Waited too long!

[journey11]

@journey11 why don't you post on BYC a private breeder might have the chicks your daughter wants.

I'll keep that in mind in the future. But now she has her mind set on banties, so I guess we'll take a look at the feed store or TSC.

I looked at 3 other big hatcheries, but went ahead and got 4 of the 6 I originally wanted from MMH. Panicked a bit, maybe, but I've got peeps coming on Monday now.

Only thing I think I might have done differently was I could have gotten straight run EEs from MMH closer to the date I really wanted. Would have taken the hurry out of it and I'm always happy with EEs. The males are actually pretty well filled out, even though it's a smaller bird. We like to do up the extra cockerels for fryers too.

My neighbor got some Cochins last fall and ended up with 6 males and 2 females. They're driving him crazy and he called and asked me the other day if I wanted the extra males. I'm like NO WAY, I've got enough chicken issues of my own. LOL I don't think he has butchered chickens before.

 

[thistlebloom]

I love my little Dutch bantam. I just impulse bought her as a day old at the feed store 3 or so years ago. She's such a pet. On cold days she'll fly up to my shoulder so I can tuck her into my coat with her little head peeking out while I do the outside chores.

The bantam barred Cochins I bought last year were super cute, but I sold the two hens with the general group and just kept the roo, who is a really nice rooster.

 

[journey11]

Ava's banties will be pets too. I'll let her get maybe 3, since they're going to be hanging around for awhile. She'll be old enough for 4H next year and she wants to get into showing chickens.

 

[ninnymary]

Journey, I'm so glad things are working out for you. But in the future you do need to plan a little bit earlier, along with a new coop.

Thistle, doesn't that bantam poop on your shirt?

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

Journey, I'm so glad things are working out for you. But in the future you do need to plan a little bit earlier, along with a new coop.

Thistle, doesn't that bantam poop on your shirt?

Mary

Of course she doesn't! She has im-peck-able manners.

 

[journey11]

Came home with 5 banty chicks from TSC today. I think they are probably Golden Sebrights. (Ava will love that name.) I am feeling pretty confident that Ava and I can build a little coop for them ourselves without having to drag my DH into it. He rolled a 4-wheeler last week and has bruised ribs and a sore shoulder, so it will probably be a couple more weeks before I can get any work out of him, ha.

I've got 26 more coming through the mail tomorrow. It's starting to finally feel like spring!

 

[thistlebloom]

Oh! I had a Golden Sebright! Really pretty. Ava will love them!

 

[buckabucka]

I think you need an incubator! Imagine Ava watching those chicks pop out of the egg.....

 

[journey11]

i had Houdans my first year i started. got mine from Cackle but they were a little on the flaky side and i didn't care for them. out of the 5 i got only 1 ended up being a female and i can't remember if i sold/traded or lost her to something it was that long ago (had a raccoon attack that 1st year). she was ok but never really seemed to be interested in my presence like my other birds.

i resisted the urge to pick up chicks tonight while at Tractor Supply. all they had left were some duckings and bantams i think were silkies, the shanks and slight tufts on the head made me think that but i couldn't touch them to be sure. i'm going to wait for their next shipment of pullets to see if i can get a few barred rocks.

I was hoping they'd be less flighty (and less aggressive as roosters), since their "hairdo" blocks most of their vision. But maybe that works the other way around and makes them nervous?

 

[catjac1975]

Different breeds have different personalities. There are a few I will never have again because of aggressive behavior. My Welcomer roosters were so vicious, they ganged up on the hens 3 on one-very brutally. Now the hens are egg eaters. I am done with them. I had a bad time with RI Reds also.