Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

So my grow out pen for my Guinneas and Polish is turning out to be WAY more work than I had anticipated ~pretty much the same as Every Other animal enclosure that I have ever built... I did built a temporary run for them and am more than happy with my use of baling twine . Not sure if you cans see it here.... but.....View attachment 2403288

You are fortunate, if I put birds in a run like that, coons would quickly kill every one.

 

[dheltzel]

Took more chicks to the farm today. Only 14 young ones left in the basement, some of them are moving to the garage tomorrow. I decided I needed more breeders of a few kinds, so I hatched up until a month ago. I hope these young ones feather out fast so they don't have to be sheltered all winter.

 

[BullChick]

We added a lot more leaves into the quail pen today. The quail were actually jumping into the leaves! I imagined it in my head, but wasn’t expecting it. They didn’t flutter up, and land. They actually were jumping in, getting out, then jumping in again! We also saw a quail sleeping in the feed tonight. Silly bird. In the past, the quail slept in one or two groups. Except for the really cold nights, I see them all over. It’s interesting.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

You are fortunate, if I put birds in a run like that, coons would quickly kill every one.

How true. This is just temporary until I build a more secure run. They are safe and sound in the coop at night, and I’ve got 2 Great Pyrs patrolling day and night. Raccoons have not been a problem lately, but we have been inundated with coyotes. I am currently looking for an Anatolian Shepherd to add to our farm.

 

[BullChick]

Llamas work too.

 

[feliciadawn]

I got my first olive (well, putty-colored) egg, so now everyone is laying. Unfortunately the olive egg was just randomly on the ground, not in the nest box. I almost stepped on it. I hope that isn't a habit.

The legbar eggs are tiny, like bantam eggs. She is tiny too. Are there bantam legbars?

 

[dheltzel]

I got my first olive (well, putty-colored) egg, so now everyone is laying. Unfortunately the olive egg was just randomly on the ground, not in the nest box. I almost stepped on it. I hope that isn't a habit.

The legbar eggs are tiny, like bantam eggs. She is tiny too. Are there bantam legbars?

No official bantam Legbars exist, but they are smaller in general. I noticed one very tiny hen in my flock. If I find a small cockerel, maybe I could make some bantams. I think they could be quite popular. Legbars seem to start with small eggs, but eventually get to a normal size, some even quite large, as big as the Welbar and Marans eggs.

 

[feliciadawn]

No official bantam Legbars exist, but they are smaller in general. I noticed one very tiny hen in my flock. If I find a small cockerel, maybe I could make some bantams. I think they could be quite popular.

I'd be willing to lend out Ariely if you want to breed her for your bantam legbars project. She does have some bent toes, however, so that could be a disqualifier. Other than that she is a fine hen. Also, despite her tiny size, she fends for herself and she is not at the bottom of the pecking order.

 

[dheltzel]

I'd be willing to lend out Ariely if you want to breed her for your bantam legbars project. She does have some bent toes, however, so that could be a disqualifier. Other than that she is a fine hen. Also, despite her tiny size, she fends for herself and she is not at the bottom of the pecking order.

You should keep her and I hope she has a long life with you. Moving around chickens between flocks presents a danger of disease transmission.
I have too many projects going on right now anyway. If I ever raise an small sized cockerel Legbar, that would probably compel me to start that project, as many believe that with some dwarfing genes there are sex linkages and males present a better starting point as they would have 2 copies of those genes to show dwarfism (bantam).
For some reason, bantams are less popular than large fowl. I have a soft spot for my bantams, Ameraucana and Cochins, and could easily see myself someday only keeping bantams. I know many poultry fanciers who eventually settle to mostly, or only, keeping bantams. Same amount of fun for less than half the space, work, expense, etc. For small children especially, a cochin bantam pullet is the perfect poultry pet, they sex out early (unlike silkies and ameraucanas) and are absolutely always docile. And they come in frizzles and lavender . . .

 

[feliciadawn]

Moving around chickens between flocks presents a danger of disease transmission.

Yeah, I realized after i wrote that. You can't go studding out chickens these days, the way you can with dogs. She is a very happy pullet here -- I kind of feel like I have a half bantam flock since my marans is small for a marans, and my largest hen (olive-egger) is so demure she is at the bottom of the pecking order.

So i bought some Salmon Faverolles from a hatchery, and it is a bit of a disaster. They arrived filthy, malnourished and at death's door with coccidiosis. Now I have to keep them quarantined in my basement until they heal (or die.) One already passed. Never again.