The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[BerrytangleFarm]

Thanks Ladies I have some exciting young black and blue roos available in my bachelor yard if anyone is interested

Okay, about the bachelor yard.....

I've been trying to figure out how to deal with the grow out pens and such. We have two coops and one large brooder that can be divided into two 4x8 sides. But that's about it.

What is a good set-up since I'll need the babies to grow up until I can figure out which to keep. Can the boys be kept together? Can they all be kept together? Use a PVC/hardware wire tractor for the grow out pen??

Need advice.....

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I remove groups of what I strongly believe are roos... and put them in a fenced in area right behind my coop. There they have various shelters to choose from like a dog house etc. I let the grass grow out of control before putting in the first group in.... makes for great hiding from big mean hawks and suck.. It is important... to put them in either all at once.. or in groups... because the low man gets the bad end the deal. If you know what I mean, There is power in numbers!

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

I remove groups of what I strongly believe are roos... and put them in a fenced in area right behind my coop. There they have various shelters to choose from like a dog house etc. I let the grass grow out of control before putting in the first group in.... makes for great hiding from big mean hawks and suck.. It is important... to put them in either all at once.. or in groups... because the low man gets the bad end the deal. If you know what I mean, There is power in numbers!

So the roos won't fight amongst themselves being housed together?

Any tips/pics on multi-age brooders? Our 4x8 box is unwieldy, so my husband wants something less weighty and more like a rabbit hutch design. I want to still be able to house babies of different ages without causing fights. In the past, I've waited until the smallest were a month or so old and taken out the divider to let them mix but still have the illusion of separate quarters without territorial issues.

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

Quick Question --

I just got a shipment of $65/dozen eggs that was pretty badly beaten up with evidence of leaking out the side.

Do I take it to the PO to open it and prove the mishandling or would they do anything anyway??

 

[Goose and Fig]

Oooh that's bad. That is why I always ship insured and always ask people if they want to pick the eggs up at the PO. Once its left at your house, I think you are SOL.
You are lucky to be able to get eggs this time of year though. Its so hot here, they'd incubate in my house if they weren't in the fridge. I had to turn the brooder lights off the brand new babies.

My big guy is trying to catch up with the girls in the ratty feather department. I wish they'd all just moult already. I did get some AWESOME new saddles form a gal in IA off ebay this week though.

 

[rockinpaints]

Quick Question --

I just got a shipment of $65/dozen eggs that was pretty badly beaten up with evidence of leaking out the side.

Do I take it to the PO to open it and prove the mishandling or would they do anything anyway??

I can tell you from LOTS of experience dealing with USPS they WILL NOT accept responsibility with any damage to eggs or chicks (as long as the chicks are delivered withing 3 days of shipping - express)

After having a couple boxes of chicks (and one box of Juveniles) all deceased upon arrival (over the past year), when it was clearly heat related due to mishandling by the postal service, we are trying something new and it is proving to work out pretty well. Unbenounced to the postal service we are randomly installing recall thermometers in the chick boxes. They are LIVE animals and it doesn't take a genius to know they CAN NOT be subjected to extreme heat or cold (although it is clearly written on the box just in case.....)

Upon arrival at their destination the buyer is checking the max high and max low the chicks were subjected to during their travel and recording it for us. It is working excellent. We are hoping to be able to put them in all boxes soon. It will not stop the postal workers from leaving the chicks in 120 degree truck or on a hot dock in full sun, but it will tell us when they did so they will have to take some responsibility. We insure our chicks and have yet to be able to collect on deceased chicks.

If anyone wants to know more about the recall thermometers just drop me a note.
Good luck with your destroyed eggs.

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

I called the USPS 800 number. They took info and said the local PO would contact me but they gave little hope since it wasn't insured.

When I asked if I should take it to the local PO to open as proof, the woman said "we're not supposed to tell you what you should or shouldn't do." ????????????

 

[kathyinmo]

Shipping hatching eggs is always risky. Sometimes it is successful, sometimes it is a disaster. Just gotta decide if you are willing to risk it, and deal with it.

 

[rockinpaints]

Oooh that's bad. That is why I always ship insured and always ask people if they want to pick the eggs up at the PO. Once its left at your house, I think you are SOL.
You are lucky to be able to get eggs this time of year though. Its so hot here, they'd incubate in my house if they weren't in the fridge. I had to turn the brooder lights off the brand new babies.

My big guy is trying to catch up with the girls in the ratty feather department. I wish they'd all just moult already. I did get some AWESOME new saddles form a gal in IA off ebay this week though.

Hey, HappyMtn, have you ever been able to collect on damaged eggs? When my postmaster called their insurance carrier (while I was at the post office) he was told that eggs are perishable and we are not supposed to shipping them any way and that they would not cover damage to them. Our post office always calls me when eggs arrive and sometimes even say 'you are not going to be happy when you see the box....And they are absolutely right. The last 2 boxes I receive were oozing out the side........Any one have any experiences where the eggs were actually covered?

On the English orp note, I have pics of our new line of Crele orp project chicks and I am really please with them.

I think a couple years of work is finally paying off. ( and some much appreciated input from Bob Follows

) They are about 95% English (although I am not really sure how to figure the %

)



He is about 5 weeks old and he sure has some BIG feet. His dad is about 12 pounds and I think he will be close.
Can't wait till he fully matures!

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I don't think they are going to do anything for you. I would document everything....Yes I would open the box... access the damages. There might still be something in there worth salvaging. I think this is one of those times... I would set the eggs in a carton over night before placing in the bator.. and DON'T turn them.... Let those egg cells settle.

I am so very sorry this happened to you <hugs>