Rochester – VJP Poultry

Silkies For Sale – 3/7/20

March 7, 2020March 12, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Here is what is available for the week of March 7, 2020. We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry. We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state inspected hatchery. No Shipping/Pick up only. We sell one and two week old unsexed silkie chicks. We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets. We can no longer accept rooster returns. If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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Four month old female silkie pullets – $65 each.

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Pen 21 – One Week olds hatched 2/27 – 8 grey, 1 blue, 1 possible splash – $13 each.

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Pen 20 – One week olds hatched 2/27 – 14 partridge, 1 black, 9 white – $13 each.

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Pen 8 – Two week olds hatched 2/20- 6 grey, 2 blue, 1 possible splash – $15 each.

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Pen 7 – Two week olds hatched 2/20 – 6 partridge, 2 white – $15 each.

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Pen 6 – Two week olds hatched 2/20 – 7 black, 1 white – $15 each.

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Pen 19 -White and Black chicks without any DQs for 4-H – Two week olds hatched 2/20 – 4 black, 2 white ($15 each) One Week olds hatched 2/27- 8 black, 1 white ($13 each) Newborns hatched 3/5 – 7 black, 3 white ($11 each). Perfect for 4-H poultry showing. NPIP and Pullorum tested. You will not need to retest when you are ready to show.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

Silkies For Sale – 2/14/20

February 14, 2020February 18, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Here is what is available for the week of Feb. 14, 2020. We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry. We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state inspected hatchery. No Shipping/Pick up only. We sell one and two week old unsexed silkie chicks. We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets. We can no longer accept rooster returns. If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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Four month old female silkie pullets – $65 each.

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Honey is a 4 year old black hen. She is $40.

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Pen 21 – One Week Olds hatched 2/6 – 12 grey – $13 each.

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Pen 20 – One week olds hatched 2/6 – 11 partridge, 2 white, 1 black – $13 each.

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Pen 8 – Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 3 buff, 4 grey – $15 each.

20200212_152935 Pen 7 – Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 3 blue, 5 partridge – $15 each

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Pen 19 -Four week olds hatched 1/16- 6 white ($19 each), Three week olds hatched 1/23 – 6 white ($17 each), Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 2 white, 1 black ($15 each) One week olds hatched 2/6 – 2 white, 2 black ($13 each). Newborns hatched 2/13 – 6 black – ($11 each) Perfect for 4-H poultry showing. NPIP and Pullorum tested. You will not need to retest when you are ready to show.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

Silkies For Sale – 4/16/18

April 16, 2018April 17, 2018 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Tips For Winterizing Your Chicken Run

November 9, 2017May 19, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Now that it is colder outside, you may find that your chickens are spending more of their time inside the coop. If you do not have a chicken run that is set up for colder temperatures, they may be choosing to snuggle up where it is warmer. The problem with that is that chickens need fresh air and exercise. They will be hardier and healthier if they spend part of their day outside in the run.

Here in Minnesota it can get quite cold in the winter. Always start with a hardy breed of chicken. It should be one that has small combs and wattles. Silkies are ideal for cold areas. Not only do they have small walnut combs and almost nonexistent wattles, they also have feathering on their feet to help keep their legs warmer.

Silkies are tolerant of the cold but they must be protected from wet and wind. Enclosing your run with plastic wrap or a tarp can help to block wind and prevent snow and rain from entering the run. Most chickens do not like walking in snow. The plastic will keep the snow from entering the run. Then you will not need to spend time shoveling out the run every time it snows.

We are trying a new kind of plastic this year Instead of using plastic that comes on a roll, we ordered clear tarps that have built in grommet holes. The tarp also has lines running through it to keep the tarp stronger and to keep it from ripping in the wind.

We placed eye hooks in the wood along the bottom of the run. The grommet holes fit into the hooks and secure the tarp. We then use ball bungee cords at the top to fasten the tarp down. Hopefully this clear tarp can be easily taken down and put up for many years to come. We also use zip ties where needed to keep the tarps secure.

You do not need to cover the entire run. The North and West sides are the most important to cover as this will provide the best wind and snow block. You need some holes for ventilation. I leave the doors uncovered so that air can move in and out.

A spacious run gives chickens personal space and exercise opportunities. Boredom can be a problem in the wintertime. This can lead to behavior problems such as feather picking and egg eating.

You can use plywood, tarps or even bales of hay or straw to block the wind, but clear plastic is best. This lets the sun shine through and keeps the run bright. It will warm the inside of it just like a greenhouse would. In the Spring, just take it down, fold it up and store it out of the way until next year.

You could provide an outside shelter in your run such as a small dog house. Use straw inside of it to keep your chickens warm. Straw hold more warmth because it traps warm air in its shaft. Use some of that straw to create paths for chickens to walk on. Laying down straw is often easier than trying to shovel the snow out of the run. The straw will make it warmer on their feet.

I like to provide something for them to perch on inside the run. We have pea rock in our run which can become cold on their feet in the winter. Silkies do not need very high perches. We just lay a few 2 X 4 boards down for them. They love to perch on these boards when it is cold. You could also use logs or stumps for them to stand on.

