I know what ya mean. Today it was 65° and I spent all day outside working.... chicken work. There were 5 of us and we got every pen and coop cleaned, all birds dusted, and fluff trimmed on the Orps. Then I switched around a few pens. I made a pen of 30+ roosters that are going to the auction on Friday.  I came inside and see I have 2 chicks hatched, too.

 

Thanks. They are still projects, and will need some work. I have some more (Gold Laced, Buff Laced, and Silver Laced) in the incubator, so I hope to have at least a few that will be good breeders.

 

Oyster shell ... check.

Worming ... half check.  Afraid to send their systems into a tizzy with that one.  They get herbs that are supposed to help with that continually and other herbs different parts of the year.  So.  Fingers crossed.

 

I've also got wheat grass at the ready.  And some grass growing in the yard so on days when one coop gets out to range, the other coop can eat a portion of wheat grass.

 

Hopefully that's it.

 

Aha!  I just thought of another way to get a high hatch rate ...

 

Use two roosters with the flock.  That way if one isn't quite right, the other can help pick up the slack.  It would be bad news to be using a rooster that isn't up to snuff.

 

Oh, and I should make sure that the roosters don't have bumble foot.  That can sometimes make them less than eager to mate.

 

Okay, that's enough thinking for me tonight. 

 

Last year I had 2 roosters in a pen with 12 hens. Darned if I could get a fertile egg. Every time one would mount a hen, the other male would come knock him off. It took me forever to figure out the problem. Finally, I removed one, and got fertile eggs! I know this is not "the norm," but it happened to me in one of my breeder pens.

 

Tomorrow, if all goes as planned... We should be able to finish the Icelandic pen, just need to build the door and then put the wall up. Tom framed it on the floor so I could staple the chicken wire more easily. Then, because it's for Icelandics, we have to cover the gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling with plastic mesh. The new roll out nest boxes are all ready, just have to secure them to the wall once it's up.

Then I can start the shuffle.
The Icelandics are in with the layers so they can move totheir new pen.
Tha layer Roos are in the grow out cage so they can't fertilize the Icelandics. I can turn them lose.
The NYD teens can move from the Nella Bean Brooder to the grow out cage.
The turkey poults and their token silkie can move from the baby brooder to the Nella Bean Brooder
That will free up the baby brooder for the buff silkies in the bator.

Phew, I'm tired just from typing the list.

Good morning, hatchers!

 

I enjoy seeing the "home" photos - keep them coming! The dog looks sweet (and mischievous) and the chickens in the snow was hilarious and a great picture.

 

 

I use the Repti Temp 500R thermostat for both of my incubators and love them.  I'm not sure if you could make it work for your incubator but you might check it out.

 

I'm in!

,,,,,,And this will free up the incubator!!! 

 

 

 

 

   We have  days until we set chicken eggs!!  As much as it seems like the time is dragging for our set date, it will be here before you know it!