Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[yoopergirl1211]

This is the little girl still trying to recover.

I'm dropping a mix of save a chick water and nutri drench to her right now. Still kinda alert and will move around a bit. Stands on my hand if I pick her up but lays down if I set her down. The two barred rock and two Australorp are doing fine. Any other tips to help the little girl out? Shes a dark Cornish.

 

[fisherlady]

This is the little girl still trying to recover.

I'm dropping a mix of save a chick water and nutri drench to her right now. Still kinda alert and will move around a bit. Stands on my hand if I pick her up but lays down if I set her down. The two barred rock and two Australorp are doing fine. Any other tips to help the little girl out? Shes a dark Cornish.

I like to mix a tablespoon of water with about a teaspoon of brown sugar and a drop on either nutridrench or Polyvisol (without iron) , then give it to them a few drops at a time. Give her a stuffed animal friend to cuddle with if the other chicks are more mobile they may not want to sit with her for very long and she needs to relax for a while yet .

 

[dheltzel]

Candled tonight and found that the duck eggs are finally fertile. All 8 had some veining! Got about 20 more to go in tomorrow. Too bad these will not be hatched in time to hitch a ride on the chicken train. Maybe some future run.

Who here was wanting Welsh Harlequins? Cindy?
I'm going to try vent sexing these. Ducks are easier than chicks.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

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.  

When is the chicken train and where would the last stop be? I really like his light blue. Want them more for eye candy then show colors so I'm bappy. The BLRW thread is pretty hardcore about color lol.

 

[3riverschick]

If you have a bird going through molt, Naturewise Feather Fixer is an excellent food. I used it on my Light Sussex .incredible new feathers grew in! just beautiful. it was recommended to me by some other by BYCers.
Best,
Karen

 

[emorems0]

When is the chicken train and where would the last stop be? I really like his light blue. Want them more for eye candy then show colors so I'm bappy. The BLRW thread is pretty hardcore about color lol.

Last stop on the chicken train is Beaver County, PA. And a correction for anyone who wants in on the Easter chicken train, the east to west trip will be on April 18th, not the 17th like previously mentioned

 

[FluffyButt789]

4 chicks died of 10 and 2 of 5 ducks. They got in at 1 today. I tbink I'm giving up for now.

Perhaps you should try a different hatchery as this one doesn't sound great Or like others suggested, drive to the last stop for the chicken train.

I hope your week improves.

Last stop on the chicken train is Beaver County, PA. And a correction for anyone who wants in on the Easter chicken train, the east to west trip will be on April 18th, not the 17th like previously mentioned

This is so interesting. Who started this, how long ago? Who does the driving, and how is it determined what chickens go and which come back? Also do you charge for the chickens and for the gas as well? If I was able to have more chickens, I would be very interested!!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Last stop on the chicken train is Beaver County, PA. And a correction for anyone who wants in on the Easter chicken train, the east to west trip will be on April 18th, not the 17th like previously mentioned

What day is west to east again? I need to mark calender since I think I'm sending instead of receiving this time lol

Perhaps you should try a different hatchery as this one doesn't sound great Or like others suggested, drive to the last stop for the chicken train.   I hope your week improves. 


This is so interesting. Who started this, how long ago? Who does the driving, and how is it determined what chickens go and which come back? Also do you charge for the chickens and for the gas as well? If I was able to have more chickens, I would be very interested!! 

@emorems0 has been running the chicken train for a year or two now since she makes the trip across the state a couple times a year to visit family. We're very lucky to have her! I know I wouldn't have half my birds without her help

 

[Blarneyeggs]

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.  

When is the chicken train and where would the last stop be? I really like his light blue. Want them more for eye candy then show colors so I'm bappy. The BLRW thread is pretty hardcore about color lol.

yes! They can be hardcore. As far as I know, BLRW are not an accepted variety, you can bring them to be shown, but it limits your placing. If you decide to show birds, even at the 4-H level, it's better to have an accepted breed and variety.

When is the chicken train and where would the last stop be? I really like his light blue. Want them more for eye candy then show colors so I'm bappy. The BLRW thread is pretty hardcore about color lol.

Last stop on the chicken train is Beaver County, PA. And a correction for anyone who wants in on the Easter chicken train, the east to west trip will be on April 18th, not the 17th like previously mentioned

@Dhetzel, so tell those duck eggs to hurry up .

 

[dheltzel]

Perhaps you should try a different hatchery as this one doesn't sound great Or like others suggested, drive to the last stop for the chicken train.

I hope your week improves.

This is so interesting. Who started this, how long ago? Who does the driving, and how is it determined what chickens go and which come back? Also do you charge for the chickens and for the gas as well? If I was able to have more chickens, I would be very interested!!

Unfortunately, Ideal in Cameron, TX is the only hatchery that sells Black East Indie ducklings. There is a farm up in the northwest (Holderheads) that sells adults, but they are expensive and ship only in very cool parts of the year (adult waterfowl are incredibly cold hardy, but heat takes them out quickly). All of the bantam ducks are much harder to find than the full sized ones (are they called Large Fowl like in chickens?).

I really like the BEI's, but I don't have room or time for more breeds. The only waterfowl that would male me break that would be if I found some Australian Spotted ducklings for sale. That is the bantam breed I think is most under appreciated.