Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Smallfarminwisc]

Well we moved to a farm about 10 years ago, and of course after we settled in I decided I needed chickens. I did a bunch of research found BYC (didnt join I lurked) and picked out some breeds. AND my family was like no, lets start with 3 silkies they are a nice breed. If we like them we will get more. So they found 3 silkie chicks on craigslist and got them, Meh at least I got chickens. I warned them that you cannot sex the smaller breeds and they didnt believe me till the lady we got them from said the same.

LONG story short we ended up with 3 silkie roosters .

So the next year I ordered a brown egg layer package and white egg layer package from a hatchery. we got about 20 chicks RIR, leghorns, black sexlinks , shoot and I cannot remember the other breeds off the top of my head. I unfortunately ordered in Febuary so we lost probably 5 the first week. my own fault for ordering when it was so cold. That was years ago we still have some left but I get maybe 3 eggs a week from 6 hens.

So this year I convinced my family we needed more! so I bought 15 rainbow pullets from cackle and a surprise package for a total of 66 chicks + 3 ducks! so yeah my chicken math exploded. I am LOVING every second of it of course my family thinks Im crazy and should sell them.

 

[jvls1942]

Well we moved to a farm about 10 years ago, and of course after we settled in I decided I needed chickens. I did a bunch of research found BYC (didnt join I lurked) and picked out some breeds. AND my family was like no, lets start with 3 silkies they are a nice breed. If we like them we will get more. So they found 3 silkie chicks on craigslist and got them, Meh at least I got chickens. I warned them that you cannot sex the smaller breeds and they didnt believe me till the lady we got them from said the same.

LONG story short we ended up with 3 silkie roosters .

So the next year I ordered a brown egg layer package and white egg layer package from a hatchery. we got about 20 chicks RIR, leghorns, black sexlinks , shoot and I cannot remember the other breeds off the top of my head. I unfortunately ordered in Febuary so we lost probably 5 the first week. my own fault for ordering when it was so cold. That was years ago we still have some left but I get maybe 3 eggs a week from 6 hens.

So this year I convinced my family we needed more! so I bought 15 rainbow pullets from cackle and a surprise package for a total of 66 chicks + 3 ducks! so yeah my chicken math exploded. I am LOVING every second of it of course my family thinks Im crazy and should sell them.

this is where the chzheds come in. people here are just like you and will encourage you to the hilt. some of us call it enabling .

stick to your guns. let the numbers increase ..
keep at it until you look like this .

.

 

[Smallfarminwisc]

lol well after I opened my box of chicks I may or may not have mentioned ordering another one. I got half eye rolls and walking away and the other half laughing hysterically at me . I am trying my hardest to guess some breeds. Polish are easy and I am pretty sure I got one of the egyptian F< :O I will butcher the spelling so I am not even going to try. this might get picture heavy so I apologize it wont happen again Im just so excited about them I have to share! if you have breed guesses throw them my way!







My camera makes noise so whenever I turn it on they all run as far as they can get from me into the exact same place. Thank goodness for super zoom.






























Feather legs!

 

[jvls1942]

unless someone else knows what it is, that duck looks like a chocolate muscovy ..

all chicks look alike to me. one of them with a dark dot on his head looks like a hybrid rooster like I hatched for a guy once...

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

 

[bigzio]

Welcome to the cheeseheads and congrats on the ability to add well. It's fun no matter what breeds you decide to have fun with...some think special breeds are what's best, but in the end....you need to be having fun with them...hope I said fun enough...

 

[jvls1942]

Welcome to the cheeseheads and congrats on the ability to add well. It's fun no matter what breeds you decide to have fun with...some think special breeds are what's best, but in the end....you need to be having fun with them...hope I said fun enough...

FUNny you should say that..

 

[chikenscratch]

Welcome all newbies! And to anyone interested in attending the bash (AKA Chickenstock) please follow this link to get the directions, details, things to bring, etc.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1075619/seventh-annual-wi-cheesehead-bash

 

[chickendreams24]

unless someone else knows what it is,  that duck looks like a chocolate muscovy ..

all chicks look alike to me.  one of them with a dark dot on his head looks like a hybrid rooster like I hatched for a guy once...

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

I'm seeing a bunch of fuzzy cheeked EEs

The fuzzy legged chicks could be cochins or Brahmas I think.

I'm also thinking I see some white leghorns, maybe brown leghorns also possibly some Jersey giants, and I'm thinking I see some red black laced wyandottes, or maybe some partridge rock chicks. The barred chock also looks like it could be a cockeral to me.

Oops quoted the wrong thing.

Let us know what they turn out to be. I'd love to know if I'm right at all.

 

[chickendreams24]

Just got in from nightly chores, haven't had any trouble so the flock was out late again. Ugh lost two speckled Sussex pullets and a white Rock cockeral. Got a look at the animal but I don't have an identity yet. Was maybe 50 feet from us and showed no fear at all. We didn't have the gun when we saw it. I'm thinking weasel-ish family.

But here's what I know. It grabbed 3, 9-10 week old chicks and left only a few small piles of feathers, it was silvery and black but not broad like badgers should be. I also don't think it was large enough to be one. It was very low to the ground and there was a distinct musky smell about the yard but not quite skunk. I am going to be searching for images online of what it could be.

Please help. This thing is devastating our flock.

 

[babylady4]

Fisher.