Texas

[Kilsharion]

Joscelyn, since you're in Austin, if you're able, you can drive to Cameron (Ideal Poultry) and pick up your order instead of having them mailed. They have a $25 minimum but you get only what you order, no peanuts to fill the box. We picked ours up and it was fabulous cause the chicks were home in an hour, no post office stress.

Kilsharion, those are beautiful looking coops. You have no idea how long I toyed with getting an A-frame. I only got the one I have because it was on sale and could load it up. You have free delivery. Awesome!

I thought about driving up to Cameron; but, Georgetown is so much closer **chuckles** And, I only had a couple that I got from there before I decided I actually want to try a breeding program. I'm thrilled with my egg layers and their personalities. If you aren't interested in showing of any sort and just want some personal layers, the chicks from Ideal are a great way to go. And, the drive really isn't all that bad.

KnobbyOaks - thank you I saw an A-frame coop and liked the shape; but, didn't like the design (if you know what I mean). So, I asked Mike to make me one. The first two he didn't put enough ventilation on. After a month of nagging, he changed the design somewhat and now has ventilation all along under the eave, one whole wall can be open (with hardware cloth) or mostly closed, and the nesting box side has a small opening at the top to keep the box private but ventilated. They are 70" long and 27" wide and something like 50" tall(?)...I never remember the dimensions **snickers**. You wouldn't believe it; but, the first couple he built were out of 100% reclaimed lumber. At 80 board feet a coop, that's pretty impressive. How he manages to score reclaimed wood like he does is beyond me. The last one (the one in the photo) he wasn't able to do fully reclaimed due to running out, so he did the frame reclaimed and the rest new. He did such an awesome job. I'm proud of his work. He just walks out there and makes something - kinda like how I just make something in the kitchen or craft room. I don't know how he does it; but, I appreciate his craftsmanship. So, it makes me gush with pride and bore you to tears with details you don't necessarily want to know when someone tells me they like what he's done LOL

 

[yinepu]

Joscelyn, since you're in Austin, if you're able, you can drive to Cameron (Ideal Poultry) and pick up your order instead of having them mailed. They have a $25 minimum but you get only what you order, no peanuts to fill the box. We picked ours up and it was fabulous cause the chicks were home in an hour, no post office stress.

Kilsharion, those are beautiful looking coops. You have no idea how long I toyed with getting an A-frame. I only got the one I have because it was on sale and could load it up. You have free delivery. Awesome!

the other option for ideal is to let them load you up on the packing peanuts.. then sell them ASAP on Craigslist!

We always keep any extra chicks the hatcheries send.. they make good stewing birds or crockpot birds when they are big enough... but then again our hoop coops can hold a lot of birds



Just placed an order last night with Welp Hatchery... 60+ birds (hatching in May)
I'm not looking for show quality.. just some new blood and they had a few I have been wanting anyway.. but I couldn't order any bantams since they ship out on Tuesdays and everything else I want ships on Mondays.. so the bantam order has to be for 30 of the little buggers....
So it looks like I will be making an order with them for just bantams


I'm also planning on ordering either slow cornish from them later on or freedom rangers from freedom ranger hatchery...

 

[Kilsharion]

We quit letting our hens free range after the winter flock of 40 went down to 3 in about 2 weeks.. between foxes taking out several during the day and at night.. coyotes and our neighbors letting their dogs run out in the cow pastures we lost a bunch that year

granted the grasshoppers have been making a comeback since the birds have been locked up. But it's better than losing so many birds to predators.

Ouch That must have been devastating. Not just the decimation of the flock; but, I know I get pretty attached to my layers...I would be a snivelling mess if one of the foxes around here got hold of my gals. I couldn't imagine how bad I'd be if all but three were gone. That's why Mike swears I'll never cull my birds...little does he know that when I name my chickens Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, I'm not kidding....I'll think they're great while I have them, and treat them wonderfully and spoil them rotten; but, when their time is up, it's up.

And, yes, I have three chickens named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The other three in the coop with them are Hickory, Dickory, Dock. I also have Eeney, Meeney, Miney, Moe, Buffy and Roxanne in another coop. Those are all my Ideal poultry purchases and used solely for laying infertile eggs. There are some people who refuse to eat fertile eggs because they see it as killing a potential life. I never considered it that way when I was vegetarian (eons ago); but, apparently some do. Different strokes different folks. BTW, no children were involved in the naming of my chickens - just use grown ups who refuse to take on the moniker "mature".

