Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[delisha]

Stacy-so to hear about your tractor and right in the way too!

Jim-be careful, don't go hog wild.

Deli- I need to post pics of the 4 hatchlings for you to help determine breed.

I am pretty sure you have blue eggs and English Orps only. I gave you a few Gold laced. I hope they hatch for you.
They look like this




The rest should be black or blue.

Hello all,
I'm a brand new member of the site, and brand new to raising backyard chickens. I've just bought a pre-fab coop, and am building an extended coop and run for the hens I will be getting this summer/fall. I am wondering where around Madison I can go to get good stock Buff Orpington hen chicks this spring, or hens this fall. Also, If there are any tips that spring to mind (I've read all the forums on that subject, but there's always more, right?)
Any suggestions? Thanks!

Welcome to the group..I have many colors of Orpingtons..I do not have Buffs

Quote: If you have broodys..I can give you eggs to hatch..I have tons.

somebody with a Hova GQF factory preset incubator..

How do you move the 1 to 8 toggle switches ?

do they move hard ?

what do you use for a tool ?

I will be waiting for a reply ..

thank you.......

.......jiminwisc......

I downloaded the instructions for the sportsman GQF. It is pretty long. If you want a stab at it I can email you the instructions.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Amy, in my personal opinion, if your girls are getting bare backs, I think aprons are an absolute necessity. I have 2 girls that had their backs and sides scraped up pretty bad a few weeks ago so out came the aprons. There are some that have "shoulder pads" too.

 

[delisha]

Hi all! my new roo "Mister" is settling right in with the girls and getting bold enough to start acting like a roo should!

a few of my hens have bare backs/spots on the wing base from the old roosters mounting simultaneously (both ended up dinner) and I'm wondering if I need to/can do anything to help the feathers grow back quicker. I do have them on Feather Fixer. Should I get an 'apron' for the one with the most bare back? How often do I need to take it off? suggestions helpful! Thanks!

Congrats of the hatches, Welcome to the newbies! This is a great group and a wealth of knowledge!

Jim, we've planted our share of trees here. 9500 eight years ago and 5000 two years ago that didn't survive the drought which we had to REDO last year! Have fun!

~thankful the rain has stopped and the sun is out!

Something to consider:
If I am showing, I just keep the hens in a breeding pen and add a male for an hour every few days if I need the eggs for hatching. Most of the time, bald backs it is quality of feathers or spring moult this time of year. If it is moult and you use aprons, make sure they are not over heated. Feathers are made to let moisture and heat escape and aprons will hinder that. Take them off at night at least. Good feather quality is needed in Wisconsin. If they are bald consider not hatch from them. Bald birds do not do well in Wisconsin weather so consider breeding for feather quality that stands up to male breeding. Males can do damage on a bald bird. Breeding for good quality feathered is cheaper and smarter than breeding bad feather quality birds.
With moult it depends on if it is a hard or soft moult. A few of my birds are going threw a soft moult. They will look so pretty when they are done. In September/October most of them will go threw a hard moult to get ready for winter. I feed a great deal of meat during those months to push feather growth. I lean them in early September to push them into early moult so they are fully feathered in October. (It does not always work)

 

[jvls1942]

Quote: If you have broodys..I can give you eggs to hatch..I have tons.

somebody with a Hova GQF factory preset incubator..

How do you move the 1 to 8 toggle switches ?

do they move hard ?

what do you use for a tool ?

I will be waiting for a reply ..

thank you.......

.......jiminwisc......

I downloaded the instructions for the sportsman GQF. It is pretty long. If you want a stab at it I can email you the instructions.
I have the instructions.. all I don't know is, how those toggles work.. do you just push on one end, ? or is there a lever to move..? I poked around in that tiny hole with a tiny stick, but I really don't know what I was doing..

whatever I did, the bator has held a steady 99*F for the past two hours..

sorry, I didn't mean to repost this long post.. I didn't realize it was pictures.. Oh well,, enjoy them again..

 

[Celtic Chick]

I have the instructions.. all I don't know is, how those toggles work.. do you just push on one end, ? or is there a lever to move..? I poked around in that tiny hole with a tiny stick, but I really don't know what I was doing..

whatever I did, the bator has held a steady 99*F for the past two hours..

Oh my.

Do I really need to comment?????

 

[unkadan]

Oh my.

Do I really need to comment?????

Yes please do!

(Jim's new glasses might not pick out the BOLD)

 

[jvls1942]

Quote: Oh, I guess I was doing it all wrong, huh ? I used a stick, because you don't think I was going to use my finger, do you ?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Yes please do!

(Jim's new glasses might not pick out the BOLD)

Oh, I guess I was doing it all wrong, huh ? I used a stick, because you don't think I was going to use my finger, do you ?

Ah, you boys crack me up!

 

[delisha]

OMG..it took me a really long time to stop laughing..

The toggle down means auto.... and it reverts to manufactured preset.
The toggle up means you need to do it manual.

 

[delisha]

I am selling last years layers if anyone needs laying hens..I am getting a few dozen eggs a day and it is getting a bit much. I am keeping my older layers since I know they are so reliable and I can always make more. (I have almost 100 chicks and Joe is panicking)

I will have available pairs and quads of German and English Orpingtons in these varieties:

Red
Red Cuckoo
Gold Laced
Possibly Jubilee
Blue
Black
Splash (possibly)
Blue Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo