| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 06:12:46 AM
I ordered an incubator yesterday. I can't help it. It's all the egg auctions at Backyard Chickens.com. Who's got Frizzled Polish Bantams? Ducks in the bathtub soon.
DH cleared 1/4 acre of blackberries and stumps last weekend.
This neighborhood homesteader of out of control.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dotsmom |
Posted - Feb 03 2012 : 5:09:25 PM
I've only had my chickens for two weeks, but I love them! I've gathered about four dozen eggs, too.
They are just too much fun, and I find myself going out frequently to visit with them.
I'm drawing up plans to extend the run even more to give them extra space.
Who knew chickens could be so much fun? A bit of work, yes, but fun!
Domestic Goddess with attitude!
http://suburbanfarmer.weebly.com/index.html |
| smiley |
Posted - Feb 03 2012 : 05:18:23 AM
Spring has sprung lol |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Feb 02 2012 : 04:34:56 AM
I have to freak out because my incubator is arriving today!! Yesterday I bought two brooder lamps, and now, it's time to pick my chickens. WooHoo.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Feb 02 2012 : 04:31:00 AM
Way to step up! I have been lurking at BackyardChickens.com, because my husband is sick of talking chickens. quote:
Originally posted by BoPeep214
Ooooh! I grew up with chickens when I was little, but about 3 years ago I started a very small flock. I had had a few here and there, like 2 or 3 at a time previously, but nothing much quantity wise. Now I cannot get enough of the chickens. Better yet, one of my sons is a complete chicken fiend also! He does 4-H with them and does pretty well. We have silver laced wyandottes, gold laced wyandottes, ameraucanas, and brown leghorns. We also buy some broilers for him to sell at the 4-H auction. I've turned into such a chicken nut that I have taken what would be a HUGE plunge and volunteered to fill the void of 4-H Poultry Club leader. No small task in our county. We have had upwards of nearly 400 chickens at our shows not including the turkeys, ducks, geese, and game fowl that are shown.
I think it is just GREAT for you all to be excited about your chickens, chicks, and eggs! I know I am!
Stephanie
Farmgirl 2920
"Happy to share with you such as we've got: the leaks in the roof and the soup in the pot." `Unknown`
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| smiley |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 6:58:21 PM
Hey Jennifer. Its one of the fun things about mj's finding those nearby isnt it |
| BoPeep214 |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 10:21:09 AM
Ooooh! I grew up with chickens when I was little, but about 3 years ago I started a very small flock. I had had a few here and there, like 2 or 3 at a time previously, but nothing much quantity wise. Now I cannot get enough of the chickens. Better yet, one of my sons is a complete chicken fiend also! He does 4-H with them and does pretty well. We have silver laced wyandottes, gold laced wyandottes, ameraucanas, and brown leghorns. We also buy some broilers for him to sell at the 4-H auction. I've turned into such a chicken nut that I have taken what would be a HUGE plunge and volunteered to fill the void of 4-H Poultry Club leader. No small task in our county. We have had upwards of nearly 400 chickens at our shows not including the turkeys, ducks, geese, and game fowl that are shown.
I think it is just GREAT for you all to be excited about your chickens, chicks, and eggs! I know I am!
Stephanie
Farmgirl 2920
"Happy to share with you such as we've got: the leaks in the roof and the soup in the pot." `Unknown` |
| Bayou Girl |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 07:35:56 AM
Lea, I just noticed you are in Arkansas, too. How cool is that!?! |
| Bayou Girl |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 07:35:14 AM
My children participate in the 4-H poultry chain, as well. I had never been around a chicken until we started the 4-H project two years ago. Now, I am a chicken fanatic. I subscribe to several chicken publications, and I have my own wish list of breeds I would like to have. I am thinking of putting some of my income tax refund to use building myself another coop, just for the breeds I would like to have. I love the laying consistency of the Cinnamon Queens, don't get me wrong. However, through my reading and research, I have become a fan of others. Like some of you have mentioned, I would like to raise some heritage breeds and keep those lines going.
Hope you all don't mind me joining in on the conversation. I'm fairly new to the Sisterhood.
