Now I've Done It

so lucky

so lucky

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I have been wanting some more chickens for quite a while, and these spoiled girls are on strike, so I cast about to find some other laying chickens. Couldn't find what I wanted locally, so I just ordered 4 Black Copper Marans (3 female, 1 male) and 3 Speckled Sussex from My Pet Chicken. They are pricy but at least I can get the number and breed I want. (Hopefully) And they give a refund for sexing errors!
Obviously these won't be laying for a few months, but I think the babies will be easier to handle, getting acclimated and integrated in with the big girls. September 3 is the hatch date, so I better get my coop division figured out!
 
mrcman

mrcman

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Good luck with the new chicks. What's the weather like in the next few months in SE Missouri?? I don't think I'd try it in NW Pa. where we are. It gets so darn cold.

I think next spring we'll try one of the mail order chick farms for our chicks. I want something different than the regular sex links from TSC. Have you dealt with MY Pet Chicken before this??

Tony
 
so lucky

so lucky

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No, this is the first time for me with a mail order company. I figure we will have a good two months before it gets anywhere near cold, so I think they will be feathered out enough by then to live outside in the coop. If I have to, I will run an extension cord out there with a heat lamp, but I think they will be OK. I will keep them inside for a couple of weeks, at least.
My first chickens a couple years ago, I had them inside till they were 12 weeks old, due to DH not having the coop done. That was a little too long. :/
 
Cats Critters and Garden

Cats Critters and Garden

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Good luck with your new chicks!

mrcman, I'm also in NW PA so hi :frow and I have a hen that is on day four for hatching chicks and last year close to this time I had another hatch with no problems, so don't count out this time of year.
 
canesisters

canesisters

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YEAH!!! More new chickie babies on the way!!! :weee And - in my humble opinion - speckled sussex are the BEST!!!
 
so lucky

so lucky

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My "plan" is to raise the little male to the point he starts annoying me, then sell him with a female to some one in the area. I just talked to a man whose son is trying to get started with marans. He may be interested in getting a pair of non-related black coppers. And yeah, those speckled Sussex look pretty interesting.
 
mrcman

mrcman

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Hi :frow back at you Cats and Critters. Sounds like you've had success with the late season. I've not tried it but I suppose if it gets cold enough and with a heat lamp things would go well. We use a heat lamp in the spring with the young ones and have never had any problems.

We're up in Erie County bout 20 miles or so south of the lake.

Tony
 
Chickie'sMomaInNH

Chickie'sMomaInNH

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i've had my hens hatch chicks in late August before and there weren't many issues with them adjusting to the colder time of year. it could be because i use hens to hatch that late that they do so well instead of needing to be in the house under a light to keep them warm.
 
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