Sdwd

[Serrin]

Hey Karen. That's a great looking pen. The birds look pretty good too!

To be honest, other than the pictures that you and others post about their Polish Crested, I know little to nothing about the breed. How are they on the subject of laying? Are they prone to predator attacks? One would almost think they would be on account of eye sight impairment caused by their crests.

A long time ago, I had a friend who had a small flock of Silkies. Every time a large bird flew overhead, they would go into FBLP [full bore linear panic] mode and several would subsequently run head long into the side of the barn or other large immovable object. I never could tell for sure if their eyesight was simply that bad, or if their panic was that strong.

Silly birds!

Well, it looks like maybe, just maybe, Spring has figured out where to go next. I say this in a very hushed tone, for fear if I say it any louder, I'll banjax the whole thing!

Today was beautiful! Tomorrow is rumored to be even better! Pearl even got to go outside and spend some time in the sunshine and fresh air after I set her up a nice pen so that those heathen girls of mine couldn't harass her. Chief is certainly enamored with her. He spent the entire day right at the side of the pen or very near by. He'd be more than happy to add Pearl to his harem. Now if I could just get the ladies to accept her.

I'll try to get some pictures of Chief with his new lady-love tomorrow, weather permitting.

 

[wekiva bird]

Hatched 9 babies Delawares. Already in there new home with FinnFur.

 

[rancher hicks]

Got a call yesterday requesting 30 Del. chicks. Wish I had them but I just can't hatch out 30 chicks without being sure they will sell. We do have a new hatchery not far away but I just can't supply that many.

I also had an e-mail for 3 doz hatching eggs of BM's. Can't do those either. In case you don't know they are $49 per chick from Green Fire. Wish I was richer but this area doesn't warrant these kinds of things from a small set up like mine.

Hope everyone is doing well. Spring should be here, what with the hens wanting to set on eggs. Song birds chirping and that does sound nice, but this is NY and Lord only knows what the next hour will bring much less week.

Take care and hope everyone is doing well,

Rancher

 

[seminolewind]

Hey Karen. That's a great looking pen. The birds look pretty good too!

To be honest, other than the pictures that you and others post about their Polish Crested, I know little to nothing about the breed. How are they on the subject of laying? Are they prone to predator attacks? One would almost think they would be on account of eye sight impairment caused by their crests.

A long time ago, I had a friend who had a small flock of Silkies. Every time a large bird flew overhead, they would go into FBLP [full bore linear panic] mode and several would subsequently run head long into the side of the barn or other large immovable object. I never could tell for sure if their eyesight was simply that bad, or if their panic was that strong.

Silly birds!

Well, it looks like maybe, just maybe, Spring has figured out where to go next. I say this in a very hushed tone, for fear if I say it any louder, I'll banjax the whole thing!

Today was beautiful! Tomorrow is rumored to be even better! Pearl even got to go outside and spend some time in the sunshine and fresh air after I set her up a nice pen so that those heathen girls of mine couldn't harass her. Chief is certainly enamored with her. He spent the entire day right at the side of the pen or very near by. He'd be more than happy to add Pearl to his harem. Now if I could just get the ladies to accept her.

I'll try to get some pictures of Chief with his new lady-love tomorrow, weather permitting.

Serrin, In the beginning of chickenhood, I chose JG's and Polish, and still would today. The Polish get a trim so they can see in front and on the side better. They are pretty calm that way. I used to have them free range, but have found they really do like a pen better with their own. Never thought chickens would prefer a pen. They get along well. For a few months now, I've gotten 7-10 eggs from 11 Polish hens. My 15 layers-only around 6. When they lay, they really lay. Then take a break, then lay like crazy again. I've gotten al ot more eggs from the Polish girls than the layers in the past year. Second are my JG's. Then my faverolles .When I sit in the pen with my Polish, 5 of them take turns sitting on my lap, 2 of them have to tell me all their woes, LOL. My hubby is thrilled with them.
They all get along, ages 1yr to 5 yrs.