Set up a dust bathing area for them in the wintertime. Since most of their regular dusting areas are now under snow, you could make a new spot by purchasing some dust bathing materials and putting them in a kitty litter box.

Provide energy treats for your birds that they can only get if they venture outside in the run. These could be BOSS sunflower seeds or cracked corn. The more time that they spend outside, the less messy the inside of your coop will be.

It is important to remember that birds are not mammals. They can tolerate much colder temperatures than humans. You just need to keep them dry and out of drafts or wind. Do not overheat your chickens based on how you feel. I keep the windows and doors to the coops open all winter long. If your coop is one temperature and your run another, this can lead to sickness as birds go back and forth from hot to cold temperatures.

For tips and tricks for raising outstanding silkies check out our Chicken Learning Center at VJPPoultry.com . VJP Poultry is an NPIP and state inspected hatchery located 30 miles north of St. Paul. We hatch out silkies all year long so we always have stock available. Like us on Facebook to get weekly updates on what we currently have for sale.

Victoria J. Peterson

What You Need to Have in Your Poultry Showbox

October 25, 2017May 21, 2020 by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

It’s the day before you leave for the poultry show and your birds have all had their baths, toenails clipped and general primping taken care of. Now it is time to organize your Showbox and pack everything that you will need in order to keep your bird in tip top condition at the poultry show.

You will need some kind of carriers to transport your birds to the show. A cat carrierworks very well. Remember to line it with some kind of bedding. Try to have only one bird per carrier if possible. You do not want extra poo rubbing on to your birds nice clean feathers.

At most shows you will be bringing your own feeders and waterers. Since I have silkies, I use a pop bottle waterer. You will need to pack enough waterers and empty pop bottles for each bird as well as mini bungee cords to secure them. I also like to place an empty cat food can under the waterer to prop it up.

Bring a jug of your own water. Add electrolytes to it as birds can often become stressed at a show. The electrolytes will help to boost their immune system. Get them used to this water a week ahead of time. Birds can be finicky about change in water and food so you want to make sure that they are used to both.

If you have been cage training your chicken they should be used to using the feeders and waterers in the small cages. Bring a bag of feed for your birds. Bird seed with sunflower seeds and nuts is nice because it keeps the poo more solid than regular feed. It makes it easier to remove it from the cage and from the bird.

Remember to withhold food on the morning of the judging. A bird with a full crop will create a lump in their chest and will not have a nice shape for the judges. You may also want to withhold water so as not to have a silkie with a wet beard.

You will need to bring your own bedding shavings. Constantly be on the look out for poo on the shavings and remove it before the bird can step or sit in it. Some people will have booties on their birds until the judging starts.

On the day of the show you will see a lot of people frantically working on their birds before the judging starts. You can put Vet Rx or another type of oil on their combs, earlobes, beaks, wattles and legs. This makes the surface more shiny and brings out their colors. Apply a thin coat. Vet Rx is especially good because it helps the bird fight off diseases that they might come in contact with at the show.

You can also shine up a bird using a piece of silk cloth and running it over the feathers. A micro fiber cloth works well for this too. Feathers are oily and dust will stick to them. This helps to remove the dust and make your bird shine.

To finish a bird off, I will use Show Sheen. Spray it lightly on or spray a cloth and run it onto the feathers. Then blow dry and puff out those silkie feathers. You can use a slicker brush or a fine tooth comb to really fluff it up and back tease it.

If you see that dirt or manure has gotten on any feathers, you can use Gempler’s Citra Clean hand cleaner or Cowboy Magic Greenspot Remover for those last minute touch ups. Baby wipes and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as also good tools for spot removing dirt.

I also bring paper towels, baby wipes, small spray bottle with water to loosen up dirt, tooth brush, hand sanitizer, portable chair, extra carriers in case you buy a bird or two, health forms for pullorum testing, cage ID numbers if the show sent you that information.

Remember to not leave all of this stuff out. The judge should not see anything of yours. Pack it up and take it out of the judging area. It is considered bad form to enhance the cages your birds are in or to distinguish your birds from other people’s birds. Don’t write your name anywhere such as on your cage cups. Do not put up barriers between your birds and the birds next to you. The judges need to be able to look down the aisle at all of the birds to compare them.

Dress for the show. Be sure to wear clothing that is washable and comfortable. Dress in layers as temperatures can change. Do not wear shoes that you wear when tending your flock. You do not want to bring home disease to the rest of your birds.

A few other things for your showbox would be, scotch tape, nail file, scissors, pen and don’t forget the Flea and Tick spray. You will want to spray your birds as they leave the show and go back into their carriers in case they picked up a bug

Some people will bring zip ties or small locks to lock up their birds when they aren’t around. No one should be touching or handling any one else’s birds. Just remember to have the zip ties off before judging starts. If the judge can’t get into your cage, they can’t judge your bird.

One last thing I like to bring is a book on poultry breeds. I enjoy finding actual examples of breeds I am reading about. It is fun to learn about breeds different than your own. It is also a lot of fun to meet other breeders and get tips from them about your favorite breed. It is a great place to just talk chicken!

Victoria J. Peterson