~Jennifer
#3803 |
| smiley |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 05:35:21 AM
Our 4-H poultry project starts back up around Mar. and each of my kids will have 25 chicks. I always look forward to it but I do miss getting to pick different breeds. They have to do the cinnamon queens. Dont get me wrong. They are a great breed. Huge brown eggs and mild disposition but I miss variety. |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 04:21:05 AM
I'm real sorry about Little LaRoo. This is something I need to vent over, a little. There are sellers that let random frizzled polish just run around together. Their ads say stuff like: all my birds have some frizzle genes in them.
I feel like saying to them, little kids are going to be involved with many incubator hatchings. Get your head on straight!
I feel like if you have the heart to cull, then ok, if not, don't sell your eggs like you are a breeder that knows something.quote:
Originally posted by batznthebelfry
My Pippi La'Roo was a double gene frizzle & sadly only lived just over a year...before him I never knew about the double or triple frizzle gene that can cause so many problems for the little sweethearts...:(...but they are so cute but hate the idea you have to know every family gene that is going on if you buy a frizzle......mine was a gift so I learned after I got him.......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jan 31 2012 : 6:49:21 PM
I went with the Buff Orpingtons as I have heard such wonderful things about their temperment. I am very excited about the Welsummers, hope I get a nice rooster in the group. Sandhill was a bit cheaper to order from, ranging $3-5 per chick, depending on breed. Urch was a flat $7 per chick, very expensive but show quality stock. Hopefully I will not have to order more chicks of the same breed next year as this should provide very good stock. I'll let you know how they turn out!
|
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Jan 31 2012 : 05:41:14 AM
Trish my hubbies granddad was a cock fighter also & it just makes me so sad now that I have my 'kids' to think someone would ever use one of my roos for fighting........
meg so happy to hear you have found hatcheries that are good...the one order I put in 3 yrs ago none of the chicks last more than 6 months...& that broke my heart....so I have quit ordering any chicks from any where..I now prefer my mixed breeds I get hatched from my hens & have not lost one to any illness or defect...now if I can just shoot the chow who comes to visit...
I do love some of the hertage breeds specially the ones that are getting few in numbers but am just to scare to try to get any more chicks...plus with my crew i get so many different colored eggs its fun to see what the newest baby will have egg color wise. ..Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 31 2012 : 05:23:45 AM
Seriously, I have been researching chickens for about 2 months, and it really doesn't get any better than Sandhill. The more I read, I am finding the smartest thing to do is invest in good stock.
What kind of Orphingtons?
I 'm not sure what your plans are, but I would buy Welsummer hatching eggs from you later on.
It was a tie between Faverolles and BC Marans for me. I got in touch with a farmer lady who is hatching French Black Copper Marans, and is selling them to me for $5/chick. They are Jeane Wade. Fancy chickens. I am so excited.
I am wanting a breeding project. I am studying genetics so I don't break my own heart!
I recently found out my great grandfather was a pit bull and cock fighter. There is nothing I love more than bully breeds, and now look at me with my chickens.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 31 2012 : 05:07:11 AM
JEALOUS!!!quote:
Originally posted by Calico Hen
Jen, I ordered 25 from Sandhill Preservation in Iowa, http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/chickens.html . You must have 25 minimum but you can piece your order with how many different breeds you want. My second 25 I ordered from Urch/Turnland (advertise in Backyard poultry) from Owatonna, MN. I am originally from MN and these men (Duane Urch and Glenn Drowns/Sandhill) were always well known and respected for having saved several heritage breeds from extinction. In fact I had requested Salmon Faverolles from Mr. Urch and he replied that his flock number is so low, he is not letting any of the chicks leave his farm! Sandhill has the Faverolles but I had already placed my order with them and didn't want to confuse things. Next year I'll get the Salmon Faverolles, with their extra toe!
