Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I keep going back and forth. Got any suggestions? Actually, I'm trying not to jump on the first thing I see. But, that's really hard not to do. I might go to rural king to see what they have or see what I can request. The local one takes really good care of their chickies. But, again, I don't need 6 birds and might have to find homes for them. Or build on. From what I have found, bantams come straight run from hatcheries as well. So, i know how my luck goes and I'd probably get cockerels.

What are you looking for specifically, egg layers or just pets? I've had a lot of good luck with my Cochins being sweet and cuddly, both large fowl and bantam, but they aren't the best layers. I also like my Marans and Plymouth Rocks for good temperaments and pretty good egg laying. And Easter-eggers (commonly sold as 'Americaunas' ), of course, but their temperaments can vary quite a bit. Of course, my favorites are my Dorkings, great personalities and decent egg laying, but they're a bit harder to find unfortunately. I would advise against getting any of the red sexlink hybrids (ISA browns, red stars, golden comets, etc.) due to their tendency toward health issues and shortened lifespans, though, and I didn't care much for the temperaments of my Rhode Island Reds or Wyandottes, personally.

Oh and also, I've seen a lot of scammy posts on FB. Why are so many people trying to take advantage of others?

People suck. Well, not everyone, but a lot of people suck. Prices going up on practically everything probably doesn't help, either, though.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Egg laying pets - that's what I'm looking for. There are only 2 of us here now, so I don't need a lot of eggs.

My first 3 chickens were Isa Browns, so sweet and great egg layers, but yes they had a short life span. I didn't have any egg issues with them, but it was still sad when they passed. They were given to me, so I wasn't choosy.

I have 1 EE and 2 australorps right now. My australorps are docile, but not really friendly. And by that, I mean they run the opposite direction when I approach. My EEs would come to me first unless I bent down to pick them up - then they ran.
I have looked at Marans and plymouth rocks. I am kind of interested in Dominiques and Buckeyes as well. Ever had those breeds?
I've heard the same about RIR and wyandotte. Though, I heard with Wyandottes if you can get them from a good breeding line they are different than hatchery birds.
I know you love your cochin and dorkings and I've looked at those as well. So many choices!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I've never had Dominiques or Buckeyes, but have heard good things about both of them! And I've heard the same as you about breeder Wyandottes versus hatchery Wyandottes, too. Mine were hatchery birds, of course. They were fine birds for eye candy in the flock, but aloof with me, and so bossy with the other birds. I wouldn't be averse to trying again with good breeder-quality Wyandottes, though, based on what I've heard of their docility and temperament.

I hear you on the choices! Since I'm trying to breed and improve my silkied Cochins, I've kind of had to resign myself to most likely only hatching them this year, but I can't help but look and wonder, if I did just get a small batch of chicks or eggs from somewhere else, which breeds I'd pick. So many choices, so little coop space!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Well, 2023 isn't starting off on the greatest foot. I've already had my second loss of the year. Gluttony didn't come off the roosts this morning, so I helped her down and put her by the food dish, at which point I realized that she had gone either completely or partially blind based on her behavior. A few hours later, she was unable to stand up and making some weird head movements like she was struggling to balance somehow. As of moments ago, she's passed on. All I can figure is that either she ate something questionable yesterday (she did live up to her name quite often), or that she had some sort of stroke or seizure. That's the second of the four Silkie x Cochin mix hens that has died under kind of strange circumstances now... Rather odd.

Glutty was one of the more low-key hens of my flock, not overly affectionate or standout for personality. I'm sad to see any of them go either way, of course, especially as young as Glutty was, just under 3 years old. Rest in peace little lady.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Awe. Sorry to hear that. She was pretty.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

She was. Now I just have Amaretto out of those light-colored girls, and Peanut Butter of course. Not only will I be devastated should something happen to PB, but my friend in the Netherlands who named her will be as well. Hoping it was an odd coincidence that Glutty and Armada died in weird ways so young and that we have many years yet with PB.

The weather's sucky here, rainy today, rainy and snowy tomorrow, so I didn't think I'd be able to cremate Glutty as I do with most of my birds. Instead, I took her out to the back of the woods, far from the coop, and laid her to rest there. I hate to do that with my birds, but I wasn't sure how long I could hold onto her waiting on decent weather for a fire.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I bury my birds in the woods. I just find it peaceful there. ❤

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Our woods is very rooty and hard to dig deep in, so I generally only bury the particularly special ones as there are few spots that are easy to dig deep enough. Dandy was buried, for example. Since they're smaller and don't require I dig down as far, I also bury eggs that developed but didn't make it to hatch in areas that I know I won't be able to dig deep enough for a bird. It just doesn't feel right to me to throw them in the garbage even if they never hatched, they're still babies to me.

Most other birds are cremated, weather permitting, so that their ashes go out over the woods where they spent their lives free-ranging.

In cases like with Glutty where the weather was prohibitive to that, I took her out, found a nice, quiet, out of the way spot at the base of a tree, and laid her there with a (unfortunately quite dead because of the time of year) flower tucked under her wing. It's the best I can do sometimes, though I still don't ever feel great about it.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

We have some nice places in the woods where the roots aren't that much of a problem. I buried my dog in the woods by this big stone when he passed. It's such a nice area. Yes, you have to dig deep for sure.
He is surrounded by chickens now. ❤ He's probably chasing them as he's pretty naughty when it comes to birds.
However, a few years back, I had a rooster that died in the middle of a deep cold - when we had those -70 degree windchills. I just placed him in the woods in a different area. He didn't get buried. I didn't have any other options either and he wasn't trash to me.
But, I understand what you're saying.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

One of the pullets may have finally laid an egg today! The question is... who?

The suspects are Gwenyth, Athena, and, surprisingly, Freia. Frey's been quiet, but when I was butt-checking pullets, she looked suspiciously like she could be laying, too, and her comb and wattles are pretty red... At the moment, I have no idea, but here's the egg. (Don't mind my red hands, it's a bit chilly here and my fingers got a little cold out there.)

I also got this egg today which... A for effort, whoever did it.

And I got a regular egg as well, so counting the tiny one, I got three whole eggs today! I'm practically egg rich, especially compared to these past few weeks of maybe one egg every few days!!