Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

Looks like I was wrong on the initial wind damage assessment, we did lose the patch on the main chicken coop roof, so there is a hole open again. Another project I planned to tackle in the spring that's going to get pushed up bc I cant find the panel that I had been using as a patch.

@Auroradream26 are you still experimenting with meat bird crosses? We had a Male that we were trying to get to breeding age to try and cross with our dark cornish but he died before the dark cornish started laying again. I really want to see what we'd get adding some cornish X genes to our Delaware over dark cornish cross. We had so many problems with the raccoon last summer so we couldn't keep any earlier cornish X and even rationing food for the last guy he couldn't make it all the way through winter.

No, I stopped that project to make room for others that I wanted to work with. I did have them separated for a while before processing but every egg I collected either didn't develope or didn't hatch. I do have giant English orpingtons though if you wanted to try outcrossing them. The only problem is they grow slowly.

My Lav Ams hatched the end of June but still have not laid. Is it the weather or do some breeds just take their time starting?

Sometimes if they're heading in to POL in The winter, they will wait until spring to start laying. I have a few silkied lavender ameraucanas that I'm waiting to start laying too. They've been around for quite a while but no eggs yet

 

[BullChick]

I’ve had arthritis since I was young. I’m lucky to not have many issues, but tonight it’s bad enough that I can’t hold my phone. I can only imagine what some of you others are dealing with.

 

[dheltzel]

My Lav Ams hatched the end of June but still have not laid. Is it the weather or do some breeds just take their time starting?

Ameraucanas seem slower than most about starting to lay when it is still winter. I'm getting eggs from mine, but not a lot until this week. The very first Lavender Am chicks hatched today, along with 2 black ones. I'll know in 5 or 6 days whether they are silkied or not.

 

[dheltzel]

Welcome from Cambria county! If you're up for a road trip, my brooders are overflowing with babies right now lol. I'd load you up! Lol, @dheltzel is much closer to you though in Pottstown

Oh you can definitely have many different breeds together. I have tiny little Seramas running around with giant English orpingtons, silkies, ameraucanas, and whatever other random flock members there are lol

How do you define "overflowing"? I just counted and I have 115 chicks and poults in the brooders in the basement. A few more are still drying in the incubator.

I am very close to Philly and will have chicks all through the spring.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

How do you define "overflowing"? I just counted and I have 115 chicks and poults in the brooders in the basement. A few more are still drying in the incubator.

I am very close to Philly and will have chicks all through the spring.

I'm sure my brooders are smaller than yours lol. I have about 20 poults and probably 40 chicks right now. I had to kick a few pullets outside today because they were getting too big! People aren't really buying much this year so far. I'm hoping things pick up soon!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

This broody duo is practically falling out the nest! They're sitting on a pile of muscovy eggs. Some are definitely ahead of others but I'll just let this play out and whatever doesn't hatch with the rest will just go in the incubator when the time comes.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

finally got TWO eggs today...not broken or cracked!
Hopefully this is the beginning of increased egg numbers...one can only hope

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

HELLO! Greater Philadelphia here, new to the site, and contemplating raising backyard chickens this Spring!

sorry this is late..Hello & Welcome
You've come to the right thread for enabling, er...support in your backyard adventures.
I am sure others have already introduced you to the plethora of wonderful & amazing fur & feathered lovelies to become totally obsessed, er...in love with.
Glad to have you!

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

This broody duo is practically falling out the nest! They're sitting on a pile of muscovy eggs. Some are definitely ahead of others but I'll just let this play out and whatever doesn't hatch with the rest will just go in the incubator when the time comes.

View attachment 1684629 View attachment 1684630

that's funny...ahh, the joys of broodies
Will be looking for Cordon to start her first round of nutty-mother in about a month or so. End of March beginning April... Seems as soon as the weather really breaks, that's when it get's fun picking on each other for the best corner, squawking & growling whenever we tell them to go outside & enjoy the day.

 

[Lelanae]

HELLO! Greater Philadelphia here, new to the site, and contemplating raising backyard chickens this Spring!

Welcome from Kennett Square! Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Welsummer, Production Red, Australorp all in my coop--I am hoping to add a white chicken (I think they are beautiful) and some on Dennis' blue layers this spring.