Recent content by kate2008

I can't remember how long it took to get my shipment from McMurray because it was so long ago. The chicks I ordered from MPC this week were shipped from Ohio to Georgia and I got them in one day. They are a broker, not a hatchery so the orders may be shipped from different locations.

I ordered from McMurray for my original flock and had a great experience ordering both chicks and starter pullets. This past year I ordered hatching eggs in the spring from My Pet Chicken with great service and products. Just got a shipment of baby chicks this week from My Pet Chicken...

I have to join in the fun. We just got chicks on Tuesday and I decided to brood in a corner of the run underneath my coop with a mama bird heating pad and the panic door set up. This area usually hold some extra nest boxes in the summer time so I already had a little access door built right...

Thank you for your reply. I didn't even think of using cardboard, since I am trying to make something I can use over again - but cardboard sounds like the best solution until I figure out the best size for my chickens. One more question @azygous - when you say 5x7, are you referring to the...

I am prepping my outdoor brooder for chicks arrive next week and I am making a couple of panic doors for an early integration protocol. @azygous you mention in your article that the doors are 5" x 7". That seems really big, now that I am sketching it out. I have medium sized chickens...

Well, we did the deed today. Culled 4 birds using the good old fashioned stump and hatchet method. One of the sentenced birds got out of the run this morning before I could catch her so she gets a stay. I can't believe how they move, even after having their heads cut off. I am glad I watched...

I'm in the city limits so no rooster allowed :( or else that would definitely be the best solution.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I decided to go ahead and cull 5 of the 8 birds based on individual productivity and characteristics. I went ahead and ordered 6 chicks that we get here in two weeks and will hopefully have eggs by mid to late April. I brood outside within a section of our big...

All right everyone, I need some flock culling advice Right now I have 8 chickens total with 6-8 birds being the ideal number for our family in terms of production. Of our 8 birds, 4 are going through their 2nd molt and 4 are going through their first molt and we are collecting 1 egg per day...

Talk to me about broody hens and cats. I have a broody with 3 day old chicks. She's currently in a maternity pen with them but I would like to let her start taking them out with the flock soon. We have a cat that cohabitates with the adult hens quite well but I don't want to risk too much. Will...

Well, my broody got up off the nest today and took the chicks to the feeder. One egg is not hatched and I am not surprised as it was questionable from my last candling. Final stats: Ordered 9 eggs from the intense egg layer mix from MPC, received 10 eggs. Tossed 3 eggs on day 11, one clear...

Of course as soon as I posted this I went out and she was off the nest with the chicks at the feeder and waterer. I will probably move her tonight. Thanks!

First time hatcher here. I set 7 eggs under my broody. Most of them were hatched as of yesterday morning (21 day mark). When will she get up and leave the nest box? She is camped out on the nest and I see a few chicks around and under her but I am dying to get a better view of the chicks...

I've got babies!!! 7am this morning marks 21 days so I thought I would peek - visual confirmation of at least 4 chicks! Hoping to get a better look when I get home from work tonight and move the family over to the broody / brooder house.

Day 14 and I just candled for the last time. Of the 7 left, all look good and have movement. One looks developmentally behind but otherwise looks alive and well. I am not going to touch them again until the hatch. Not to bad for shipped eggs.