 

[Kilsharion]

I'm not looking for show quality.. just some new blood and they had a few I have been wanting anyway.. but I couldn't order any bantams since they ship out on Tuesdays and everything else I want ships on Mondays.. so the bantam order has to be for 30 of the little buggers....
So it looks like I will be making an order with them for just bantams

You get bantams just for the enjoyment/pet factor? I've been curious about the viability of bantams as a egg producer or meat bird because they are just so tiny. I suppose you would treat them like quail in how you would cook and serve them?

 

[yinepu]

Ouch That must have been devastating. Not just the decimation of the flock; but, I know I get pretty attached to my layers...I would be a snivelling mess if one of the foxes around here got hold of my gals. I couldn't imagine how bad I'd be if all but three were gone. That's why Mike swears I'll never cull my birds...little does he know that when I name my chickens Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, I'm not kidding....I'll think they're great while I have them, and treat them wonderfully and spoil them rotten; but, when their time is up, it's up.

And, yes, I have three chickens named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The other three in the coop with them are Hickory, Dickory, Dock. I also have Eeney, Meeney, Miney, Moe, Buffy and Roxanne in another coop. Those are all my Ideal poultry purchases and used solely for laying infertile eggs. There are some people who refuse to eat fertile eggs because they see it as killing a potential life. I never considered it that way when I was vegetarian (eons ago); but, apparently some do. Different strokes different folks. BTW, no children were involved in the naming of my chickens - just use grown ups who refuse to take on the moniker "mature".

Oh that fox was brazen... I think my dogs chased her half way across texas and she STILL wouldn't drop the duck she had in her mouth.
We understood at the time that it was breeding season for the predators.. so every year we were "ok" with losing a bird here and there.. It's just part of letting your birds free range 24/7. But with the massive losses we had that year we had to put a stop to it. Between live traps, Nite Guard lights, and coops the predators decided to leave us alone.. heck just the lights worked wonders and apparently are STILL working. Even when I butcher birds they still don't come back for any bits we leave behind. Instead I see the buzzards out there once in a while poking around the butchering area looking for a snack.


Don't feel bad about not being "mature".. I had a rooster named Fred that liked to come in and watch TV.. plus he LOVED going for rides in the car... I miss Fred... he was a good ol roo

 

[yinepu]

You get bantams just for the enjoyment/pet factor? I've been curious about the viability of bantams as a egg producer or meat bird because they are just so tiny. I suppose you would treat them like quail in how you would cook and serve them?

Oh just like quail! They are YUMMY on the grill.. skinned... stuffed with cream cheese and jalapenos and wrapped with bacon... with a nice seasoning rub...

 

[KnobbyOaks]

And, yes, I have three chickens named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The other three in the coop with them are Hickory, Dickory, Dock. I also have Eeney, Meeney, Miney, Moe, Buffy and Roxanne in another coop. Those are all my Ideal poultry purchases and used solely for laying infertile eggs. There are some people who refuse to eat fertile eggs because they see it as killing a potential life. I never considered it that way when I was vegetarian (eons ago); but, apparently some do. Different strokes different folks. BTW, no children were involved in the naming of my chickens - just use grown ups who refuse to take on the moniker "mature".

My son, a grown child, wants me to name mine Scrambled, Fried, Boiled, Deviled, Raw, OverEasy, Poached....well you get the picture.

 

[Kilsharion]

I miss Fred... he was a good ol roo

For some reason I saw this as a bumper sticker on the back of my truck...

It sounds like he was a great fella to have around.

My son, a grown child, wants me to name mine Scrambled, Fried, Boiled, Deviled, Raw, OverEasy, Poached....well you get the picture.

Oh dear lord, did I laugh when I read this. I better not show it to Mike, or that's the next set of names I'll be using. Mike is 66 years old; but, I swear, he seems the same age as our youngest grandson (who is 5). It's a great thing, though.

Oh just like quail! They are YUMMY on the grill.. skinned... stuffed with cream cheese and jalapenos and wrapped with bacon... with a nice seasoning rub...

Huh...now you've got my interest raised.

 

[yinepu]

For some reason I saw this as a bumper sticker on the back of my truck...

It sounds like he was a great fella to have around.

yeah.. he was spoiled and would do a few tricks too. Probably the most educated chicken I have ever had (I hate saying "smart" since they are all smart birds.. just some are more "educated" than others.)

 

[KnobbyOaks]

the other option for ideal is to let them load you up on the packing peanuts.. then sell them ASAP on Craigslist!

We always keep any extra chicks the hatcheries send.. they make good stewing birds or crockpot birds when they are big enough... but then again our hoop coops can hold a lot of birds

I'm not at the processing stage yet. I'm just working hard to keep mine alive with all our predators.