Still Chasing 'chicks' In Chiang Mai

[jaideeguy]

It's been 7 yrs and a couple of bird flu episodes that have dampened my fantasy of growing my own egg layers and today i took the wife and family to two chicken farms in search of layers...i was willing to pay almost any price for 10 hens, just for family consumption of eggs. It seems that the CP farm molopoly has complete control over the egg laying industry and only deals with the big investors for supplying chicks, feed, and equipment. They gained control during the last bird flu epidemic and lots of small farmers went under because of poor sanitation and management, and that's where CP took over.

But I am still searching for chicks or older hens [of egg laying age] to feed my family. Does anyone know of a source up north where i can at least get a couple of hens [and a rooster]..i'll breed my own.

We do have a few native chickens, but they are poor layers and hide their eggs.

and what about crossing a native variety with a factory [egg layer] variety...can do??

[Gary A]

It's been 7 yrs and a couple of bird flu episodes that have dampened my fantasy of growing my own egg layers and today i took the wife and family to two chicken farms in search of layers...i was willing to pay almost any price for 10 hens, just for family consumption of eggs. It seems that the CP farm molopoly has complete control over the egg laying industry and only deals with the big investors for supplying chicks, feed, and equipment. They gained control during the last bird flu epidemic and lots of small farmers went under because of poor sanitation and management, and that's where CP took over.

But I am still searching for chicks or older hens [of egg laying age] to feed my family. Does anyone know of a source up north where i can at least get a couple of hens [and a rooster]..i'll breed my own.

We do have a few native chickens, but they are poor layers and hide their eggs.

and what about crossing a native variety with a factory [egg layer] variety...can do??

My wife hates village chickens and raises ducks instead. I don't remember the last time I ate a chicken egg. She says that ducks lay as many eggs as chickens and that ducks are smarter. She allows one duck at a time to sit on her eggs and is able to sell the extra ducks that are hatched. We have six newly hatched ducklings now and the old duck is sitting on about six more eggs. My wife sold the last batch of ducklings when they were about three quarters grown. She got 1,400 baht for the ten young ducks and some of the non productive adults.

[jaideeguy]

I never liked duck eggs that much....just a matter of taste and you need water for ducks, right?

What I ama looking for is the local egg 'factory' types...I think they are Rhode Island Reds or Barred Rocks. Best for production and still have some 'instinct' for sitting and raising chicks.

[Gary A]

I never liked duck eggs that much....just a matter of taste and you need water for ducks, right?

What I ama looking for is the local egg 'factory' types...I think they are Rhode Island Reds or Barred Rocks. Best for production and still have some 'instinct' for sitting and raising chicks.

Her little duck pond is totally dried up. Ducks like water but get along fine without anything other than plenty to drink. To tell the truth, I can't tell the difference between duck and chicken eggs.

[fruity]

If you didn't mind a trip to Buriram, my feed merchant sells day olds, approx twice monthly I think for guaranteed pullets the price is 28 baht apiece. She gets chicks and ducklings delivered from a hatchery in Bkk by the truck load.

We have some Black rocks bought from her last year, absolute laying machines, also a batch of Warren brown pullets approx 3 months old now. It won't be easy trying to obtain pure breds like RIR's here. Blackrocks will breed on, Warren's , the brown egg laying strain are basically hybrids, so breeding isn't feasible. Nothing beats a fresh egg or two , my daily brekkie:)

Ducks, basically fall into two categories, light & heavy breeds. Most frequently seen heavy breed here are Muscoveys, generally black & white. These ducks are basically born to breed, laying a clutch, sitting then rearing their brood before starting to lay another clutch etc, we never touch their eggs. These are quite clever creatures, much more so than chickens, do not need a pond as they have less oil in their feathers than other duck breeds. We have two ponds our ducks have access to & rarely, if ever you see a Muscovey on the water. These ducks more than pay their way, we regularly have someone come & buy the surplus stock.

Light breeds are egg layers, the most prolific being the brown Khaki Campbell, these need water, spending quite a lot of time in the pools, even sleeping:) We have around 80 or so of these, the wifes mother is in charge & she makes herself 150 baht every day clear -after feed costs, selling the eggs in the village. These ducks are extremely stupid & noisey! I liken them to a plague of locusts, they have an insatiable appetite and are never satisfied:) We lost approx 30 a few months ago after they gorged themselves on something they shouldn't have!

All our poultry has originated from our feed supplier, bought as day or a few day olds.

It's been 7 yrs and a couple of bird flu episodes that have dampened my fantasy of growing my own egg layers and today i took the wife and family to two chicken farms in search of layers...i was willing to pay almost any price for 10 hens, just for family consumption of eggs. It seems that the CP farm molopoly has complete control over the egg laying industry and only deals with the big investors for supplying chicks, feed, and equipment. They gained control during the last bird flu epidemic and lots of small farmers went under because of poor sanitation and management, and that's where CP took over.

But I am still searching for chicks or older hens [of egg laying age] to feed my family. Does anyone know of a source up north where i can at least get a couple of hens [and a rooster]..i'll breed my own.

We do have a few native chickens, but they are poor layers and hide their eggs.

and what about crossing a native variety with a factory [egg layer] variety...can do??

[jaideeguy]

Thanks for the info on poultry....we should have a feed supplier up here in CM....there is a lot of farming in the area. I have checked with small local feed suppliers and no luck.

would ask you to send me some up from buri ramn, but i'm sure it's illegal to send because of bird flu.

Anyone know of a large feed supplier in CM area?????

[fruity]

It would be my pleasure to send you some, however, like you say, I am sure it would be illegal. Bringing them myself in the car would be a different matter I guess! NOT that I have plans to come to CM anytime soon.......lol....

Our feed supplier not only is the biggest in the city, but they have several large farms, poultry & pigs, therefore, I imagine buying in quantities of chickens from the hatchery is part & parcel of the farm side of business, with a truck load going to the city for retail as a bit of a side line.

Ask around if there is anyone coming down this way, I would be more than happy to get you some chickens & meet someone to hand them over.

Thanks for the info on poultry....we should have a feed supplier up here in CM....there is a lot of farming in the area. I have checked with small local feed suppliers and no luck.

would ask you to send me some up from buri ramn, but i'm sure it's illegal to send because of bird flu.

Anyone know of a large feed supplier in CM area?????