Now I've Done It

[so lucky]

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]

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]

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]

Good luck with your new chicks!

mrcman, I'm also in NW PA so hi 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]

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

 

[so lucky]

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.

 

[897tgigvib]

It'd sure be nice if I could have Chickens.

 

[mrcman]

Hi 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]

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.

 

[baymule]

SoLucky--speckled Sussex and black copper marans!! Whoopee!! Beautiful chickens!!