Texas

[Texasmja]

I just put my chicks in my basket on My Pet Chicken. The earliest date to get them is June 9th. That is actually a good date for me. I'm a bit apprehensive to continue and commit to buying them. I've been wavering again as to should I get them or not. Then I see the photos of the chickens and the eggs and want them. I guess my biggest fear is making the coop and run for them. I can't do it myself (lack of skill there and tools).

I decided against the Delaware and am getting the Buckeye instead. lol! I just said getting. I guess I should decide on these soon. They are selling out of some of the birds they sell. I could do a road trip to Ideal. They aren't that far away from here and I might save money....

As long as you understand that the birds you are getting from them are not what the pretty pictures show. Hatcheries are not in the business of producing quality birds that can ever be used for breeding show stock. They are in the business of how many eggs can we hatch and sell.

If you are interested in a breed, look on BYC for a breed thread dedicated to that breed, read it and look at the pictures. You may decide it is not for you or it may confirm to you that you really want that breed. Learn everything you can about the breed and make sure it will fit your needs, some breeds have special needs.

There is going to be a big poultry show in College Station at Texas A&M on January 4th, the judging starts at 9am. Come if you can and look, you will surely find a breed you love and what better than to see what it looks like in person.

 

[hungnguyen]

Quote:
Good idea Tammy dear. I will take your quote to encourage my wife to go shopping in the pawn shops for our rings. I will tell her "Here is .. you can get the biggest diamond (for our money)" And we live happily ever after. The End !

 

[Texasmja]

If you have a favorite breed of poultry and are looking to purchase some in the future. Please do your homework first!

Buy the book all poultry fanciers should have, the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection. All of the breeds and varieties recognized are in this book! Go through and look at the pictures and read about each breed. I am sure you and your family will soon have favorites.

By getting this book beforehand you are setting yourself up to recognize quality stock before purchasing. Read the first 40 pages over and over. Next, attend as many APA shows around you to see and meet people who show/breed your favorite kind of bird. Subscribing to the monthly newspaper Poultry Press, you will get to see the birds winning shows across the USA, read wonderful and helpful articles, find breeders listed.

Do you have the desire and focus needed to help preserve a breed or variety that is nearly extinct? Do you have the finances and space needed for hatching and raising birds each year? These are questions to ask yourself now better than later when you are in over your head. If you do, than finding a mentor will help keep you on track and keep you kicking the can down the road as Bob B. would say. RIP

Decide what purpose your birds will serve for you and your family. Do you only want birds for eggs and meat to feed yourself? Ornamental birds? Show birds do not spit out clones so there will be plenty that are hatched that will need to be culled and not bred into the next generation. Have that plan ahead of time, what will you do with them? Culling doesn't mean kill, although some defects in a line need to eliminated permanently if they pop up. Have a plan, some people use pullets in their layer flock and eat or sell cockerels.

 

[jockeyeba]

Good Morning Fellow Texans!!

51 degrees outside!!  It is warming up and I have to be good.  My DH is taking a half day vacation today!! 

Ya'll have a GREAT day!

Lisa

Hope your surgery is healing fast

 

[hungnguyen]

Recently I discovered the names of best BBQ stores via the magazine Texas Monthly. In San Marcos, Hays County BBQ made the list and I will buy at 12 to have lunch with a few folks at work. My last taste with them was perfect rib and brisket. My group requested some sausages.

I found in Austin there were 4-5 stores made the list, and the Salt Lick did not make it. In Houston there are only 2 made the list and Virgil BBQ is 1 of them.

It's hard to keep the weight down this month. Can't wait for 12 noon.

Slim Hung

 

[TammyTX]

That BBQ place on 12th street (Austin) gets a line a block long and they sell out very quickly. I've never had it.

 

[PhantomChikkinz]

Still gotta hand it to Black's over here in Lockhart! Glad to see they made the list, although I can't say that I'm surprised

 

[Ms Jellybean]

As long as you understand that the birds you are getting from them are not what the pretty pictures show. Hatcheries are not in the business of producing quality birds that can ever be used for breeding show stock. They are in the business of how many eggs can we hatch and sell.

If you are interested in a breed, look on BYC for a breed thread dedicated to that breed, read it and look at the pictures. You may decide it is not for you or it may confirm to you that you really want that breed. Learn everything you can about the breed and make sure it will fit your needs, some breeds have special needs.

There is going to be a big poultry show in College Station at Texas A&M on January 4th, the judging starts at 9am. Come if you can and look, you will surely find a breed you love and what better than to see what it looks like in person.

I have read all about the breeds I want on here already and talked with people too. That is how I narrowed 12-14 chickens down to 5. I have read other sites as well.

I am getting chickens for eggs. I can't breed them and have no desire to eat them. The will become pets very quickly. I get attached easily. I once had a taken in a puppy someone dumped in my neighbourhood. I fed it, washed it and dipped it for fleas, tried to find a home for it and 3 hours later took it to the SPCA. I cried the whole way home, even though they told me they had a list of people wanting a Party Cocker and it would have a home in 3 days. No way I can any chicken I raise.

 

[Texasmja]

I am getting chickens for eggs. I can't breed them and have no desire to eat them.

Since you are getting birds for pets and eggs, I would like to recommend you buy good birds from a real breeder. Most people would think, "Why do I need to buy that kind of bird instead of a hatchery bird?" It is because your birds will be pets and you will get attached to them. I would recommend you buy a quality bird that has a good chance to live a long productive life with you.

Hatchery birds lay early and stop early. They are prone to being egg bound because of their body shape. They are narrow depth wise and width wide. There is just not a lot of room for all the internal organs in a hen built like that so they have issues.

I want to add, once you see what a real standard of perfection bird looks like in person, you will never forget it. I sold some culls to a lady on BYC, she was amazed at how large they were and they were just a few months old. She said they were larger than her full grown hatchery hens.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hope your surgery is healing fast

Thank you!! I have more movement and less pain than last year. Hopefully that means good news!!

i agree! chicken math can get to you in a hurry....better to start small until you know what you are dealing with. i unfortunately learned the hard way....spent oodles of time making my area safe from coons, hawks, coyotes then low and behold....it was my MIL's boston terrier that knocked my flock from about 25 to 1. hard pill to swallow knowing that i cant string that dog up in a tree....

MIL or not, the dog would be dead! (Even my husband agreed with me) I hope she plans on paying you for the dead birds.

Lisa