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 8:00:17 PM
Jen, I ordered 25 from Sandhill Preservation in Iowa, http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/chickens.html . You must have 25 minimum but you can piece your order with how many different breeds you want. My second 25 I ordered from Urch/Turnland (advertise in Backyard poultry) from Owatonna, MN. I am originally from MN and these men (Duane Urch and Glenn Drowns/Sandhill) were always well known and respected for having saved several heritage breeds from extinction. In fact I had requested Salmon Faverolles from Mr. Urch and he replied that his flock number is so low, he is not letting any of the chicks leave his farm! Sandhill has the Faverolles but I had already placed my order with them and didn't want to confuse things. Next year I'll get the Salmon Faverolles, with their extra toe! |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jan 30 2012 : 07:51:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Calico Hen
Trish - I ordered an assortment of heritage breeds - buckeyes, orpingtons, dominiques, ameraucanas, black ameraucanas, cuckoo marins, anconas, black australop, and welsummers - all straight run. My plan is to have quite the beautiful,colorful egg assortment for selling! The roo's will have a wonderful summer and will end up in the freezer in the fall, with the exception of those chosen for breeding. I would like to have two or three breeds of heritage chickens for breeding to share and keep the breeds going.
That sounds like one heck of an assortment, where did you order them? and did you piece together your order or does some hatchery actually have a straight run heritage assortment special?
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut. ~Will Rogers |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 09:36:03 AM
You're going to have a rainbow in a carton!quote:
Originally posted by Calico Hen
Trish - I ordered an assortment of heritage breeds - buckeyes, orpingtons, dominiques, ameraucanas, black ameraucanas, cuckoo marins, anconas, black australop, and welsummers - all straight run. My plan is to have quite the beautiful,colorful egg assortment for selling! The roo's will have a wonderful summer and will end up in the freezer in the fall, with the exception of those chosen for breeding. I would like to have two or three breeds of heritage chickens for breeding to share and keep the breeds going.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 10:49:23 AM
Trish - I ordered an assortment of heritage breeds - buckeyes, orpingtons, dominiques, ameraucanas, black ameraucanas, cuckoo marins, anconas, black australop, and welsummers - all straight run. My plan is to have quite the beautiful,colorful egg assortment for selling! The roo's will have a wonderful summer and will end up in the freezer in the fall, with the exception of those chosen for breeding. I would like to have two or three breeds of heritage chickens for breeding to share and keep the breeds going. |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 06:27:11 AM
My Pippi La'Roo was a double gene frizzle & sadly only lived just over a year...before him I never knew about the double or triple frizzle gene that can cause so many problems for the little sweethearts...:(...but they are so cute but hate the idea you have to know every family gene that is going on if you buy a frizzle......mine was a gift so I learned after I got him.......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 05:49:11 AM
I haven't found a source for eggs that produce Polish Frizzles. I have decided that when I get Bantam Cochins, I will look into Frizzles, so I could possibly do it my self. I have requested and am encouraging the Chicken Whisperer to do a show entirely about genetics. You can really mess up a chicken, easier than you think.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jan 27 2012 : 4:35:31 PM
Your chicken coop is very nice. Your husband did a good job. Did you find eggs or chicks for the frizzled Polish Yet? I would love to have some of those. They do look somewhat like an owl. I have an aracauna that looks like a white snow owl with the black markings on her neck and face. She is one of the neatest marked chickens I have seen in awhile.
Better watch out these chickens can get contagious.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 27 2012 : 04:58:25 AM
I want to make a public pledge that I will never need a chicken diaper, but I keep hearing my momma's voice saying: Never say never.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 27 2012 : 04:57:08 AM
They aren't mine, but I am going to make them, if I can't find eggs. These chickens are hugely popular in the UK, but not so much here. Wish me luck. I have to have some. quote:
Originally posted by hoosiercountry
Whow! I do love your chickens.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 27 2012 : 04:55:13 AM
What kind of chickens, Chicken Lady?quote:
Originally posted by Calico Hen
Sounds like fun to me. Welcome to the club of chicken lovers. 50 chicks ordered and arriving in March!
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 27 2012 : 04:48:56 AM
Here are the last pics DH took. I think he's a little farther along now. It's 6 feet tall at the coop and the run is 8 feet. It is going to be my Bantam Tractor. It's nice enough for the front yard, right?
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
