Chickens, and things related

[davitk]

Happy reading, Torro

Eddie, these came from McMurray's, the only getting along problems was the occassional posturing among the roosters for the girls affections


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[EddieWalker]

Have you been to McMurrayHatchery.com Home Page ? They have quite a selection, but I don't know anything more about them. I like your idea of ordering a book and reading up on raising the birds and will do the same thing. There are several to choose from with "Upland Game Birds, Their Breeding and Care" by Dr. Leland Haye's for $34.95 as the one I'm considering the most.

After writing this, I decided to go ahead and order the book. After I put in my order, the shipping charges appeared. $9 to ship one book was more then I thought was reasonable, so I canceled the sale. I then did a google search for the authors name and found his website.

LelandHayes.com Gamebird Publications | Books and Information About Pheasants, Quail, Partridges, and more!

The book was a buck cheaper and shipping was free for a total savings of $10 over McMurray Hatchery.

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

Nice work on the savings. I do that sometimes too, forget to check a couple places on the net to make sure I get the best price. I am going to run to Borders to pick up my book.

I just talked to Tractor Supply and they are getting their order from Mt. Healthy. They can also make special orders from there. Their pullet price is $2.23, the lady wasn't sure of the special order price, but I figure even if its twice that, it is probably worth it to get the chicks I want.

So of their chicks, this is what I am thinking; Araucana, buff orpington, hubbard golden comet(similar to production red, right?), silver laced wyandotte, or maybe sub in a partridge rock for one of those.

 

[dooleysm]

I'm coming late to this thread, but I've been reading along. I've been wanting to raise chickens for years now and this year will hopefully be the year. I've got an area cleared out for a coop and a 20x50 run. I've got a brooder built and ready to go in my barn. I was all set to get some lumber this winter while it's cheaper and start desiging my coop. Then I ruptured my achilles tendon and have had surgery and will be in a cast until late March and a walking 'boot' for some period of time after that.

So, I'm still hoping to get into chickens this year, but it's going to be later in the spring than I had been hoping. It's going to be really hectic once I can walk again, with trying to get the garden out, getting the chickens started, and catching up on a million different things that I can't do for the next 2 months.

I think I'll probably miss the chance to buy chicks locally and will probably have to do a mail order from a hatchery.

 

[Tororider]

Shawn,
You may want to check with your local feed/Tractor Supply Company and see how late they accept orders. It would save you shipping and you know someone will be there to get the chicks. Just a thought, can't hurt to ask them.

 

[dooleysm]

It won't break my heart if I have to spend a few extra bucks to order directly from a hatchery. The big thing is going to be my foot and how soon I can get around.

 

[Tororider]

If you brood them in your house, you won't have to move far to take care of them while your foot is healing. That would be one less thing to do when you are back up and around. Figure they will be in there for 4-8 weeks depending on outside temps anyway. Just a thought, I don't know how badly you are laid up. By the way, good luck with your recovery.

 

[dooleysm]

I don't want them in the house, and I know the wife wouldn't stand for it either. I've got a great setup in the barn though, it'll just be a question of getting out there. My beagles are out there too, and my wife has to feed them while I'm hobbled, so I'm anxious to get to the point where I can at least feed the dogs and take that chore off her plate. If I can feed the dogs then I can surely feed some chickens while I'm out there.

The thing is though, once the chickens show up, I'm really under the gun to get the coop built. I could probably do it in a day if I was healthy, but who knows how long it'll take when I'm hobbled?

 

[davitk]

If you brood them in your house, you won't have to move far to take care of them while your foot is healing. That would be one less thing to do when you are back up and around. Figure they will be in there for 4-8 weeks depending on outside temps anyway. Just a thought, I don't know how badly you are laid up. By the way, good luck with your recovery.

don't put them in the house, they are dusty and some people are sensitive to it. Yuk.

Sorry to hear about the achilles tendon, I messed one up in college. Not fun, get better soon!

 

[Tororider]

It was just a thought, I am going to be putting mine in the garage. My wife wouldn't stand for it in the house, I am going to have to do some slick talking just to get them in the garage, but I feel confident I can get er done.

The only reason I suggested it was on the chicken forum, there are a lot of people who do keep them inside their house.