I've only owned chickens for 3-4 weeks and the fever has already set in... I'm sure this is an understanding audience. ;) How in the world do you pick just THREE chickens to have when you live in an urband setting?!? I'll take one of each please!
We currently have the silver laced cochin and red spotted sussex. We thought we wanted a polish, but man! We went to the fair yesterday... the wyandottes, the mille fleur, the wellsummers, frizzles, silkies, banties of all varities... they are all so cool! How can one decide?
What would you pick as your third and why?
The fever has set in...
OH NO send her the patch hurry!!!!!!!!!!!! she has the itis. I would pick ummmmmmmmm all of them. That is why i have about 300 birds.
Understanding--maybe. Enabling--definitely.
But it is too late to turn back now. I agree with L2G200s--all of them.
Now let's talk about those Speckled Sussex..........
lol Cat you are bad.
What about 'em?
Well, this will definitley encourage me to move outta the city once the housing market returns and I can sell this place. :)
Same here---1/4 acre including house and detatched garage--40 chickens AND I WANT MORE!
Okay--I'll go sit in time out....
(How do you like the Sussex. Personality?)
Yes, yes, I'm going, I'm going.......
he he he cat.
Our Sussex is a sweetie. She's the youngest of the girls (maybe only 10 weeks?). She still mainly peeps although I hear her trying out a new voice now. She's a great scavenger. She's a bit more flighty than the cochin, but the cochin is special. She ate out of hubbies hand the first time he held her. That's why we had to have her with or without tail feathers! ;) The Sussex gauges her trust in us on how the cochin is acting... another reason we got rid of Dinney. She was really flighty and made them all freak out. :)
What were you expecting to hear? Have you not liked their personalities?
So back to the third bird... what's a good friendly one? I'm interested in something that will be more pet-like than farm like. :)
I am trying silkies as I have read and heard they were very pet like. I have a 2week old and she is in with 3 2week old guinea keets. You can tell a huge personality differance. The silkie walks right up and into my hand to be held while the keets flee for their lives. I have more eggs coming next week I hope I have a better hatch rate so she doesnt have to be alone.
get a bantam brahma... nice as the cochin, pretty as the sussex. esp the buff colored...
What about this... I keep coming back to these little ones that are in my local craigslist...
half silkie half bantim cochin.. the 4 week old in the middle is just too cool looking and it seems like that could be a really nice personality with the cross...
here's a close up...
My answer Silky, if you want pet-like. Don't really roost up though, but my experience VERY docile. Also like the Welsummer & Wyandotte. My Wyandottes were docile also - but think it depends on the individual bird too....
Personally, I only kept my bantums. Small, easier to house & take care of. Small egg - but I don't mind cooking 3 for normal 2 per person.
The half n half guy sounds interesting. Cochin & Silky.......what a match!
Cheryl - Pea
i love that cross chick! you need to ask quesitons? age? if less than four months, were its parents health tested, ask for copy of papers, they should always give you a signed copy of their health papers... ask where the parent came form, as in what hatchery. this is important if you might consider hatching your own stock one day. diseases from hatcheries or from people who don't health test their birds can end up being passed on in the egg, or passed to others in your flock...
if all checks out, i would grab that cross, he is a doll!
if not keep looking, i promise your fever will not subside meantime...
tf
TF, glad you always think of everything! I remember the papers when i'm looking, just forget to advise!
OK, here's my totaly newbie question... "health papers?" i didn't get any with my other three girls! Should I be worried? At this time I don't plan on hatching my own because I'm not allowed to have a rooster, but I don't want the girls to be unhealthy! Can I have them health tested on my own or is it something the breeder/hatchery has to do? Sorry for the dumb questions, but hey that's how we learn right? :D
check with your state, either Animal Health [no need to register, just ask where you get them tested], or a State University Vet Lab service, or your Local Extension Service, County Ag Agent.
it should be free of charge, a simple blood prick onto a slide, then presto! they aren't free of every disease, but it helps.
they need to be foru months old to test. you should ask those questions about the girls you have, just so you know...
you will need your own papaers to show or to sell at a public venue, or take across state line for any purpose... and it doesn't hurt to have them...
