The apple trees and pecans have been ordered from Miller Nurseries in Canandaigua, New York. For one reason or another, I chose not to go through Gurney's. I have used them in the past and was happy, but this year I have been disappointed on several counts when trying to place an order online. I will not go into detail right now, but just let it be said that I am not happy with them at all this year. I was going to try Henry Field's, but I suspect that they are affiliated with Gurney's... same operation with a different name perhaps. I would have preferred Stark's over Miller's, because Stark's stock would be more regionally adapted to our location, but I went with Miller's for the simple reason that their stock is air root pruned. This is the great advantage as researched by Dr. Carl Whitcomb. They also have a nice selection of fruit and nut trees and reasonable prices.
So the trees that I was able to narrow it down to are as follows: I purchased as a package the disease resistant varieties of four apples; also a Winter Banana Semi-Dwarf Apple and Northern Spy Semi-Dwarf. I am concerned about how these two will do because we already have a cedar that carries Cedar-Apple Rust. I may try to figure out a place to plant these two trees that are a little further away from the afflicted cedar.
For the nut trees, I ordered two hardy pecans. I want a heartnut walnut tree, but these are sold out at Miller's for the year. I will search around a bit and see if I can find it from another nursery without having to wait a whole year.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Chickens are ordered!
I finally placed our chicken order yesterday. I went through Murray McMurray Hatchery... I have ordered supplies from them in the past, but never the day old chicks. I was just thinking about the penciled note that I found in our chicken coop... it was about eighty years ago that DH's great-grandparents placed that order for so many white leghorn and so many brown leghorn day old chicks from Murray McMurray and penciled a note on the wall of the 'brooder house' as it was. I have since painted over it... but I have a picture of it somewhere.
So, what I finally settled on were the Dark Cornish, twenty-five roos and five pullets. I plan to save at least one roo and try to raise some chicks from these. Also went for the Sumatras, which are a rare breed. These are only available straight run, so I hope for at least one roo and several pullets (I only ordered five total)... wonder if they actually sex them and try to include both in an order? I decided against any banties at this time. Too many chickens to try to house and waaaay too many eggs! Even with the four hens that we have now, that is more than enough eggs for the two of us.
What I liked about the Dark Cornish is that they are described as hearty, tight-feathered meaty birds that will go broody and even hatch out chicks. They also have the pea comb-- one of the types I preferred and are clean-legged. The Sumatras are just interesting to me... thinking it will be cool to raise a rare breed and maybe pass some chicks onto others who will hopefully do the same. They also have the pea comb and are clean-legged. They look rather wild from the pictures. McMurray also includes an unknown rare breed chick with each order... It will be interesting to see what we end up with.
The chicks are scheduled to be delivered to our post office between May 9th and 11th. Next on the agenda is to finally get our fruit and nut trees ordered.
So, what I finally settled on were the Dark Cornish, twenty-five roos and five pullets. I plan to save at least one roo and try to raise some chicks from these. Also went for the Sumatras, which are a rare breed. These are only available straight run, so I hope for at least one roo and several pullets (I only ordered five total)... wonder if they actually sex them and try to include both in an order? I decided against any banties at this time. Too many chickens to try to house and waaaay too many eggs! Even with the four hens that we have now, that is more than enough eggs for the two of us.
What I liked about the Dark Cornish is that they are described as hearty, tight-feathered meaty birds that will go broody and even hatch out chicks. They also have the pea comb-- one of the types I preferred and are clean-legged. The Sumatras are just interesting to me... thinking it will be cool to raise a rare breed and maybe pass some chicks onto others who will hopefully do the same. They also have the pea comb and are clean-legged. They look rather wild from the pictures. McMurray also includes an unknown rare breed chick with each order... It will be interesting to see what we end up with.
The chicks are scheduled to be delivered to our post office between May 9th and 11th. Next on the agenda is to finally get our fruit and nut trees ordered.
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