The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[The Moonshiner]

Just checked out that site a little closer.
Did you see that price sheet?
$60 for 6+ eggs. OUCH !!!!

 

[Redhead Rae]

Just checked out that site a little closer.
Did you see that price sheet?
$60 for 6+ eggs. OUCH !!!!

It's almost cheaper to buy chicks since they've already hatched and are less likely to get scrambled in the mail.

 

[The Moonshiner]

It's almost cheaper to buy chicks since they've already hatched and are less likely to get scrambled in the mail.

Ya but chicks are priced at $20 each plus $50 shipping
So say you wanted 5 chicks it would be $150

 

[Redhead Rae]

Ya but chicks are priced at $20 each plus $50 shipping
So say you wanted 5 chicks it would be $150

Forgot about shipping.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Ya but chicks are priced at $20 each plus $50 shipping
So say you wanted 5 chicks it would be $150

Yes I noticed that as well.
Greenfire Farms' prices can get up there as well.I think that at that price point,they are catering to a niche market somewhat.Some people want meat chickens,some want layers;some people want dual purpose; some casual people want hobby chickens in their yard;and some people want to get into it and to breed to see what they can get.
If you take into account time, feed, effort,work ,and you're getting a specimen that is not very common.At that level your picking up where someone left off; the culmination of someone's work.I see it as they are selling you a bit of their intellectual property to an extent.When you come to think of it they had the idea; they pursued it; they executed; they achieved results and if you want that animal they've already saved you the time and work of getting to it.
I too got sticker shock I think I have a mild case of whiplash, but at the same time I can understand the prices..there are quite a few "Boutique" chicken breeders out there.
I imagine in their journey they probably sold the culls at a very cheap price,even possibly gave them away to friends/family,but I assume that as they started dialing in the patterns they wanted, the prices started going up and up.
I guess from a business standpoint and if you're breeding at that level at that volume,-he did write that he went " through a lot of chicks",to get to where he is,you need to recuperate your expenses one way or another, while offering a unique product to the public at the same time you are providing a unique product to the chicken aficionados.
God bless those who have small operations and provide the same type of specimens to chicken aficionados those are few and far between and out of the kindness of their heart willing to share their work with others.
Those individuals deserve more credit than is given.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

It's almost cheaper to buy chicks since they've already hatched and are less likely to get scrambled in the mail.

Here,here...

 

[Tbird84]

I've been pulling all chicken eggs from the nest as that is a mixed coop. Goodness knows I don't need anymore cute mutts running around. So it is all muscovy and muscovy/rouen cross eggs. She is now so broody that she stays on the nest when I reach in. Boy she pecks hard though! Lol.

Is she trying to hatch duck eggs, or are her eggs there too? Love the pictures.

Question for the Moonshiner: What is the ideal comb size for leghorn? I have heard that the hens think the bigger the better. Seems with Lions, regarding their mane -- also the bigger the better. Guess it is a sign of virility and vigor in animals. Personally I think huge combs are kind of u-g-l-y. (Sorry all you big combed roosters out there).
Miami Leghorns told me about Privett's having blue Leghorns, may have mentioned it in this thread too when we were talking that color a bit upthread.
Is this guy an example of the desirable type for Leghorn?
View attachment 2121737
I have to revisit my birds -- they are far heftier than this and although my guy has a big comb --- proportionally It seems to be less than this example cockbird -- or maybe the body is just bigger. Seems like the books show a larger bird with a bigger boday and more rounded frount. This guy seems to have a straight front.
Circles me back to think maybe my birds aren't leghorns after all. ??
That being said, these Privett birds do seem to have coloring from Andalusian blue.
Maybe a little OT but I could watch this animation 50 times:

 

[Severne]

Leave the eggs, I love cute mutts. =(

 

[The Moonshiner]

I set a few eggs just to test incubator and some fertility.
I think there's 4 due tonight and 6 or so for Monday.
I stored the hovabators in the attic. Being styrofoam I wanted them out of the way so they wouldn't end up broken.
Bad plan I guess some mice decided the styrofoam was good eating. So I had some holes to try to patch.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

I set a few eggs just to test incubator and some fertility.
I think there's 4 due tonight and 6 or so for Monday.
I stored the hovabators in the attic. Being styrofoam I wanted them out of the way so they wouldn't end up broken.
Bad plan I guess some mice decided the styrofoam was good eating. So I had some holes to try to patch.

In my limited experience with hatching chicken eggs, I got to say that hovabator are my go-to.
I had one stored that I pull out every year for parrots;( my wife breeds parrots as a hobby) and I just purchased a new one online and I got to say that for me the Hovabator is bulletproof ...I was given a Chinese model incubator as a lender and it took a dive on me in the middle of a hatch.
After that, I purchased another one brand new one same setup but American made and for some reason I just couldn't get it to set up properly...returned it right away... But with a hovabator;never fails me...they may be old school but to me again in my limited experience,I got to give it five stars.
I'm sure there's people out there with better,sophisticated ,more expensive equipment and have had a better experience than I have with other models but again, for me,Hovabator for life.