pair of insulated flanned lined jeans, a new car hart 5 pocket coat, full head hat, one of those with jus the eyes sticking out, and new leather gloves....

Guess I have no excuse to go outside now.

Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like he knows what a farm girl really wants.. e


@Katt, 'full on looking like they can walk on water pontoon feet'? BWAHAHAHAHA

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

One other note about feather legged hens.... if they go broody you have to watch that their leg feathers don't get matted up or there is a risk that a chick can actually get caught up in it. It can have tragic results for the chick.
We have had pullets lay odd eggs, sometimes one normal one early in the day, then a soft or no shell one later in the afternoon or evening. It did seem to work itself out after they had been laying a couple of months

If you like the LS I got mine from someone who is only about 20 minutes from you.... one of the youngsters I have now is a coronation, it is carried in the genetic line he has and they do show up once in a while. I put up a couple of pics of the older teens last week one day, if you look back in the pic line up they aren't too far back. Absolutely gorgeous and large birds.

Thanks for that tid-bit...I do remember reading something about that..too sad...i am making a list of interesting..and then going from there..feather feet/cold hardy/broodiness/egg size..all that important stuff

..

 

[chiques chicks]

Someone had ducks they were trying to get rid of? These people want some.
http://lancaster.craigslist.org/wan/4674213143.html