2016 spring chicks

TxHannah

· #2 · Feb 12, 2016

Where did you get them? I want to buy about half a dozen but no one around here has them yet.

Have you ever owned white leghorns before? I had some years ago.

ETA I'd really like to get some Domineckers (Dominiques) but RIRs, any of the Orpingtons and Americaunas would be nice. It would be great if I could find a couple silkies and Brahmas too.

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WitchWay

· #3 · Feb 12, 2016

I don't buy from farm supply or feed stores but will get our usual 50 straight run Speckled Sussex next month (we get another batch going in the fall too). Will probably get a half dozen or so Aracaunas and another dozen Australorps.

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IceFire

· #4 · Feb 12, 2016

I plan on getting 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 2 Wyandottes, and 3 Buff Orpingtons. That will bring me up to 4 each, as I already have 2 Barred Rocks, 2wyandottes, and 1 Buff Orpington, in addition to the 4 Rhode Island Reds. I also plan on getting some turkey poults. I may name them "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas", as those are the meals they will be destined for.

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BravoLimaDelta

· #5 · Feb 12, 2016

The owner of our local feed store said he booked 1800 chicks this year. He had 1400 booked last year and ran out. I don't know which hatchery he uses.

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богдан

· #6 · Feb 12, 2016

kev said:
Farm supply stores are getting their chicks in, what breeds will you be buying this year?

February 11 2016 my girlfriend and I bought:

4 - White Leghorns
4 - Rhode Island Reds
8 - Buff Orpington

New chicks 2016 - YouTube

This is my first batch of white leghorns. They are supposed to be egg laying machines and have a good feed to egg ratio.

Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons are good dual purpose heritage breeds.

TxHannah said:
Where did you get them? I want to buy about half a dozen but no one around here has them yet.

Have you ever owned white leghorns before? I had some years ago.

ETA I'd really like to get some Domineckers (Dominiques) but RIRs, any of the Orpingtons and Americaunas would be nice. It would be great if I could find a couple silkies and Brahmas too.

Tractor supply, rural king southern states and other agricultural supply places generally hve. You can also call
McCurry hatchery, hackle hatchery or several others and make an order (25 min)

I've had a lot of different breeds over the years buff or ping tons are very good breed. The leghor a we had (brown leghorns) all ended up getting the axe for being a PITA and super aggressive.

Araconas/americanas are fun due to there pretty eggs but as for overall worth there is nothing I can say that really makes them stand out one way or the other.

Buff orpingtons, are a good breed and very docile one on the pretties roosters we ever had was a buff. Also very good setters (can be bad if you want lots of eggs) but if you take the eggs every day they will keep laying

Blas austrolorps are by far my favorite breed all the plusses of the buff. But I think tend to be slightly larger with a little more egg laying go broody well but slightly less.

WitchWay said:
I don't buy from farm supply or feed stores but will get our usual 50 straight run Speckled Sussex next month (we get another batch going in the fall too). Will probably get a half dozen or so Aracaunas and another dozen Australorps.

The spelled Sussex I think you will enjoy I had a few once but Unfortunatly a fox killed them before I couLD create a accurate oppinion of the breed were just comming into laying when they were all killed (only had 12)
but are a very pretty breed.

My mother likes black copper Marans but for only a few shades darker brown eggs the cost of the damn birds in do not believe is justifiable for farm use Esp since many other breeds lay not only larger but more prolifically

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S610

· #7 · Feb 12, 2016

I have a White Leghorn (got her as an older bird on craigslist) and she is a laying machine! Very nice bird, not a bully with the others but definitely at the top of the pecking order.

Not sure if I want to add chicks this year, 3 summer pullets just started laying and I am already giving away excess eggs. Having said that my bantam hens DO want chicks and are already starting to get broody (I may break down and buy them a couple of chicks to raise). I have one Norwegian production layer and really like her, I might get a couple of those chicks as the summer progresses.

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S610

· #8 · Feb 12, 2016

TxHannah said:
Where did you get them? I want to buy about half a dozen but no one around here has them yet.

Have you ever owned white leghorns before? I had some years ago.

ETA I'd really like to get some Domineckers (Dominiques) but RIRs, any of the Orpingtons and Americaunas would be nice. It would be great if I could find a couple silkies and Brahmas too.

