Recent content by LTreadwell

  1. LTreadwell

    Playpen duplex

    Neat idea! How many chicks did you raise in there? I have 15 coming, double what I wanted, but it'll be ok. Trying to plan to keep them in the house for 10-14 days.
  2. LTreadwell

    "Momma Hen" heater and pen size questions...

    So a racoon got into our coop and wiped out the flock. I thought I had it blocked, but the dang thing still got in. We are Fort Knoxing the coop and pen while awaiting out new chicks... I wanted to order 8 chicks, but ended up getting 15 because it was the same price since they jack up the...
  3. LTreadwell

    Rats! I have bad rats!

    Just for an update (thanks for all the advice and comments!). I put out 3 plastic cat litter boxes modified to hold bait and allow only small rodent entry - 1 in the coop, 1 in the shop next to the coop, and one in our horsebarn about 80 yards away. I used the Chunx bait sold at TSC, as it was...
  4. LTreadwell

    Rats! I have bad rats!

    Wow, thanks! I have some plastic cat litter containers I will do this with - how big do you make the holes? One of the reviews on Amazon said you need to fix these in the bucket with a wire so the rats don't drag it off whole for later. Maybe that is why they disappear? That's good news...
  5. LTreadwell

    Rats! I have bad rats!

    Hey guys! I have 13 chickens out in the country that live in a large coop with 5 gallon bucket feeder and waterers. I don't go down to the coop daily (automatic door) and collect eggs every couple days. No problem for the last 3 years. It has been raining non-stop for the last 3 months and...
  6. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    Sad news - we waited until this morning Day 26, but no peeping or movement, so we opened the eggs. All 9 were formed, with 3 that only had about 1/2 tsp of yolk left. I think those 3 died when it got to 104. Interestingly, despite my struggle to keep humidity up (was usually 30-50% - bumped...
  7. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    Well last night I couldn't stand it so I did a water bowl test after candling 4 of the eggs and not seeing any movement. All 9 eggs floated like they were good. 3 had movement, 3 had no movement, and the last 3 I wasn't sure one way or the other. So back in the incubator, and I was pretty...
  8. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    LOVED the article - given me some hope. "just peachy, what could possibly go wrong at this point?" Yup, that was me last week, lol. I have them at a good temp in a rigged up brooder, but have the humidity a little low as it's hard to keep steady, and when I candled the eggs looked like the...
  9. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    She was off again in the morning, so I pulled the eggs. I candled them carefully after warming them a bit and saw 4 that had some movement out of the 9. I rigged up an incubator, but just have a feeling these guys aren't going to make it. Today is day 22 and I haven't seen any egg movement...
  10. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    I left her alone for a little bit, then caught her, dusted her for mites, held her for 10 minutes until she and the other chickens calmed down a bit, and put her back on the nest. She seemed to settle down then, but when I went back at dusk she had roosted with the other chickens instead of...
  11. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    Ok, I promise I search BYC before this post and couldn't find a good answer - then I just Googled, and found this BYC thread with lots of advice and stories: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-long-can-a-broody-hen-be-off-her-eggs.70631/ I think I am going to dust her for mites and...
  12. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    Ok, I promise I search BYC before this post and couldn't find a good answer - then I just Googled, and found this BYC thread with lots of advice and stories: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-long-can-a-broody-hen-be-off-her-eggs.70631/ I think I am going to dust her for mites and...
  13. LTreadwell

    Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

    Sorry if this is a dumb question, but this is my second time trying to hatch under a broody, and the first time i tried it we ended up with only 1 of 4 surviving. I have a year old Buff Orpington that decided to go broody, so I put her on 7 eggs to see if she would raise some olive eggers for...
  14. LTreadwell

    Ended Official BYC Mini Contest - Family & Fowl Photos

    Our family's first farm hatched chick gettin' some lovin'. We ordered more chicks for next week, so hopefully another cute pic to come. My adult chickens are NEVER photogenic, lol. They are always moving or looking away.
  15. LTreadwell

    Ended Halloween Hatch-A-Long 2018

    My little chick is fiesty, and we are naming it Trix/Trixie because it sure pulled off a bag of tricks to survive! My son is always wanting to give her "sugar" (kisses). Kids and baby chicks are really adorable. Now for the chicken math that is happening - broody incubated 4 (of my own...
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