Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

So, I unpacked all the eggs-I got 14!!!!!

I put 2 under Miss Boots, who needs babies too, and 12 under Lovey. She's a REALLY happy girl right now. Rearranged herself all puffed up on those eggs, and settled in. I'm hoping to get a good hatch, but who knows? Fingers crossed...

Wayne's number is 631-457-0612. He usually has BO's RIR, and WL's and some older laying hens as well-give him a ring!

 

[Toxic Chicken]

Ugh I'm never ordering eggs from alabama again. The post office there has issues.
I ordered eggs from 2 different people in AL
The first ones took 5-6 days to get here. The second ones still haven't arrived. Today is one week since shipped and tracking has them still in an AL post office. There's no way they will hatch.
I'm gonna give broody #3 some of the CL eggs I have in my incubator. Poor thing has benn sitting on wooden eggs waiting.

 

[Toxic Chicken]

They're Black Australorps. 

I got Lovey, my BO (who I love dearly) from Long Island Poultry. He's located in Flanders. Nice guy, Wayne, and I got great chicks from him. He's on Facebook, if you have an account. I'll look for his number. He also has no minimum, so you can get as many or as few as you want! His are sexed as well. 

Oh cool. I didn't know anyone on LI sold chicks.

 

[Toxic Chicken]

I like these rose colored round chicken glasses better than the new ones.

Luckily I don't have picking issues.

 

[queenchick16]

Warmhearted, you will have to be very careful with integrating them or you could end up with injured chicks like Suzanne. I have an EE that is quite the bully. My husband has had to put stitches in my wyandottes head because she ripped it open. I've been integrating a number of different age groups over the past month and it has not been easy, even with them being allowed to free range. she gets worse when I'm outside talking with the young girls. She gets jealous.
Good luck, it's not easy

 

[smkchick]

Warmheart,

Your Gertie is so beautiful. Sorry to hear about the squabbles. Unfortunately, I am not able to solve your problem but can give you my take on my Buff Orpington. I got mine when she was 6 weeks old and handled her and my 4 others right from the beginning. She is one of the sweetest in my tiny flock and they all eat out of hands big and small and allow themselves to be picked up. I have 7 grandkids and they are all able to be with them. She is pretty much their favorite.

My Buff Orp sometimes gets pushed around by my Speckled Sussex but only if she finds a big worm and Poppy want to take it from her. One never knows. Flock dynamics can change a sweetie into a bully and visa versa. One of the reason I picked a Buff Orp is because of their personality and claims of being docile within a flock. I wish you luck on your endeavors and hope that you find a happy solution.

I chose a Buff Orp for personality, and she's turned out to be the biggest bully in the flock. My Golden Comet, also one of my sweetest hens, is brutal to my sole bantam silkie chick. It's impossible to predict...

Just like people, I guess.

 

[smkchick]

Here's a few pics of my new babies. They are gold laced and blue cochins, could be splash too.

Great pics, Donna!!!

 

[smkchick]

It hasn't been going well with integrating Pauline. She tends to back herself into a corner when the big girls come after her, so they just beat her up relentlessly. I've been keeping her in an outdoor pen while the little girls and big girls free range, and then I give her some face time with the little girls when I can be there to keep an eye on things. (I've been subbing all week, so that time has been minimal.)

Pauline's neck seems to be healing well and she's getting bigger and stronger, but she still freaks out when the other hens come after her. I want to give her boxing lessons or something! She cries for the little girls when they're outside her pen, so I'm hoping eventually to integrate her into that mini-flock. The Jersey girls (the little girls) seem to have found a way to co-exist with the big girls. Whew! It's tough.

I've been working as a sub this week, but found out next week is the last full week of school, so I may skip it next week. Doubt there will be enough work to make it worthwhile. And it's a long day to work and then see my tutoring clients! My district pays so poorly, it's hardly worth the extra cash.

Luckily, I have tutoring clients for the summer and a job at my friend's farmstand. So maybe we won't starve...

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Good Morning, all! So my little sweet rooster is crowing more and more. Not a good thing. My son is asking his friends mom if she wants him. Apparently she has a rooster and doesn't give a darn what neighbors say.

I want to keep him so badly. I'm pretty sad about this.

 

[warmheart]

Rosie, thank you for Wayne's info and the suggestion to try him! What's your Lovey like? From her name, I imagine she's a lap chicken or at least a mellow sweetheart of a girl-- well, when not broody! I hope all iof your eggs hatch nicely under her. Thanks for anything you care to share about Lovey! Perhaps your little roo will settle down after a while? How old is he now? Could you keep him if the neighbors don't actively object? I've got a cardboard light-block over the coop window... might that delay his early morning crowing just a bit?

Queenchick, you're right, bullying happens. Being a chicken joining a new flock is like trying to integrate into a wolfpack-- hazing and bullies are out there. We'll be taking things slowly, and hoping for the best, as everyone else does when mixing newcomers carefully.

smkchick-- I'm hoping that Pauline continues to heal with her neck, and also begins to gain courage and confidence. Perhaps this sounds way "out there," but a homeopath may help, if you might consider googling to find one in your area and consulting with her/him. There are remedies put in drinking water to help an animal release an emotion that is either making them ill, or giving them a behavioral concern. In Pauline's case, perhaps releasing fear, for example. Just a thought to consider, or not.

Hearing that some Buff Orps can be non-friendly, non-mellow, and bullies is a concern, but I am thinking that if my flock is established and then the Buff Orpington and perhaps Golden Comet youngsters are introduced when they're of age, being newbies to the group, perhaps they'll mind their Ps and Qs a bit. The 2 bantams will be established flock members by then. I'm also hoping that if I get chicks from Wayne, perhaps one of them will be as sweet-natured as Cheeky Chick's Lovey.

Out of the d'Anvers, we've chosen a "big"

super-friendly cockerel, and a sassy, zesty, spunky, but secretly snuggly pullet.

HarborviewHens, How are you doing? How is your week going? How are Poppy and your Buff Orp doing? I love the FlockBlock idea, but my hens won't even snack on the goodies I bring them like fresh tomato pieces, apple chunks.. because they're so full from oinking in the free-range backyard. I'd like to try that idea in the fall though. Thank you for sharing your expertise!

Mags, How's things? Perhaps you're off enjoying silkies and cream legbars. Are you seeing butterflies in your garden yet?

Goldeneggtees, I keep peeking at your gorgeous babies. Splash and Golden Laced are my faves!

I got a complaint from my neighbor yesterday-- because she and her husband "Can hardly hear" our rooster crow!

I love this neighbor!

Her hubby feels sure there must be "something wrong with" our roo. I explained that he's a small bantam mix, is ancient, and if they're having a hard time hearing Alfie, they'll have an even harder time hearing his future successor, tiny true-bantam Elmer, who'll be just 2/3 Alfie's size and will sound like a dog squeaky toy!