If you want less common breeds you can place smaller orders from Cackle Hatchery (3-5+ birds). The shipping is more expensive but they offer a lot of breeds that you will NEVER see in a feed store. You are not going to find true purebred Americaunas in a feed store, the legit purebreds are not easy to find.

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/baby-chicks/city-town-small-orders.html

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ClovisMan

· #9 · Feb 12, 2016

I have 20 hens laying right now so I dont think spring chicks are in my forecast. I have one leghorn and her eggs are twice sometimes 3 times the size of my Wyandotts, Black Stars, and Amerucanas eggs.

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BravoLimaDelta

· #10 · Feb 12, 2016

To add to what S610 posted, Cackle Hatchery allows for on-site pick up inLebanon, MO.

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kev

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 12, 2016

TxHannah said:
Where did you get them? I want to buy about half a dozen but no one around here has them yet.

Local farm supply stores.

When I order online I order from ideal poultry. Ideal is around Waco somewhere.

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WitchWay

· #12 · Feb 12, 2016 (Edited)

богдан;8529793 said:
Tractor supply, rural king southern states and other agricultural supply places generally hve. You can also call
McCurry hatchery, hackle hatchery or several others and make an order (25 min)

I've had a lot of different breeds over the years buff or ping tons are very good breed. The leghor a we had (brown leghorns) all ended up getting the axe for being a PITA and super aggressive.

Araconas/americanas are fun due to there pretty eggs but as for overall worth there is nothing I can say that really makes them stand out one way or the other.

Buff orpingtons, are a good breed and very docile one on the pretties roosters we ever had was a buff. Also very good setters (can be bad if you want lots of eggs) but if you take the eggs every day they will keep laying

Blas austrolorps are by far my favorite breed all the plusses of the buff. But I think tend to be slightly larger with a little more egg laying go broody well but slightly less.

The spelled Sussex I think you will enjoy I had a few once but Unfortunatly a fox killed them before I couLD create a accurate oppinion of the breed were just comming into laying when they were all killed (only had 12)
but are a very pretty breed.

My mother likes black copper Marans but for only a few shades darker brown eggs the cost of the damn birds in do not believe is justifiable for farm use Esp since many other breeds lay not only larger but more prolifically

We've been raising Speckled Sussex for 2 years now and really like them. Good dual purpose birds that really get out and forage (our birds free range). Their plumage gives them good camouflage, they have a friendly and curious disposition, lay big brown eggs and the roosters get up to 9# and hens around 7# by 14 weeks. We do feed small amounts of organic, non- gmo feed but honestly these birds would rather go find their own food.

We also sell our eggs to local businesses which is why we add in Aracaunas to our flock. Customers seem to really enjoy the green and blue eggs mixed in with the large brown eggs.

Our favorite hatchery is Meyer Hatchery We used Strombergs Hatchery for one batch last year and the chicks didn't seem to be as strong and vigorous, we lost 2 out of 100 which isn't bad but with Meyer didn't lose any last fall. Oh and they have rare breeds if you're into that sort of thing.
https://www.meyerhatchery.com/

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богдан

· #13 · Feb 12, 2016

WitchWay said:
We've been raising Speckled Sussex for 2 years now and really like them. Good dual purpose birds that really get out and forage (our birds free range). Their plumage gives them good camouflage, they have a friendly and curious disposition, lay big brown eggs and the roosters get up to 9# and hens around 7# by 14 weeks. We do feed small amounts of organic, non- gmo feed but honestly these birds would rather go find their own food.

We also sell our eggs to local businesses which is why we add in Aracaunas to our flock. Customers seem to really enjoy the green and blue eggs mixed in with the large brown eggs.

Our favorite hatchery is McMurray. We used Strombergs Hatchery for one batch last year and the chicks didn't seem to be as strong and vigorous, we lost 2 out of 100 which isn't bad but with McMurray's didn't lose any last fall. Oh and they have rare breeds if you're into that sort of thing.

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

We have used mcmurries alot over the years alwayse been happy with he results. I have used other hatcheries as well have no complaints.

I was excited to try them but unfortunately they were due to external events killed..

One thing I have been thinking on that's also a problem is hawks (now a pair bald eagles)

Can't shoot em like ***** or foxes so I've been wracking my brain how to set up a 1/8-1/4 acre pen that is cost effectively set up to prevent dive bombing from birds of prey that won't kill them yes won't allow easy acess to birds.

