The New Zealand Thread

[Marisa14]

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I've got 9 hens, 1 rooster and 15 (15!!!!!) chicks. I'll only be keeping a couple of the chicks though. Wasn't quite expecting the hatch rate success I got!

Awww! I would like more I did have 6 but 2 have sadly passed away in the last year
I would love to have a couple from baby’s but have never seen any that I can buy younger than 8 weeks old.

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Awww! I would like more I did have 6 but 2 have sadly passed away in the last year
I would love to have a couple from baby’s but have never seen any that I can buy younger than 8 weeks old.

Your best bet would be to try and find someone local who will incubate eggs for you and sell you the chicks. The earliest I sell my chicks is 10 weeks, gotta make sure the hens have finished with them, make sure I've picked the ones I want, and be 100% sure they're pullets and not cockerels. Generally I keep them till point of lay, people often not willing to pay what I need for a 10 week old but they will pay for point of lay.

 

[Marisa14]

Your best bet would be to try and find someone local who will incubate eggs for you and sell you the chicks. The earliest I sell my chicks is 10 weeks, gotta make sure the hens have finished with them, make sure I've picked the ones I want, and be 100% sure they're pullets and not cockerels. Generally I keep them till point of lay, people often not willing to pay what I need for a 10 week old but they will pay for point of lay.

Oh, yes! That’s a good idea!!
My girl’s were 8 weeks when I got them.
It’s actually quite a good age. I think it would be fun to have chicks but in reality our work means we are away from home for 12hrs a day at certain times of the year!

 

[Chookwagn]

Whoohoo a NZders thread!

 

[Marisa14]

Whoohoo a NZders thread!

I know, Right!!!

 

[Chookwagn]

Asking here as it's specific to breeds and strains available in NZ.

I'm happy with the mix I have right now but am wondering about getting some more leghorns for the future. Mainly for bug control when I eventually move to a larger property and plant my orchard. Any other suggestions for available breeds that are nimble and good insect (and mice) snatchers? I am very happy with my barred rocks for foraging and have added partridge rocks which so far seem even better, but they are big birds as adults and not nimble or much for flying into trees. My araucanas are also excellent foragers and are more nimble, but their egg laying is mediocre and they go broody A LOT.

I do NOT want bantams, guinea fowls or ducks, but i would consider quail. Prefer to just stick with standard chickens.

I may know someone who has leghorns.....

 

[Lizzy733]

I have 4 Orpingtons. Daisy, my black one, had a sore leg when we first got her home and spent a bit of time handling her and sitting her on my knee. Very cute. I only have my flock of 4 as we live in town but I just love them! People think I’m nuts for loving them as much as I do!

That's how we started with 6 in auckland and have since moved on to a northland lifestyle block. Now, we get to be restriction-free and have roos!

All of mine are super spoiled lap babies still.

 

[Marisa14]

That's how we started with 6 in auckland and have since moved on to a northland lifestyle block. Now, we get to be restriction-free and have roos!

All of mine are super spoiled lap babies still.

Yes, I would love to have more but my wife isn’t so keen… mostly because when they get sick or die it breaks my heart!

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Whoohoo a NZders thread!

Welcome! I felt left out down here at the bottom of the world so I started our own thread!

Do you happen to know of a source of brown leghorns in the South Island?

 

[Lizzy733]

Yes, I would love to have more but my wife isn’t so keen… mostly because when they get sick or die it breaks my heart!

Agreed. Our first four were 3 shavers and a silkie raised from week olds. Our silkie helped us through a few hatches to get us up to 6 and we sold\gave away the extra chicks. Those three all died around 3 years old of various production breed related issues unfortunately. We still have our silkie girl. She's only 4, but the oldest in our flock.

It's very brutal when they're your babies, but I had to dispatch one of our girls myself due to her falling ill over a lockdown. She just wasnt improving and I didnt want her suffering.

We're getting through our first hatch from our own roo. We're about a week in the incubator with 11 healthy embryos. Gonna be tricky deciding the culls from this hatch once they get up to size. We already have 3 roos and 3 turkey jakes XD, so we're full up on boys for now.