DON'T PANIC! the chicken fairy loves you ;-)
Speckled Sussex are sweeties!!!
Alright Cat, I'm still interested in hearing your opinion on the sussex. ;) Just peaked my curiousity...
I don't know anything about Sussex, Lazy_Ladies--except I want one!
"The Sussex is a graceful bird, with a long and broad back giving way to a tail that sits at a 45 degree angle from the body. It is adaptable to either confinement or free range and, as a calm and curious bird, does well in backyards and barnyards. Hens lay a fair number of medium sized eggs and are good mothers" Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds.
"Personality: It is hard to fault the Sussex's character. The breed is docile, friendly, and easy to handle. At the same time, the birds are active and and curious.
Eggs: A typical hen will lay about 180 good-sized, light brown eggs in a season, which is not quite up to the 220+ of the breed in its heyday, but is certainly good enough.
Day-to-day: The Sussex is a relatively easy and undemanding breed to keep, making them a sound choice for the beginner. The birds love to forage, but will be happy if contained. They are robust, tolerate low temperatures well, and make great broodies and attentive mothers." Choosing and Keeping Chickens.
The former book is American, the latter British. The Sussex comes in Light (looks a lot like a Delaware) which is the most common British color, Buff, and Speckled which is the most common US color.
Who wouldn't want one!:0)
OH! That makes me feel much better... I was reading what you typed as if you had some negative experiences with the breed. Talula is a sweetheart and I had noticed how nice her tail feather were, but didn't have anything to compare to since Lacey is still without. ha!
Well the kids and hubby are away today. I think I'm going to go hang out with the girls instead of sitting indoors typing about them! ~8-D
catscan u need to show the chicken fairy who is in control!!!!!! LOL
that goes for every one am i the only person who is not going and getting more baby chicks u disgust me!!!!
P.S did i tell u i have baby silkie chicks hatching in the incubator right now :0)
oh my god she got me too NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
i guess they mus have xrayed those patches i sent back, they ain't workin, eh?
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
i need help :(
"here at Fairy-Less dot com, we understand your need to abstain from the influence of fairy dust. for English press one, Down Under press two, patches that wear off press three, yearly pill [subject to serious side effects including goat fever] press four. All other inquiries, please hold for the next available representative. Please be assured production of the Fairy Zapper will be under way when all BUGS have been worked out... meanwhile, please visit your local fairs for purchases in order to relieve the sellers of chicken burden."
Silkies for your Birthday!
one has hatched and the other two have pipped
the first silkie dose not have black skin why
the silkies are seperated from the main flock so it cant be cross breeding HMMMM
Luckycharm,
My son's birthday is soon if you're mailing out birthday presents! ;~)
i dont think u can send live animals over seas LOL
Silkie without black skin....hmmmm. I say alien probing. Have you noticed any crop circles in you neighborhood? Men in black asking questions? Black unmarked helicopters flying overhead at odd hours?
Just something to think about........
Maybe the aliens will drop one if you ask them nice enough? hehe!
nope alien probing was one of the first things i checked for with the probulator
silkies without black skin..hmmm acting like silkies..hmmmm lets see... hmmm silkies acting like...hmmmm silkies..hmmm
where did the goat fit in??
wat goat LOL
the goat thats in the last egg.. go ahead look.. it's in there.. lol
still cant see it (maybe its hiding???)
LOL I am having fun again!
Sounds like 3 new silkies on their way - you don't need the patch, you got chicks already......and a goat from the sounds of it! lol
the other two silkies have pipped
a question am i the only one who flicks the flap off when they pip because when i do that it seems to get them more active and get on with hatching quicker or am i just impatient and want to see the chicks colour quicker
We all flick. No one wants to admit it...but we all do.
good i am not the only one i thought i was