Post a reply

Image
Feb 16, 2012 11:02 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kathy
Michigan - rural (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Garden Art Region: Michigan Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America
My first venture into raising chickens was several years ago, and I haven't had any for a few years now. Not since the fox finally got the last hen.

My first purchase was mail order, and I had to order 30+ chicks. My coop is large enough for that number, but I'd like to stick to 8 or so this time, and possibly get standards instead of bantams, but I want something unusual.

Anyone on here from my area of the woods and know of local sellers? I'm willing to incubate eggs if I can find them.

Also interested in Turkeys to raise and release.

A couple of my chicken choices would be Araucana ; Blue Lily Fluer Cochen (not sure if this one comes in a standard)

Thanks for any help.
Kathy
Avatar for porkpal
Feb 16, 2012 1:06 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
I am not in your area - not even close, but when I want just a few chicks I can usually buy them at a feed store or Tractor Supply, at least in the spring.
Image
Feb 16, 2012 2:21 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I was going to the same thing as porkpal, up here in Escanaba, MI the feed stores, and I think Tractor Supply, sell chicks in the spring.
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
Image
Feb 16, 2012 5:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kathy
Michigan - rural (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Garden Art Region: Michigan Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America
Your both right .......... Tractor Supply just doesn't carry the varieties that I want.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate you taking the time to post.
Image
Feb 16, 2012 9:44 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
oh, sorry; didn't think of that! always a problem with plants, and chickens apparently! maybe try the extension service in your area (I'm thinking 4-H'rs might be getting chick orders that you could get in on... ?
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
Avatar for porkpal
Feb 16, 2012 10:53 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
My feed store will order the breeds of chicks I request - but then I buy a lot of feed from them.
Image
Mar 1, 2012 7:44 PM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I have seen on Craigs list in my area, people combining their chick orders so that they can each get a few of the ones that they want. I never tried that, but it must work, as I see ads on there each spring where people are seaking others who want to coop on an order. If you go to the feather site, they have a very comprehensive listing of hatcheries by state. Some of them will send small orders for as few as 5 chicks. They pack a special heat retaining device in there to keep them warm. Here's the link.

www.feathersite.com
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Avatar for porkpal
Mar 1, 2012 8:10 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Are you sure the special heaters aren't roosters?
Image
Mar 2, 2012 5:11 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
LOL, well, I'm sure that there are some places that might pull that stunt, but the ones who do it right will tell you what they are using to keep them warm. They usually add a small fee for a warming packet.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Image
Mar 31, 2012 7:01 AM CST
Name: Vicky Thompson
Michigan (Zone 5b)
Sempervivums Roses Charter ATP Member Peonies Region: Michigan Lilies
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Farmer Cottage Gardener Enjoys or suffers cold winters Annuals Daylilies
Townline Hatchery in Zeeland MI will mail you day old chicks.
For super heavy egg production and laid back hens I highly recommend their Isa Browns.
They are the best production breed I have ever raised and I've had many over the years.
For that matter you can mail order day old chicks from any hatchery but Townline is local.

Real Araucana's are rare but Townline has Easter Eggers and John Blehm who raises Ameraucanas
is in the Frankenmuth area. For the rare breeds you mentioned you would most likely have to mail order them.

I don't know about "raise and release" turkeys.
That would be heavily regulated and not allowed by just anybody.
Contact the DNR for more info.
"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck"
Cottage Rose Birds n' Blossoms

Last edited by Cottage_Rose Mar 31, 2012 7:03 AM Icon for preview
Image
Sep 21, 2013 7:30 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kathy
Michigan - rural (Zone 5a)
Daylilies Garden Art Region: Michigan Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America
Hi Cottage Rose and All. Cottage Rose, you were very helpful to me a few years back concerning chickens.

I found a gal only a couple of miles from me that sells chickens, not what I really wanted, but it will do for now. I got 2 blue laced red Wyandottes that ended up being Hens and a Cochin that ended up being a Rooster. Since then the hens have hatched 4 chicks from fertile eggs (from the same source), since something got my rooster. The perils of free ranging.

I'd still like the other breeds I mentioned, and will check out the sources offered up.

Thank You!


Thumb of 2013-09-21/TreeClimber/536a14
Image
Sep 21, 2013 10:11 AM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
What a lovely bird!
Image
Sep 22, 2013 5:23 PM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Hate to be the messenger of bad news, but what you have must be a cross breed. All Wyandottes have a rose comb. They come in blue laced, Splach, and black laced like all blue breeds they don't breed true. The hen you have posted is a splash, but as you can see she has a straight comb. I ordered 24 of these from a breeder in Kentucky. (Fowley's) and I got 25 sent to me. 20 roosters, and 5 hens! Here's a pic of some of the roosters. You can maybe see the blue's, black's, and splashes.

Blue Rooster and Splash Rooster
Thumb of 2013-09-22/tveguy3/c99749 Thumb of 2013-09-22/tveguy3/db365f

Group, but if you enlarge, you will see some of a black on this pic and the one preceeding it.
Thumb of 2013-09-22/tveguy3/593e36

I raised several more last year, and now have a breeding group of them. They are really cool chickens.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Last edited by tveguy3 Sep 22, 2013 5:24 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for porkpal
Sep 22, 2013 5:35 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
I have some silver laced Wyandottes. They are good layers but produce weak shells on their eggs. All the rest of my hens produce really strong egg shells (?)

- and, yes, they do have rose combs.
Image
Sep 23, 2013 3:27 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I wonder why that is? I don't have that problem, and have had various wyandottes for years.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Image
Sep 23, 2013 5:41 AM CST
Name: Joy Hall
Hempstead, TX (Zone 8b)
Lonesome Pine Farm
Dog Lover Farmer Keeps Goats Hummingbirder Region: Texas
They need more calcium in their diet. Shell strength is directly related to that. Most producers I know offer oyster shell free choice to their birds. I know that normally I don't have a problem with my ducks' eggshells, however, this time of year I have several eggs that have very thin shells each day. My ducks free range and come in for the night. Only in the fall and winter do I have a problem. Normally my eggs are tough to crack.
I love Wyandottes, they are a great farm bird and very pretty as well. Try the oyster shell, you can get a small bag at most any feed store. Give it a few days since today's eggs were formed a couple days ago. I think you will be happy.
People, like sheep, tend to follow a leader - occasionally in the right direction. Alexander Chase
Image
Sep 23, 2013 6:23 AM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I Assumed she knew about oyster shells, but even with them, after a season of heavy laying, some hens will start to have thin shells this time of year. After they rest over winter, they come back strong. (if you let them rest)
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Image
Sep 23, 2013 7:56 AM CST
Name: Joy Hall
Hempstead, TX (Zone 8b)
Lonesome Pine Farm
Dog Lover Farmer Keeps Goats Hummingbirder Region: Texas
Sorry, I just gave a knee jerk answer to the problem. Having taught people about dogs, farming and cooking for many years, I usually find that sometimes we forget things or maybe never knew them even though we have been doing it for years. Whistling
People, like sheep, tend to follow a leader - occasionally in the right direction. Alexander Chase
Avatar for porkpal
Sep 23, 2013 1:32 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Right, my hens do have access to oyster shell and whatever else they can find free ranging. I also crush up the shells form the eggs we use and mix them into their feed. All the rest of the hens lay eggs with really good shells, even the heaviest producers, so it is a mystery.
Image
Sep 25, 2013 2:11 PM CST

Beekeeper Farmer Region: Missouri Vegetable Grower
Some chickens just have thinner shells I have to keep oyster shell in with my Sussex most of the time to keep thicker shells
Dave719

You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.