|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 25, 2007 20:41:43 GMT -5
Okay, I see a new member on the site where I just posted about birds for you. They are from the SW part of the state. Doesn't say where. But they have Orpingtons. I'll see if I get a reply from them and let you know if I hear. Don't know why I didn't do this before? duh
|
|
|
Post by downinmyback on Mar 26, 2007 0:15:53 GMT -5
Have you consider Banty chickens. We bought 3 banty pullet and two rooster at a flea market to go with 3 mixed breed hen we already had.. Our local feed store still will order chick for you or you can wait til Easter and buy the chick singely.
|
|
|
Post by kimikat on Mar 26, 2007 9:26:36 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 Last time I checked I was college educated...Or maybe that 5,500 dollar student loan that I'm paying back belongs to someone else, and there was a mix up at the bursar??? I dunno... So umm yeah...I'll be the only chick of any form that you'll be sex-ing...Got it... I know you're playing, I love you too.
|
|
|
Post by houseodessey on Mar 27, 2007 17:54:08 GMT -5
Blue:
I love the look of the polish chickens. Any idea as to their temperment? I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and prefer that they keep all of their eyes in tact. I'll need birds that can take a bit of curiousity from the younger animals.
Kimi and Alan: Remember, no sexing of the chicks until marriage.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 27, 2007 19:18:39 GMT -5
Polish have great temperaments in most cases. I have had a few roos with bad attitudes. But what you have to remember about Polish is (Bantams at least) is that the Crest greatly impairs their vision and makes them easy targets for predators. Predators usually means fox, coons, coyotes, hawks, eagles, ravens. But unfortunately also includes domestic dogs and some cats, so really they shouldn't be allowed to free range or you probably won't have them long. I'm not saying that your dog would attack. No one really knows how their housepets will react to poultry until they are given the opportunity to co-habitate, but it does happen. And in many areas, domestic dogs are allowed to run at large; this is frequently a problem. Sad, but true.
|
|
|
Post by houseodessey on Mar 27, 2007 19:25:34 GMT -5
Hmm. Good points. We have hawks here that regularly take our neighbor's full grown cats away. (We refer to their neverending bevy's of kittens as foxfood and hawkfodder) What are your recommendations for a fairly laid back, good egg producing, hardy bird that can take a lot of heat? I'm really not concerned with their looks, that link just got me thinking about having fancy chickens.
|
|
|
Post by johno on Mar 27, 2007 20:38:51 GMT -5
Blue has a lot more knowledge than I do... but my old leghorn hen is still popping out eggs like crazy. She has survived 4 or five hot summers since I got her, and she was no spring chicken then.
|
|
|
Post by kimikat on Mar 27, 2007 21:10:39 GMT -5
Kimi and Alan: Remember, no sexing of the chicks until marriage. Chickens marry...Wow...There's more too raising chickens than I thought.
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Mar 28, 2007 4:37:07 GMT -5
Kimi and Alan: Remember, no sexing of the chicks until marriage. Chickens marry...Wow...There's more too raising chickens than I thought. No one's told you that? You have to get a special license to perform the ceremonies and everything.... man, it's lucky you've got friends with chicken knowledge, or you might have had chickens with no moral compass living on your property. Yikes! ;D
|
|
|
Post by kimikat on Mar 28, 2007 15:07:44 GMT -5
Chickens marry...Wow...There's more too raising chickens than I thought. No one's told you that? You have to get a special license to perform the ceremonies and everything.... man, it's lucky you've got friends with chicken knowledge, or you might have had chickens with no moral compass living on your property. Yikes! ;D LOL! This is true...Poor chickens...The chickens that live next door must be polygimists, as I know of only two roosters in a group of chickens...hmmm...
|
|
|
Post by ohiorganic on Apr 4, 2007 5:21:25 GMT -5
if you want hens for eggs you might consider buying some 2 year old hens. right now egg farms are culling their hens and will usually sell culls cheap. these are hens that have many good years left in them but they no longer can lay as much as the commercial farm wants.
If you buy chicks, even with a sexed run you will get 10% males and you will have to do something with thos roos. personally I love having a rooster around the hens. A good rooster will be very gracious with his hens, showing them tasty morsel, protecting them from predators and yes sexing them up every time they can.
This is making want to get some hens for eggs. I do have 50 4 day old meat chicks in a hoophouse and brooder chicken tractor but they will not be around in another 8 weeks.
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 4, 2007 6:23:21 GMT -5
This area is rife with chicken farms... it's about the last industry here. But I am pretty sure most of them are meat bird farms. Plus, I know there have been some issues with some sort of chicken flu (not the Asian one, of course, but something that makes the birds really sick, and is contagious). I think I may contact the FFA at our high school... they often have turkeys and chickens they're raising, and during the summer none of the kids want to go over to the school an tend to the birds. Last year several hens "escaped"... and spent a feral summer on the grounds.
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 4, 2007 10:06:31 GMT -5
If the FFA is raising meat chickens, you will have eggs for a while. But anyone that I've seen raising them in lieu of layers soon finds out that there are problems with meat birds when one wants longevity and productiveness. They are prone to heart attacks and leg problems as they are designed to put on the pounds quickly and be put in the freezer. About the maximum life span you would get from a meat bird will be 18 months. But if you want to rescue a few, have eggs to eat, teach the children about raising birds and then have a yummy chicken stew come fall, then that's a good way to do it..
|
|
|
Post by jeannine on Apr 7, 2007 2:45:11 GMT -5
Lav, consider calling your county extension office for someone in the area that has layers. The county extension usually has a 4-H person there in the office and they will know who is working on a poultry project or who has hatching eggs for poultry projects. From there you will have a contact person in the know of who has what in your surrounding area or where there might be a local auction where you can pick up a few birds; chicks, pullets or hens depending on what's available at the time. Many times the birds are sexed as in the case of getting pullets. An added bonus to going to a local auction you will meet some people in your area that raise poultry on a regular basis which will give you a resource for either adding to or replacing birds as the need arises. One word of caution concerning auctions or sale barns, be on the look out for animals that seem ill, unfortunatly some will take them there instead of dealing with the problem at home. If you see anything that looks sick I would advise you not to buy at that particular sale. I would also advise you to buy the pullets if possible, again some unsavory types will take their ancient birds to unload. One last thing, don't think that all auctions/sale barns are a bad deal because of my warnings, just like anything else buyer beware.
Jeannine
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 7, 2007 5:30:14 GMT -5
I do a lot of work with county extension, because I'm a Master Gardener. So far, no luck in finding someone who has birds for sale... I think chickens take a far back seat to other animals, like sheep and pigs and cattle, because there are so many chicken outfits out here... chickens bore the 4H kids! Still working on it though. Just found out 2 days ago that there's a chance we're going to be moving to California, so I'm putting some of these projects on the back burner for a few weeks, just in case. If we have to sell the house, I have to remember that not everyone wants a henhouse in the back yard!
|
|