Virginia

[finnfur]

Say Virginia Peeps! I am new to BYC and am in Meclenberg county. I am getting my first chicks next week and am a bit nervous. Weather has been cool and warm. I have a brooder box and heat lamp set up and all my feed etc, but I wonder if it will be ok to start the babies in our brand new coop? Walls a painted and it has been predator proofed. There are still,things to do for them when they are bigger, but we have a bit of time to finish that. What are your thoughts?

Welcome - We in Mech also
I have found that at that age yo need to provide the heat the mother hen would have taken care of.
You need heat[95 degree ] first week and drop about 5 degree a week.
They will find there own temp need if the have a choice as long as part has the required temp. Sometimes they like to get away from the heat a little.
We set food and water out off the main heat area and they will pile up at the desired heat zone.. LOL


I have chicks hatched last week available and some full size laying hens.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
what breeds do you have?

 

[finnfur]

what breeds do you have?

Hi Karen
We breed heritage Delawares from a line created by a lady in Mo..
Delawares are a dual purpose egg/meat bird with good temperament and a great forager.
More info on this recreated line on this thread;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/777172/delawares-from-kathyinmo

The other laying hens I have for sale are 5 Delaware hens [1 yr] from another breeder line , 3 NH from a production line and two EEs [about 2]. All these hens are laying

The new chicks are all sired by the Cocks from the MO line referred above.
9 are Generation five from the New Delaware line
7 are a mixture of Delaware Cock over the other hens [NH and EE ] - the EE cross will lay colored eggs like the hen - the NH cross will look like a Delaware and lay brown eggs.


Cocks at 30 weeks


Pullets at 30 weeks

Processed cockerals 37 weeks

 

[Spoiled Birds]

Anybody in Virginia (reasonable distance around Va Tech/Roanoke) want a 7 week old male Dark Brahma Bantam?
I have 3 (maybe 4) out of 7 of them!!

They have really pretty feathering. (iridescence blue and green, and laced)



Some of the prettiest turn out to be cockerels!

(You can Google my zipcode 24124)

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
I'm familiar with the breed, and with Kathy too. she has SFH also I believe. unfortunately I have no desire to add another breed. LOL I'm working with my own heritage breed, the Dorking, which needs as much or more work than the Delaware. what color eggs are your EE laying?

 

[finnfur]

I'm familiar with the breed, and with Kathy too. she has SFH also I believe. unfortunately I have no desire to add another breed. LOL I'm working with my own heritage breed, the Dorking, which needs as much or more work than the Delaware. what color eggs are your EE laying?

Dorking is a great dual purpose bird - I believe Yellowhouse farms has them - and nice ones too. At least the ones I've seen processed are.
We like eggs as a bonus but really are breeding for the table fare. Yes they are a work in process but his line is a close as I have seen to SOP potential.


The two EEs we have lay light blue and OD green.

Well good luck on the Dorkings and spread the word if anyone wants a nice egg flock- or some nice Del chicks. I want to get down to just this line of Delawares so we can concentrate
on the breeding program.
And thanks for the comeback- and not aware if Kathy has Swedish Flowers or not.
Tom

 

[Spoiled Birds]

Anybody in Virginia (reasonable distance around Va Tech/Roanoke) want a 7 week old male Dark Brahma Bantam?
I have 3 (maybe 4) out of 7 of them!!

They have really pretty feathering. (iridescence blue and green, and laced)

[COLOR=005CB1] [COLOR=005CB1] [/COLOR] [COLOR=005CB1] [/COLOR] [COLOR=005CB1] [/COLOR][/COLOR]

Some of the prettiest turn out to be cockerels!

(You can Google my zipcode 24124)

UPDATE... 5 of my 7 Brahma Bantams are boys!!!

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
YHF has exceptional whites. I'm working on silver grey and red, myself.

 

[Animals970]

Is the chicken breeding 'hobby' growing, cause if it is I will seriously consider getting into it, cause the rabbit breeding 'hobby' is REALLY growing and i'm into that.

 

[kristin07035]

My brother lives in Virginia Beach & I want to move near him.
I know Virginia Beach doesn't allow chickens so what towns near him (1/2hr travel time ) allow backyard coops?