South Carolina

[huckleberryfarm]

I'm glad you're getting your car back. What a hassle!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I have the bantam Cochins mostly. So many pens of those and too many extras but everything goes with a rooster that is for sale and everyone just wants hens. My novelty birds are those and Silkies but I do not raise Silkies too much. I think I have 2 chicks growing up right now, a blue and a buff.
I also have a few d'Uccles. Cute little birds and just pets for me though I may sell some eggs from them but I have 6 extra roos in them and won't butcher those little tykes.

My laying flock needs to be built back up. I have been trying for about 8 months to grow up more layers but everyone has been buying all my young pullets and I have stopped selling them. I need more egg layers for selling eggs. People stop by, call or email me every day wanting hens. Not chicks, mind you, but mature pullets and I am tired of raising them up and only getting a pittance of what it really costs me.
Everything I hatch out has a roo with it like my BLRW, Marans and Brahmas but no one wants roos so I am keeping the hens from now on and butchering the roos. It makes a win-win for me as I have to feed my family. I have lots and lots of pullets growing up but they are now for me. I am not saving anymore for anyone. If they haven't gotten them by now then they are not going anywhere. I like my laying flock to be about 150 hens and I have only about 60, if you can imagine that.
Now I also have about 70 roos around 2-3 months old that will need to go in the freezer soon. Just need a bit more meat on them, though I have 20 that can go right now. I have male ducks that will go to freezer camp, too.

I have a lot of Ameraucanas growing up in blue, lavender and splits but have half of those in roos and everyone again wants only pullets and leave me to deal with the roos. If I have to do that then I am keeping the pullets. they are more valuable to me as layers than as a few dollars I get for all the money it cost me to buy the eggs, incubate them, feed them and clean their brooders. There really is no money in the chicken business and I have gotten burned out from hearing people gasp at me selling a young laying hen for $20. Next year I may have more to sell but for now I am not selling hens without roos.

Next year I hope to sell Guinea eggs and lavender keets. I am selling the last of my Pearl babies tomorrow. I don't even advertise anymore and still get a lot of inquiries. I am happy for it but at the same time I can only part with what I don't need.

That reminds me, I need to go update my For Sale page. Most of that stuff is sold.

Gosh, I am long winded......

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
If you need any help, just ask.......................

Gavin, I do not have any Silkies for sale right now. I bet you do though! Not sure if Susanne will part with any since they tried to make it to Oz!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:

She has a lot of pets!

Indeed I do! You know me so well, Joy!

I moved my bantam Mottled Cochins to the front pasture because I finally have enough hens to expand and every day I open the door and am met by sweet ladies who love to be loved so I pick one of the most loveable up and give her hugs and kisses. My neighbor across the street sees this (I am always being watched, I suppose) and phoned me one day and said they have never seen someone who thinks she has to kiss her chickens every day!
Well! Only if they ask for it!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
I think I prefer my hassle over yours from this week! You have had it much worse than I have!

I am changing shoes right now to go back out into the rain to finish chores and then get DH up to go get the car. I hate to see what damage was done to the front and what may have happened to the inside. No telling how much he abused my engine and transmission. I hope to go over it more thoroughly this weekend and see what needs repaired. Bless its little metal heart.

 

[gvilledh]

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Amy, I am trying to figure out why they are going to make you pay for the towing and storage fees. I know your DH left the keys in the car, which wasn't the brightest thing to do, but since it was taken by someone escaping the police, it just doesn't seem quite right. Also, I just got to thinking. Even though hubby gave them the wrong number, if the car had a tag, they could have easily found you by the car registration (which, I guess is how they did in the end-the brain is slowly kicking in this morning). There is just something wrong with you having to pay that much money to get your car back, but I'm sure they will say that if he hadn't left the keys in it, the car wouldn't have been stolen (and they would have gotten their man sooner!).
It's a full moon today and I think it has made everything crazy this week. I hope things settle down soon.

 

[gvilledh]

What do we do with the young girls when it is raining? Do we leave in the coop for the morning or open their door and hope they aren't dumb enough to go out and get soaking wet? At almost six weeks, I don't think they are crazy over the water, but you never know and I really don't want them to get sick. I thought I would ask and see what the general opinion is.
The funny thing is-this is the first time in 3 weeks that we have had a rainy morning. How strange is that?

ETA-If we let them out, they will still have access to their coop so they can get back in. They are in a run attached to it and the pop door stays open.

 

[Lroach711]

I may be wrong but I let mine out anyways..they're sticking close to their tractor or under a tree that's right next to it. Mine are older though...they're around 17 weeks old now.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
Do you get the SC Market Bulletin ? It often has various breeds for sale all over the state.

I do know there are two men in Gaffney who are judges, that also raise OEGs.

Joy (joycats) here raises OEG also.

My DD raises splash, but since the stray dog got one and one just hatched a few little chicks, we only have 2 hens. So none available right now.

If you are a member of the ABA, you can find information about the standards etc........and I am sure there are OEG websites out there somewhere too

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:

She has a lot of pets!

Indeed I do! You know me so well, Joy!

I moved my bantam Mottled Cochins to the front pasture because I finally have enough hens to expand and every day I open the door and am met by sweet ladies who love to be loved so I pick one of the most loveable up and give her hugs and kisses. My neighbor across the street sees this (I am always being watched, I suppose) and phoned me one day and said they have never seen someone who thinks she has to kiss her chickens every day!
Well! Only if they ask for it!

It must be the most of the cochin girls that like that.......of course, Forrest does not really like the pickup & kiss & hug part.........she is more the type that pecks your fingers looking for food! I swear she is an eater!