Russian Orloffs

[slink]

Grain needs to be predator[rodent] and weather proof, close enough to the car that in snow or rain you aren't hauling it too far-- or having it delivered if you are that kind of lucky. Some folks use metal cans with lids. I have a grain bin here so I can drop the bags right in. You'll want a scoop which can be fancy or just a bottle or jug with the bottom cut off at an angle. I recommend having a couple pens if you were only planning one because you can rotate for the grass sake [and chickens eat more of that than you realize] as well as come winter you'll find you might need that extra space to isolate someone or separate roosters or a hen who might be doing something odd. Pockets are not good egg collection devices. Where are you storing them when they come in? Where are the worming meds etc going to be kept so they are not frozen but on hand? Nest boxes are funny- folks often have more than they need. If you are getting chickes you'll want a place to keep them where you can monitor their heat and light and keep them clean but not in the middle of the house as they will smell after a couple weeks inside. Roosts should not be metal but if they can be a 2x4 that you sealed that would be GREAT. Sealing prevents mites and other critters in the wood and the board is just wide enough for their toes to be flat out under them when its cold. IDK for sure where you are right now but if you get cold they'll want their toes under their bellies, not around a bar where they get cold because the feathers don't cover. Feeders in the coops or pens are all different depending on you and your birds. I like the troughs outside the pens personally. I believe, come winter, it helps keep the pens cleaner but that might not be the way you go. I have a few hangers as well. Put an old penny [or piece of copper] in the waterers so that they don't get all slimy. Or use drip waterers... which may freeze come winter. Consider how you will heat your waterers or maybe invest in a waterer that will heat and use it all year but only plug it in for the cold. Where are your wires and lights going? Got nail clippers for their feet/beak? Where is all the poo going? Are you collecting it in buckets for the garden or ...? Even with all that there's a lot of things to consider. Are they free ranged or not? If they are what will deter aerial predators? Fishing line, a frame for the birds to run into... other? Time for someone else to chime in with their thoughts.

Very good info !!! Im glad I have untill mid July to get ready. You listed a number of things that I had not thought of. I will post my progress, and please feel free to be critical. Cheerleeders are great . But I have some of those at home. Trouble is , they know less about this than I do !!

 

[malndobe]

Good luck on your hatch! Post lots of pictures. Were did you get your eggs?

From RiddleMe on this thread. She shipped me 4 dozen eggs, in two different shipments. Not all RO but a mix of different breeds. All 48 eggs arrived intact, not a single cracked shell. And considering the last thing I got at my post office was a picture frame, wrapped with all sorts of packing, completely shattered, it's not like my post office is careful with stuff.

 

[FridayYet]

That's awesome!

 

[RiddleMe]

Have some RO eggs in the incubator, and getting ready to set some more later today or tomorrow.  Can't wait, I had hatched some shipped eggs last year and predators got in their grow out pen and killed all of them. 

Fingers crossed for a good hatch!

 

[Clucksworth]

One of my special Black Mottled girls

 

[slink]

No doubt !!!!!!!!! She is special !!!!!!!!!! I dont know much abut RO's . But that may be the prettiest RO hen that I have seen.

 

[Clucksworth]

No doubt !!!!!!!!! She is special !!!!!!!!!! I dont know much abut RO's . But that may be the prettiest RO hen that I have seen.

Thanks Slink, she's one of only 5 RO black mottled hens I own - there's not that many more in the UK either! I have fallen in love with this colour though, I just hope we can get them standardised in the UK soon!

 

[slink]

Good luck getting them standardised. I hope it all works out. I am getting ready to get my first RO's in July. And I dont expect anything close to what you have. But I got to start somewhere. I am getting mahogany and spangled. But I have just fallen in love with the mottled colour also !!!!!

 

[vtguania]

I love that pullet, seems like you are doing pretty good with the BM on that side Izzy

 

[malndobe]

It's been awhile but I have RO's again. 10 RO hatched, along with some other breeds/mixes of the first 24 shipped (18 total)
More in the bator, hoping for at least 10 more RO from the second 24 which is also a combination of breeds.