Recent content by howtogrowanegg

Hi All, This is our first year with chickens and we've taken the approach to keep our eggs on the counter after collecting them, but I was wondering if with the temperatures dipping here in Vermont if I need to refrigerate our eggs after collecting them? My understanding is that once you...

I have an interesting story to share ... Yesterday, I picked up 22 chicks that I ordered from a local farm store. They came from a hatchery in Ohio and I placed the order in early April. I decided to have them vaccinated. The farm store manager mentioned he got 3,500 chicks and I was the only...

Hi All, I have a curiosity about mail order chicks vs non mail order chicks. Early April I received some mail order chicks which seemed to be overly stressed during transportation (shipping container had been up-side-down and I ended up lossing 10 out of 22). The remaining 12 are now over 5...

Many Thanks to All of You We're planning to bring them out tonight. This will be fun. Scott

Hi All, Since most of you are down south ... what are your temperatures like ... during the day and night? I've read that temperatures should be no less than 65 degrees. I've got 40 degree nights still in Vermont and concerned that I still need to wait. Or is having a 250 heat lamp OK with 40...

Hi, I've read that chicks should be fully feathered (betwee 5-8 weeks old) before they can go outside. I have 5 week old Australorps and Easter Eggers. Some look more feathered out than others, but being a first-timer not sure what "fully feathered out" looks like. I'd like to bring them out...

Hi Im4dabirds, I've heard that sugar water is more apt to give the chicks pasty butt ... and that karo syrup works better. I tried using karo syrup and pedialyte this spring to some chicks that arrived in the mail and seemed extremely stressed. I didn't have any exact measurements, but I was...

Hi LilBizzy, I can't say that her bottom has always been squishy, just more noticeable in the last week. She is eating, drinking and pooping. My wife watched her just the other day and confirmed this. I'll try to get a picture of her and compared to her chick mates. Scott

So you got them on April 10? Have you tried giving a karo syrup / electrolyte supplement? We had some very stressed chicks upon arrival ... we lost 10 out of 22. It was recommended to me to try to give some karo syrup and electrolytes (pedialyte) to help with some boosts of energy and help...

As someone new to chicks this year ... can puppies get cocci from chicks? We just got a 7 month old puppy. Should I be worried? Our chicks are two weeks old. Thanks, Scott

Hi All, One of our 2 week old Australorps has a puffy bottom. I picked her up last night to feel her bottom and it was puffy feeling ... not hard ... just slightly squishy. Her vent seems clear ... no pasty butt. She is definitely different than the others ... she is smaller compared to her...

LadyShred, Wow ... very sorry to hear about your experiences. Just this morning I mailed a letter to the owner of the hatchery I ordered from requesting him to consider using shipping containers that are clearly marked. I tried to be as polite as I could and I even noted that I realize the...

Hi All, I have some concerns with our very first order of chicks last week. (They shipped on Monday and I got them Tuesday so shipping time does not seem like an issue.) Our shipping container was upside down at some point during the trip because there was alot of poop on the lid. I think the...

Christine, Wow, an acre ... what / how are you fencing? Scott

I haven't been blogging long, but mine is How To Grow An Egg . Scott