They've never been prone to hawk attacks here, but my hawks here aren't that big. And I do trim their bangs. It's funny, after having their bangs trimmed, they look around like they're in a whole new world. And they go from viewing me as the "feet" that come around rather than a whole body.

When they freeranged , they tended to stay in the bushy areas. That's why I penned them with netting above . I could go on, but I won't, LOL. They are more personable than silkies, but my silkie mom has hatched and raised quite a few Polish. 2 of the Polish used to go back and jump the fence and spend a day or two with "mom and Dad". Real cute!

 

[seminolewind]

Got a call yesterday requesting 30 Del. chicks. Wish I had them but I just can't hatch out 30 chicks without being sure they will sell. We do have a new hatchery not far away but I just can't supply that many.

I also had an e-mail for 3 doz hatching eggs of BM's. Can't do those either. In case you don't know they are $49 per chick from Green Fire. Wish I was richer but this area doesn't warrant these kinds of things from a small set up like mine.

Hope everyone is doing well. Spring should be here, what with the hens wanting to set on eggs. Song birds chirping and that does sound nice, but this is NY and Lord only knows what the next hour will bring much less week.

Take care and hope everyone is doing well,

Rancher

Greenfire is outrageous! Best to wait till someone has bought some and is selling those eggs. Much cheaper.
I really do figure if I hatched out chicks that needed to be sold, there are several feed stores around here that would take them and sell them. So that's where my excess would go.

Even visit feed stores and offer to hatch chicks for them. Or put a sign out front of your house or Craig's list. Just not before Easter!

 

[rancher hicks]

Greenfire is outrageous! Best to wait till someone has bought some and is selling those eggs. Much cheaper.
I really do figure if I hatched out chicks that needed to be sold, there are several feed stores around here that would take them and sell them. So that's where my excess would go.

Even visit feed stores and offer to hatch chicks for them. Or put a sign out front of your house or Craig's list. Just not before Easter!

While I do appreciate that GF has to recoup for import costs they are out of my price range. I did get some from NC but not without a hassle. I have four hens and a rooster. I call them the mud hens since it is so muddy here of late.

I have hatched a few. One pullet got taken by a hawk early this spring. I am raising out some chicks right now and have eggs in the bator. My point was I don't have enough space, money nor time to have enough hens to give me three dozen hatching eggs. I had egg posted to CL for $12 doz. IMO BM are still hard to come by.

TSC here has had chicks and ducks already. Mostly the common breeds. Not badly priced either I'd say. I don't know why however folks go to hatcheries other than they feel they are safer that way.

I had one customer ask if I vaccinate and of course I don't. What I have read recently is that vaccines are not 100% effective. Much like the flu vaccine I got.

That however is another matter.

Forgot to mention the BM's are great winter layers. In fact they lay a nice sized egg. Maybe not a winning dark type egg but certainly nice.

 

[seminolewind]

I'm sure some places would take more.

I have an Ameraucana from eggs I got from SpeckledHen 5 years ago. After 2 years she never laid again, and the 3rd year I got one egg.
Well she laid me an egg today!!!!!!! A nice long skinny blue egg. She's so sweet. I don't care if any of them don't lay.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have two EE hens, my first , about 3 yrs old still laying nicely. I've been saving their egg and hatching them while I can get them. One lays a huge sized egg. She is a big girl though. I've an Lav Amer roo for the father. I just want the colored eggs and I do get some nice blues from his daughters.

The plan is to put a couple with the marans rooster to get some olive egg layers.

I was up early and realized if you don't get up early you might not hear the singing of the birds. I remember on one trip to AL , you'd be up because the singing was so loud.

Have a nice day.

Rancher

 

[finnfur]

Hatched 9 babies Delawares. Already in there new home with FinnFur.

Yep ! and here they are playing King of the Duck .

Well ! When they are not sleeping LOL

 

[wekiva bird]

Yep ! and here they are playing King of the Duck .

Well ! When they are not sleeping LOL

Cute photo of the babies with the duck.