We are allowed to have 6 hens in my city. After much negotiating my boyfriend agreed I could have 3 (up from 2). He chose 1 and I chose 2 and 'the hatchery' added the mealmaker. At least that's my story... I wanted the full 6, but decided I shouldn't go too far out from the agreed upon number. Plus, if I 1 dies I can still order 3 to meet the minimum...after some more negotiating.
Yes, the hatchery.....
Flock Master,
Welcome!!! Yes of course its ok, I am getting mine the first eek of April from Meyer'sWell, hello there! I'll be joining in one way or another for as early in the new year as I can secure delivery from Meyer Hatchery! Last time we had chickens I ordered from MPC, but since the last few moves we are now just a few hours from Meyer and so I feel like their survival rate will be better, not to mention their available selection is larger than MPC for various ship dates.
If I order just the 5-8 chicks that we agreed that I could have seeing as we have close neighbors and a little dog that we cant rerange them around, then I have to wait for April 3rd....but if I can find someone to split and order with, or convince my husband to let me order extras to sell off after the brooder isn't needed for warmth anymore, then I could have them Feb 6th!
I'm going for a varied flock again this time. I'm considering this mix:
Easter Egger,
Barnevelder,
Buff Orpington,
Speckled Sussex,
Salmon Faverolle,
Black Copper Marans,
Cream Legbar.
I'm debating the Cream Legbar still....she's expensive! I'm also debating the Marans, we've had a Splash Marans before and they're definitely a very big strong chicken breed, which may not be the best for my kiddos who prefer docile ones.
Anyway, it's the time of the day to focus on the kids' schoolwork and not chickens or coops for a little while!
ETA: We're not entirely first timers but it's been a few years since we could have any ladies at all, so I hope it's okay to join in!
Instead of a Maran you could get a Wellsummer, they have a dark terracotta brown egg but the birds themselves are very friendly. We have two and they follow me around like puppies. My sons have no issues being around them to do the chicken chores except sometimes they're a trip hazard because they're that much underfoot. Ours are from a June hatch and aren't laying yet or I would send you a picture of the egg.Well, hello there! I'll be joining in one way or another for as early in the new year as I can secure delivery from Meyer Hatchery! Last time we had chickens I ordered from MPC, but since the last few moves we are now just a few hours from Meyer and so I feel like their survival rate will be better, not to mention their available selection is larger than MPC for various ship dates.
If I order just the 5-8 chicks that we agreed that I could have seeing as we have close neighbors and a little dog that we cant rerange them around, then I have to wait for April 3rd....but if I can find someone to split and order with, or convince my husband to let me order extras to sell off after the brooder isn't needed for warmth anymore, then I could have them Feb 6th!
I'm going for a varied flock again this time. I'm considering this mix:
Easter Egger,
Barnevelder,
Buff Orpington,
Speckled Sussex,
Salmon Faverolle,
Black Copper Marans,
Cream Legbar.
I'm debating the Cream Legbar still....she's expensive! I'm also debating the Marans, we've had a Splash Marans before and they're definitely a very big strong chicken breed, which may not be the best for my kiddos who prefer docile ones.
Anyway, it's the time of the day to focus on the kids' schoolwork and not chickens or coops for a little while!
ETA: We're not entirely first timers but it's been a few years since we could have any ladies at all, so I hope it's okay to join in!
Thanks! Nope, no coop yet! Btw I saw your post about the logistics of setting up a system that would leave you free to be gone a week etc, and I just want to say I think it's 100% possible with all you are putting in place to make it happen. Oh and I have a friend in Idyllwild!
Actually the tiny brown chicken in my avatar pic is a little bantam Welsummer! They're a great choice but I'm making it a point to try out new breeds this time! Last time we had an Australorp, Splash Marans, Bantam Frizzle Cochin, and Bantam Welsummer. When the Australorp died suddenly we managed to replace her with an Easter Egger but we had to move and pass on our chickens before we even got one egg from her, so I don't count her as a "tried before" breed, haha!
Yay for new babies! Sounds like your breeds are picked and your order is in! What did you choose?I'm a first- time to-be chicken parent, expecting 7 littles from My Pet Chicken on/around July 10th. I'll be brooding inside with the hopes of getting them into their coop between 4-6 weeks. We have warm enough weather at that time of the year so I think it will work.
My husband will be building my coop. He'll probably get started first thing in he spring. I want to make sure it's all ready when they are.I'm really excited and have been reading as much as I can to be prepared. I'm looking forward to reading other newbie's stories.
