Virginia

[lori stetson]

Howdy Mom! If you are planning to eventually raise some chicks of your own I have a 2 month old PB Australorp which would be a good outcross for your new girls. His daddy is a great roo - Good breeder and protector but very nice to work around even with kids. He does an excellent job supervising my young roos too. His pen is where my young guys go to do some growing and learn their manners. The young roo that I kept looks like he did at that age and is nice to handle. Good luck with your new babies and just drop me a line if this guy interests you. Lori

 

[ki4got]

Quote: what breed(s) were you looking for? i don't remember hearing.

 

[mabelino]

well i was in contact with the clist seller and he's going to custom make one for us in our price range. I sent him several links from the coop section of styles we like and he's going to send us a design!! whoo!

So he said it'll be done in the next week or so. Now for the chickens. I've seen some on Clist recently. Is it ok to get a variety of breeds? I know someone mentioned one here, a lavender one. Would definitely consider that, too!

 

[Bulldogma]

well i was in contact with the clist seller and he's going to custom make one for us in our price range. I sent him several links from the coop section of styles we like and he's going to send us a design!! whoo!

So he said it'll be done in the next week or so. Now for the chickens. I've seen some on Clist recently. Is it ok to get a variety of breeds? I know someone mentioned one here, a lavender one. Would definitely consider that, too!

Sorry - someone else saw the post about the Lavender Orpington and grabbed her. But I have seen ki4got's buff Orpingtons and they are very nice and good layers! (Also she keeps her flock very healthy - I can vouch for her!)

Just be careful if you buy from someone on CL... if you go that rout, don't be afraid to check the birds from head to toe - look for lice, mites, weird discharge around eyes and vent, lifted scales, sneezing... Unfortunately I've seen some pretty sad birds around here. Breeders that are NPIP certified are usually a good bet... but I did end up with one with scaly leg mites from an NPIP breeder.

Good luck and keep us updated! I hope you find the perfect birds for your flock. You'll love having chickens... and be prepared. It's addictive!

 

[Bulldogma]

Just bragging a little. Needed to upgrade our coopage so I found a 1970's horse trailer and got it for a song... for obvious reasons. LOL! Everyone thought I was nuts... but I'm almost done with the outside. Tomorrow I hope to start working on the inside. YAY! (And yes - all those windows will soon be magically transformed into hardware cloth as well as the top part of the back doors. I painted the solid doors and may use them next winter.

 

[ki4got]

Quote: I'd even go so far as holding them up to your ear... if you hear gurgling or clicking when they breathe, run. i picked up some freebies last fall, one was gurgling bad. she (and 3 others of the 12) got processed as soon as i got home the rest went into quarantine for a month, treated for worms lice and mites before they left the box in the truck. got rid of a few oddballs, but they have been good and healthy and laying strong.

and yes, the buff girls are super friendly. wish i'd had my camera today. sunny was wandering around sniffing chickies and one of the buffs decided she wanted to sniff back i guess... dog and chicken, nose to beak. LOL they just stood there for a minute or so, then went off on their own way.

 

[jmarie]

So to brag my daughter (5) used astrolorp in a sentence and my 4 yo is busy memorizing chicken breeds!!

At the swaps (Gilmore) are there any plans to meet up with others from BYC? ANyone interested in doing this

 

[mabelino]

Wow! Thanks for the advice on the chickens. Sheesh! If I don't want to go that route, what would you suggest? I found the VA Chicken FB page!

 

[Flat Rock farm]

So to brag my daughter (5) used astrolorp in a sentence and my 4 yo is busy memorizing chicken breeds!!

At the swaps (Gilmore) are there any plans to meet up with others from BYC? ANyone interested in doing this

I am planning on going even though I am not from VA, but it would be neat to meet up with others from BYC. That's awesome that your children are getting to know chicken breeds

 

[ki4got]

Wow! Thanks for the advice on the chickens. Sheesh! If I don't want to go that route, what would you suggest? I found the VA Chicken FB page!

it would just depend what you want in a bird... lots of eggs, personality, looks, etc. do you want tem now or are you willing to let them grow up? the best layers aen't always the best personality wise IMO. the best looking aren't always great layers. there's always some give and take... i love my bantam cochins (smallish eggs but great personality and very cute) but they tend to go broody,, so really aren't the best layers. the dorkings are very much the same. but i prefer looks and personality over laying capacity any dday. while some would prefer egg color and quantity to be a plus.

when i first got bacck into poultry after a number of years off, i tried a general assortment of mixed chicks. that let me experience what they were like individually and i went from there. sold off the ones i didn't like, refined what i wanted and went from there...