You just never know how one thing is going to lead to another around here!
By the weekend, all of my eggs will have hatched or been tossed, except the turkey eggs and since I don’t know when they were laid, I’ll give them a little more time.
So . . what’s a girl to do . . find more hatching eggs, right? Not really but . . I just happened to be looking on Craig’s List and really, I wasn’t even looking for hatching eggs and they just jumped out on me. A guy has eggs often and he delivers to Abilene . . that’s just a couple of hours from me. Maybe if I drove over there and picked up the eggs, I’d get a better hatch rate than with eggs that have been mail ordered so . . I contacted him.
Get this . . his daughter lives in my town and he delivers eggs in Abilene when he’s coming to visit here and he will be coming to visit her real soon so I said . . maybe I’ll take a few eggs! We couldn’t decide on which chickens we should get. We want good layers but we also want a combo egg/meat bird. Buff Orpingtons are probably the best choice but he didn’t have those. I had about decided on Silver Laced Wyandottes because they are good layers and they’re so darned pretty! In fact, I told the guy to bring me a dozen Silver Laced Wyandotte eggs. Then I read that they do not tolerate heat well. OMG! It has been near 100º the last two days and speaking of not tolerating heat . . I thought I was going to DIE! It has been so miserable. I will never make it through September. I’ll be begging to move . . anywhere . . just take me some place cooler.
I just think it’s cruel to raise a heavy bird, with a thick coat, in this climate. I think it’s kinda cruel for a wife who has hot flashes to have live in this climate! 🙂
I did a little more research, and of the breeds he has available now, I decided on Welsummers. The roosters are very pretty. The hens are moderately pretty but they lay pretty eggs – they have rust/brown specks on them. The babies can be sexed when they hatch and best of all, according to My Pet Chicken, they’re the best bird for the Zombie Apocalypse! Who knew?
Truly, the zombie apocalypse has nothing to do with why I decided on Welsummers.
You know what’s funny? It’s kinda like sewing machines . . and everything else, I suppose. I start reading reviews and one person loves them and says they’re the friendliest birds ever. The next person doesn’t like them and says they’re the least friendly chicken ever!
I guess in the end, what really matters is . . what chickens are best for the zombie apocalypse? 🙂
The CDC even has a page about preparations for the Zombie Apocalypse! I think it’s a bit tongue in cheek but there is good info there.
Michelle Harrison says
The Welsummer hen reminds me of the story The Little Red Hen. In fact, I am SURE that is exactly what she looked like in my story book. The Wyandottes ARE pretty, but you probably want to have baked chicken on the dates of YOUR choosing! Wish I knew more about chickens. Until then, I am just an admirer.
Eve in GA says
I love your blog, Judy! It’s informative, fun, funny, etc. You know I love the quilty/knitty posts. I even enjoy your gardening posts—I’ve actually just planted my own little vegetable garden for the first time in my life, although mine are planted in containers for several reasons.
And I’ve always love your chicken posts, and it’s made me do a bit of research on the different types you’ve mentioned this spring. Very interesting info! But today’s post, and the links to the Zombie Apocalypse, just cracks me up! Whenever Don and I drive together after dark, it’s my “job” to keep an eye out for the Zombies. This has been going on for about 3 years now, and we have lots of fun with it. We have to find our amusement where we can, you know! LOL!
Toni Wood says
That is just too funny…best chickens for the Zombie Apocalypse!! Who checked this out??? LOL
Susan says
It’s important to be prepared for anything, even Zombies. You just never know. And if it’s good for the Zombie apocalypse, it has to be good for everything else! Now I have to go read the CDC page. You’ve intrigued me!
Katie Z. says
I’m adding Easter Eggers and Plymouth Rock Barred to my flock this year. The prb should be heat tolerant and cold tolerant, which I need in this crazy state where we went from a frost on Friday to 100+ on Sunday!
Karin Vail says
of the different kind of chickens I have had – Welsummers are my FAVORITE. Wait until you see full-grown hens in person, they are *beautiful* with the chocolate and gold feathers. The roosters are just stunning though too. You will be very happy with Welsummers. Not to mention, the eggs are huge and gorgeous too!
Stephanie says
Zombies are my least favorite movie monsters. Not sure why, but I just can’t get into it. I couldn’t believe it when I came upon that CDC page a while back. But then, I read this article:
http://thesurvivalmom.com/you-will-fight-zombies-or-become-one/
I don’t know if you’ve seen it before, but some of the comments on one of your other posts brought it back to my mind. It compares all the unprepared people to zombies, and it really gives you something to think about, even if you don’t believe in end-of-the-world type scenarios… Thought I’d mention it. Can’t wait to read more about (and hopefully join in on a few) of these challenges! I know that I’m nowhere near prepared enough to take care of my girls in a true emergency. But I’m working on it, little by little and I WILL get there!
Mary H says
I knew you were ready! You even have the right chickens for the job! Be careful, you might get overrun by your blog readers who know you are prepared!
sherryl says
I immediately sent this information to my sister – we are hoping to live together and raise chickens some day in the (hopefully) not too distant future. And preparing for the Zombie Apocolypse is, of course, something we must keep in mind! Thank you for sharing this extremely important information! ROFL
Jackie says
My husband is always teasing me about the coming Zombie Apocolypse so I’ve definitely got to share with him the CDC info Lol. If it gets too hot for you down there you can always come up and visit me in Canada, as one Power Surger (hot flash sufferer) to another..
Theresa says
I’ve always planned to start my flock (when I retire) with buff orpingtons. But I think it’s smart to diversify your flock, it should really increase your chances of success.
Linda says
LOL – if they’re best for the zombie apocalypse, then they are the ones you should have, Judy!
Cindi says
I have spent hours this evening on the My Pet Chicken website. Thanks for linking to this fun site.
Patti Hanson says
You should bring yourself and your chickens to Canada. We top out at about 90degrees typically plus we actually have a national plan in place for the zombie apocalypse. An MP came up with it during a filibuster and it received an approval vote,
Jennifer says
Ok, you got me. I actually went to the CDC website and read the article. Had some good information on being prepared for possible disasters, but being from Texas, I think the worst disaster is the heat, thank goodness for my 400 a pound day ice maker;)