Raising the Galaxies

[Hedgeland Farms]

The Galaxies are 12wks old!!!

They are getting along just fine. Super curious! And they are becoming increasingly friendly. I've finally moved their food and water out of the coop as The Galaxies 2.0 are abt a wk from hatch date and I need room to put the brooder in the coop for a few wks.

Despite the Galaxies rocky start...I do NOT regret brooding outdoors, I found it super convenient!

They all squeeze on to the top roost at night (aside from the 4 that absolutely CAN NOT fit so they roost on the bottom tier.

As time progesses I will need to possibly reacess my roosting situation. I believe there is plenty of room to get up top, but time will tell as the Galaxies get bigger.

Perseus has started getting saddle feathers so I've placed him just a wk to 2 older than the Galaxies. He, so far seems like he will be a decent fella...but give it a few wks ...we shall see. He still doesn't crow...


Also, just because... the Galaxies have gotten new neighbors...

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

@rosemarythyme coming here to ask your opinon ..
I have 4 1 wk old Galaxy 2.0s
They spent a wk indoors...and are outside now...

Highs are upper 80s low 90s during the day...
Lows are abt 60 to 65 at night....

Would you advise heat still??

I didnt run it during the day...my concern is night time...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Would you advise heat still??

I didnt run it during the day...my concern is night time...

Yes. It's still a bit chilly for them at that age at night, though I'm guessing they'd completely avoid heat during the day.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Yes. It's still a bit chilly for them at that age at night, though I'm guessing they'd completely avoid heat during the day.

I did run it last night, had to put 3 of them by it when i got home from the summer ball game.

They appear to have remained in their "coop" with the heat overnight....

Thank you

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

The galaxies just turned 14wks old...
We had our first squat yesterday!!! And several looking a lot like POL pullets

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Perseus is learning to crow!!!

https://share.snapchat.com/m/hrQS8tRH?share_id=y7E3KwV5yPA&locale=en-US

Also out of my Galaxies 2.0 (which I think imma call the Comets.) I have officially called it at 1 boy 2 girls. They are 2 wks old now! Pics were several days ago...

Their set up is this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BN191T2M?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

With a cardboard box as a "coop" with the heat board uptight inside of it. There is a hole cut out of the top (which is the bottom ) of the box and the box sits under the solid part of the top cover.

I have found using the cardboard box in my other coop that the chicks home to that box....which means....A.) in my first coop my chicks are easier to catch and put in the big coop bc they go in the box at roost time and I just reach in through the hole on the top and grab them and place them into the big coop. No chasing tiny birds around the run!!
B.) In the Chicken Chalet with the galaxies....ill simply move the box to the coop and when they get too big for it they will already be homed to the coop! No chasing little birds around the run to teach them to go into the coop..the box will do that.

Anyway...the actual brooder has netting all the way around it so the Comets don't escape. We have tried deer netting and one got out and got killed! We tried cardboard and the older pullets WOULD NOT stop pecking at it...tearing it off...
I finally settled on my tried and true netting. I have it over both runs, plan to use it on the Duck Dome, have used it over the bunny tractor, and now around this brooder!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08GLC8M5T?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image&th=1&psc=1

In hot weather like we've been having ...this is the best way to brood imo, hands down. It doesn't take up a bunch a room in the run and it really is simpler outdoors.

The heat plate stays off all day (has since I put them out there) and I plug it in around 9pm and unplug it around 530am. The 3 comets left seem to be thriving!!!!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

So I was wrong on The Comets.
I have 2 boys. 1 girl.
Aries

This is the second boy he has a weird comb defect...I don't know that I'll keep him
..I am only breeding for me and my family currently but would like to sell hatching eggs at some point. He doesn't have a name...

And the girl...she will be kept but of course...no name...

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Almost 16wks old....
And looking so purty!!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Here we are...
Maturity!!!

The Comets have been released from their brooder at 3.5wks old. All seems to be going well...unless they spaz and then there's some pecking....I imagine they are saying ..."stop acting like a fool!!!" But ya never know

And today!!! At 16.5 wks one of the Galaxies has laid her first egg!!!!

Perseus is coming along just fine as a gentleman! Some of the girls let him mount them, some he doesn't even try to mount yet...but they are still pale in comb.

He is kind and the girls are inviting.

The Comets will be harvested as I am not a fan of some of their physical traits and this is our dual purpose coop. Once the girls lay bigger eggs I will be hatching the Constalations from Perseus in hopes of carrying on his better traits in future boys.

@rosemarythyme thanks for following along and being so helpful. I appreciate your guidance.

I can't imagine I'll be sharing much more on this thread.

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme thanks for following along and being so helpful. I appreciate your guidance.

You're welcome - wonderful seeing them go from itty bitties to the equivalent of late teens, all in one season.