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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 24, 2007 13:39:31 GMT -5
So - we live in rural VA, but in town. We have about a 1/2 acre, which includes the footprint of the house, the flower and veg gardens, and the driveway. I want a few chickens (hens only - eggs only... no breeding) for the yard. There are only 4 of us, so no more than 6 chickens, tops. Since I will be looking at these birds every day, I want interesting birds. So far, I think I want an Amerucana (Easter egg chicken), a Polish Crested, and a Buff Orpington. Most likely a Wyandotte, too, because then Bluelacedredhead will come visit at my house. (I understand she can't resist a Wyandotte! ;D) Couple of questions:
1. Any other suggestions?
2. Anyone know a good supplier of sexed chicks in VA?
I've discussed theis with Blue, but she doesn't know too many breeders in VA, since she's in Canada. Whatever info you have will be appreciated!
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Post by Alan on Mar 24, 2007 19:53:58 GMT -5
Now, Now Lavandula girl let's not be dirty minded "2. Anyone know a good supplier of sexed chicks in VA?" Just kidding, couldn't help it!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 24, 2007 20:08:50 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure that either my husband or his friends could tell me where to find both sexy chicks and over sexed chicks, but just sexed chicks? No clue! ;D He keeps trying to get me to put what he calls "educated chickens" in the yard, but what he really means is "College Chicks Gone Wild"!! Heh heh heh! Not gonna happen....
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Post by Alan on Mar 24, 2007 21:42:28 GMT -5
Nice!!!
Kim can we have "educated chicks" in our yard? I'll sex them!
J/k I love you!!!!
Thanks for the laugh Lavundula.
But in all seriousness, I'm very interested in getting some chickens myself. Looking very seriously right now at what is available at sand hill preservation. -Alan
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Post by houseodessey on Mar 25, 2007 19:06:57 GMT -5
I also want chickens but getting the garden together has taken precedence over all other things. I am assuming you can only get chicks in the spring but I could manage to build a run and coop this fall, I bet. Is it bad to get chickens in the fall or even maybe mid to late summer? I put in a row of dent corn for my future chickens already.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 19:21:06 GMT -5
House, most hatcheries only hatch and ship chicks until June or early July. AFter that time, the fertility of the breeding stock is affected by the heat of the summer and later on by the waning daylight. Late hatched chicks are often slower to mature and generally not as thrifty (or healthy) as spring hatches. But if you want mature chickens, they are often available until early fall. They are the chicks grown up and ready to lay within a few weeks. (on average it takes 20 to 24 weeks before a large breed chicken begins to lay eggs). Check with your local Tractor Supply or Farm and Fleet store (or whatever livestock feed store is local to you). See what they do about ordering in chicks? Many places in the U.S. bring in shipments of mixed breeds in the hopes that customers will buy them once they see them in the store. Other places only bring in by pre-order (Tractor Supply).. If you want a place to look at the different breeds, go to www.ideal-poultry.com/I know that they are the supply for many of the feedstores in TX and OK
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Post by houseodessey on Mar 25, 2007 19:35:27 GMT -5
Thanks, BLRH. Chicks are cute, but eggs are my objective and my animals would probably worry little chicks to death anyway. I'll set my goals for midsummer and talk to my local folks about availability of older birds. I'm glad to know that I can possibly put this off for a bit and still get started this year.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 25, 2007 19:38:28 GMT -5
Ugh! We are finding that no one in VA brings chicks in anymore, for fear of creating disease vectors. Went to the Tractor Supply in Harrisonburg today, because they've traditionally done a Chick Pick day near Easter. (Not a good idea, really, but it would have been convenient for me this year). Anyway, they don't anymore. The problem with mail order for me is that I don't need 25 chicks, which is the smallest minimum order I can find. I can't seem to convince any of my friends that they need about 8 hens, either. My husband reminded me that it would be foolish to expect the entire shipment to live, but I have to come back with "Well, if they were experiencing 75% mortality rate, who wants to order from them anyway?" There is just no way I could have that many. I think there's an excellent chance that I'll be breaking zoning laws to have even 6, so I really think 25 is out of the question. Plus, I don't want to deal with selling or even giving away eggs, and if I get 2 dozen hens, and they even only lay an average of 1 egg a day, that's a heck of a lot of omelettes for a family of four!!!! I'll figure it out eventually. I think I may even approach the local 4H people and ask if they'd want the extras, as a donation. I'd even pay for the birds.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 19:55:15 GMT -5
Lav, I'm in a very large poultry site right now..I'm almost done posting on your behalf.. No names to protect the innocent just the name of your town and what breeds you would prefer..I'll see if it nets anything?? Best I can do. I've talked to the Ameraucana breeders I know and I've posted on a couple of other sites as well.. I'm trying
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Post by johno on Mar 25, 2007 19:57:04 GMT -5
Lav, as Alan suggested, I'd look into Sandhill Preservation. They seem to specialize in small orders. The prices are outrageous compared to what you'd pay at the feedstore, but that shouldn't be a surprise... I am small potatoes when it comes to birds, too...
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 20:07:58 GMT -5
The prices are not that high. However, if you read the shipping info for chicks, the minimum number for shipping an order is (in multiples of) 25 birds for chicks, bantams and guinea keets. It's because they want to keep the shipping container full to supply body heat so that the losses during shipping are at a minimum. There was a terrible fight for the past few years with the PETA people and Airlines and Express carriers in the U.S. Shipping of live birds is now a thing of the past in some remote areas as the result of it. The less ammunition that is given to animal rights activists over issues like this, the less or being able to obtain birds from anyone except someone in your own community will become a thing of the past.
So even Sandhill poses a problem for Lavandula because it's still an order for 25 chicks no matter what the cost per bird.
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Post by johno on Mar 25, 2007 20:11:49 GMT -5
Oh, I misunderstood. Try again, Lav...
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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 25, 2007 20:14:19 GMT -5
I've checked Sandhill out. The reason I've been reluctant to order from them is that they do straight-run only, and I'm really hoping to get pullets. I don't want any breeding going on - I know myself well enough that I might end up overlooking a clutch of eggs, and end up with some goofy, Polish crested/Wyandotte half breeds, which with my luck will all be male, too! Plus, as I said, I may be skating that zoning thing pretty fine. The last thing I need is 6 crowing, fighting roosters in the back yard!
Also, I think it said in this year's online catalog that they're selling in multiples of 25 as well. I think the shipping of live birds has gotten stricter or something, because it seems like all the shippers have 25 minimums now.
Sorry - read Blue's post and Johno's after i typed all this....
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 20:21:04 GMT -5
Did you contact that place in MD that I sent you a while back??
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Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 25, 2007 20:29:39 GMT -5
Never got an answer, so I assumed the birds were gone...
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