Utah!

[PacsMan]

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So how are my Delawares doing? I can see they get bigger every day!

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

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So how are my Delawares doing? I can see they get bigger every day!

They are doing great. They are going to look really different, I think. The one that was really yellow is not going to have very much barring, but the one with the "racing stripe" has a ton of barring, almost to the point of having gray wings. The gray one is a bit smaller, but makes up for it with attitude to spare. The Americauna that I stuck into the dog crate with them is a great momma chicken and they crawl under her.

My dad gives the chickens wild bird seed as treats. We went through a lot of different treats with the first round of chickens (raisins, meal worms, sun flower seeds, and wild bird mix). Wild bird mix and sun flower seeds are the cheapest, and they go for the sun flower seeds immediately when given a choice of treats (believe it or not, we tried). Earlier this week, we gave the older chicks the seeds. Today I started the Delawares and their surrogate momma on it. They are loving life!

 

[SaltLakeSpice]

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Welcome NurseDr,

If your goal is to prevent problems, you might want to shoot for an even bigger coop. 16sqft is still pretty tight for 7 hens. The usual recommendation is at least 4sqft per bird. Also, depending on where you live between 2 and 4sqft is the minimum requirement by ordinance (for most cities around Salt Lake and salt Lake county). So your not leaving yourself much room (if any) to expand your flock and if you're like anyone else around here, you will want to expand : ) Just something to think about while you're still in the building phase.

 

[vermontgal]

Stopped by the IFA in SLC on Monday... fewer breed choices now than when I was there in February! They had SLW, BSL, Cornish X, RSL, California White, Leghorn, and perhaps one other breed. There were some unlabeled, possibly BR in the lowest bin. In another thread, SaltLakeSpice mentioned that they want to sell a minimum of 6 chicks. On the door of the IFA there was a sign that indicated that their minimum is 3 chicks unless the purchaser has other chicks at home. Three chicks does seem like a reasonable minimum. I wonder if the fewer breeds has to do with Easter upcoming? I am planning to get my chicks around April 20, so I hope they have more selection by then.

PacsMan, you reported losing a couple BR chicks from the IFA. Sorry to hear that. Do you think this has to do with the health of the chicks when you got them there? I'm still trying to decide if I am going to order from a hatchery or just take my luck at the IFA.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

I've personally been very pleased with the quality of chicks from IFA. My best friend and I have gotten chicks there. The hatchery Delawares I got from PacsMan are great as well.

IFA's minimum is 3. I bought 5 the first time with no problem. I went back a couple of weeks later for a single chick because I had one Americauna die. I told them I bought 5 a couple of weeks before and they sold me one additional chick just on my say-so that I had 5 more at home. It was no problem at all.

If you ask them at IFA, they will tell you what chickens they have coming in and when. Also, I heard that Cal Ranch in West Jordan has a good selection. I'm all done buying chicks for this year, but some people at work are still planning purchases and were talking about Cal Ranch today.

The only bit of advice I can give about IFA that is somewhat negative towards IFA is to warn you about making sure they are sexed. The signs will either say "straight run" or "pullet" but the people who work there don't always know what those terms mean.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I live in southern Utah, I have bought from IFA a few times and have always been pleased with thier stock. I've never had any die. This year I bought sexed RIR pullets and I'm thinking one might be a roo now, they are 2 weeks old. Just as stands with a fiddle says make sure the sales person knows what they are talking about. But my IFA ordered 250 pullets of different breeds and if only 75-90% are sexed correctly...I guess the chances of getting a roo are higher.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

My impression of IFA is that on weekends they tend to have teenie boppers working, and they are the ones who don't always know what they are doing...

The big thing with chicks is pasty butt. I've had a few IFA chicks and both of the hatchery Delawares get pasty butts. No big deal, just wash them off so their vents don't get clogged. I've read that if the vents get clogged it causes them to die. Washing their butts causes a case of non-fatal annoyance for the little chicks.

On another subject... I've been inundated with questions by neighbors about the how-to's of raising chickens. Mostly it's people from church asking the questions, so I've approached the Relief Society president about doing a quick class on raising backyard chickens. I don't know when it will be, but it seems like my suggestion was well enough received. I don't know if I should bring up the topic of meat in my class. I suppose I have to mention it. For me, chickens are pets with benefits. I've not personally ever been involved in the slaughter or processing of chickens, although I grew up around it. I suppose that's part of the reason why I am now vegetarian. So... if anyone has suggestions on how to deal with this subject, or on where to take their unwanted / old chickens for processing let me know.

I guess it's worth mentioning that I live within Salt Lake City limits, so I technically can only have my chickens for egg production.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

By the way, check out this article in Salt Lake Magazine:

http://www.saltlakemagazine.com/Salt-Lake-Magazine/April-2010/Just-Us-Chickens/

 

[PacsMan]

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Yes, I've now lost 3 of the 6 I bought from IFA. I bought them on a Monday, and there weren't very many BR in the cage. Some looked pretty lethargic, and all has pasty butt. I thought I’d take my chances, and I guess I lost.

I have 26 other baby chicks from other stock/hatchery, and I haven't lost any of them. I think that points to poor stock, or poor handling on IFA's part. So much so that I wrote them a letter today. (It kinda ticked me off, I went to the Draper IFA to buy (yet more) food, and asked if they would do anything for the (then) 2 that I had lost. The manager smiled and said, "Oh, no. But did you want to buy some more to replace them?"... um, not likely).

So, my first experience with IFA birds is not a good one.

 

[vermontgal]

Pacsman, are you putting anything in their water to help them out? Vit & electrolytes or ACV? That might help. Sorry to hear about your experience.

Thanks, Stands & Goddess, for the positive reviews on IFA. I have noticed their chicks with pasty butt in their collections. I'd prefer to see if I can find out when they have chicks coming in, and try to get there the same day they arrive. Yes, I was there on a weekend, and it was indeed a teenie bopper who didn't know much that I talked to. If anyone knows who the knowledgeable staff are at the 2100 S / SLC IFA, I'd appreciate knowing who might be good to talk with? I don't need chicken advice, just some one who will be upfront with me about when orders come in, what breeds are coming when, etc. Thanks for any further knowledge.

I'm probably unlikely to drive further to get chicks, but maybe Draper with an IKEA run...