I'm thinking mayve posts with a grid of thin cable and some StreAmersham that move in wind but I don't know

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WitchWay

· #14 · Feb 12, 2016

богдан;8532713 said:
We have used mcmurries alot over the years alwayse been happy with he results. I have used other hatcheries as well have no complaints.

I was excited to try them but unfortunately they were due to external events killed..

One thing I have been thinking on that's also a problem is hawks (now a pair bald eagles)

Can't shoot em like ***** or foxes so I've been wracking my brain how to set up a 1/8-1/4 acre pen that is cost effectively set up to prevent dive bombing from birds of prey that won't kill them yes won't allow easy acess to birds.

I'm thinking mayve posts with a grid of thin cable and some StreAmersham that move in wind but I don't know

That might work, couldn't hurt to try.

Our birds seem to be pretty savvy about hawks and bald eagles and will hide at the edge of the tree line or dive under a horse trailer or other farm equipment. The camo plumage really helps to hide them if they are in the brush line, most of the time I can't even see them when they do that. The other breeds of chickens that we have aren't quite as smart about predators but have figured out to follow the Speckled Sussex clan if they want to live, haha. So far, so good (fingers crossed). We get a wave of ***** and skunks about every 3 or 4 months that will try to break into the coop inside our barn. Lost 3 young birds in November after finding a hole in the wire. Now we set a live trap at the coop door and let our dogs patrol at night. So far, we've caught a juvenile skunk and 2 ***** which we relocated (we live in an extremely rural area).

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S610

· #15 · Feb 12, 2016

богдан;8532713 said:
Can't shoot em like ***** or foxes so I've been wracking my brain how to set up a 1/8-1/4 acre pen that is cost effectively set up to prevent dive bombing from birds of prey that won't kill them yes won't allow easy acess to birds.

I'm thinking mayve posts with a grid of thin cable and some StreAmersham that move in wind but I don't know

I use avian netting, it keeps the good fliers in and the many hawks don't even try to bother the birds. 50x50 ft net is $50-60 dollars on amazon, maybe use that in certain sections? It is really strong stuff and lasts a very long time.

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богдан

· #16 · Feb 12, 2016

S610 said:
I use avian netting, it keeps the good fliers in and the many hawks don't even try to bother the birds. 50x50 ft net is $50-60 dollars on amazon, maybe use that in certain sections? It is really strong stuff and lasts a very long time.

What is the netting lifespan in full sun?

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Susanna

· #17 · Feb 12, 2016

Probably Redbirds again... Our Rhode Islands put out an egg a day each, handled the cold weather of winter just fine, and (as I'm sure the bobcats that got into our coop will attest) were plenty healthy and meaty. My fault for not putting a cover on top of the chicken yard. :-(

I am seriously thinking about a run of cyclone fence supported by T stakes and rope (or cable) over the top this year. Damned if I'll lose a flock again - that ****ed me off and broke my heart.

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grandma

· #18 · Feb 12, 2016

I started out with Welsummers, and since have had Silkies, Marans, and Orpingtons. I am hoping to go back to Welsummers this spring if I can find some...they aren't as big as the Orpingtons, but I love the dark eggs, and the fact that the eggs are big.

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S610

· #19 · Feb 12, 2016

богдан;8534753 said:
What is the netting lifespan in full sun?

At least 3 years, that is how long mine has been up and we get a lot of sun, it hasn't started to degrade at all as far as I can tell. It is really tough stuff, a tree limb hit it and landed on the ground, took two men to lift it off and the net didn't tear.

The stuff does stretch a bit after it is up so cable or polls or something may be needed to keep it from sagging (so you can walk around under it).

I swear by it though, I have several bantams that would fly out if the run isn't secure (and a couple of escape artists that look for tiny gaps).

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S610

· #20 · Feb 12, 2016

2

Kevin in your video you talk about white/red heat lamps and keeping the chicks awake etc...

Might want to use a ceramic heat emitter, they don't give off any light and they fit in standard heat lamps (they are most often used for reptiles). Also a cheap dimmer cord lets you adjust the heat level easily if need be.

You can find ceramic emitters on ebay for less than $5. I use one in the chicken coop when it drops below freezing to bump up the temperature a few degrees.

Another thing that some folks are doing is making little heating pad "caves", the chicks go under them to get warm (just like a mother hen). They also work well when chicks transition to the outdoor coop especially at night.

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