Thanks Hedz82 :) in that pic the chick was nibbling the bone that the dog had. He loves small animals...we have a ground squirrel aswell, his best mate! He lies down and the squirrel 'grooms' him..jumps on his back scratching him.
I think it was rats that got in, I lost 2 chicks and the third...
@Hedz82 no def no Hylines for me. The laying flock are New Hampshire x Golden Buff, a lovely big breed...so tame too. Those Hylines look like zombies...I have one that I swear has the personality of a plank. I keep saying I'm gonna eat her as she lays about twice a week but I don't have the...
Hi @hedz82 thanks for confirming my suspicions...rats don't bother older chickens do they? They're pretty hard to get rid of. I do have Boschvelders, well not really Boschvelders but chickens from my gardener. I do have plenty space for them to go outside and I also grow a lot of spinach and...
The only small incubator I've seen is here http://www.importitall.co.za/Brinsea-Mini-Advance-Hatching-Egg-Incubator-ap-B008HVM5SY.html for 5 grand which is crazy. I would rather get a 48 egg incubator that's around 3 grand. Don't get a polystyrene one...the hatch rate is not good.
@Gwyllm Cochins are lovely, I'm looking to get some of those aswell. I thought the option was nipple system or waters attached to a line that feeds auto from pipes. I have a water reservoir nearby so just need to see which. @ 12 per m that's just over a thousand chickens ...I was thinking 500...
Good luck with the hatch Gwyllm, I have a broody hen hatching today. 2 eggs are from the new rooster I got (Partridge Brahma)...but a monitor lizard ate some eggs and I'm just hoping it wasn't those! It's been a tough month. 1st battling the monitor lizards ...thought the coop was 100% secure...
Hi Teachnkids,
Carin breeds Partridge Brahmas, on this forum. They're a lovely docile big breed, especially nice for kids as they like to be held.
Found this chap in my coop today, he munched all 14 eggs my hen was sitting on! :he
It's been a hectic week. My 4 week old Golden Buff chicks started pecking each other & I had to separate each little monster. 52 of them! Their feed was too low in protein and as soon as I changed that they were fine. Treated each ones wounds with penicillin and really happy that all survived.
@Carin sorry, that's terrible!!
I managed at last to get a Rooster for my Partridge Brahma hen, he's beautiful! He was one of many roosters on a farm and took to hanging out with the sheep...didn't have any hens of his own, shame. He slept outside with them, don't know how he survived. He's so...
@Nadene I have had 3 bad hatches now. When I say bad.,,5% hatch rate. Did everything right, temp and humidity was correct, didn't open in the last 3 days. it must be just a bad incubator, I must buy a new one.
On a positive note...I'm so excited to have found a rooster for my Partridge...
@Carin , I'm from KZN N Coast, Salt Rock. I've only been here 2 years so it's quite a novelty...filling up all the unused outbuildings with chickens. If I come to KZN I would love to pick up a few Brahmas, I only have the one hen.
Something I'm really struggling with...is transport for...
Thanks, I will wait. I'm like a kid with that incubator ... I keep opening the thing . Going away on the 7th for 2 days so I must find someone to house sit and turn eggs lol. It's one of those nasty polystyrene incubators, I borrowed it and the auto turn thing doesn't work. Hygrometer also...
@Nanna34 sorry to hear that!
NONE of my 1st lot of eggs hatched, incubator too cool and Eskom woes. I'm really hoping the next lot will be a good hatch lot on 4th Nov.
Are there any breeders in Eastern Cape? If so, did you know there is a new E.C. poultry club. [email protected]
Spent a productive half day planting lucerne beds in the 5 new chicken coops. Now just to fill them with chickens!
Yep Nadine, I like chickens! I have 3 batches of eggs in the incubator. Don't think the 1st lot will hatch as power was out for 24 hours :(. It's the 1st time I'm hatching Fat Betty's (Brahma) eggs with 1 eyed Wyatt Earp (orpington). Can...uhhh ermm ... a 1 eyed Roo see enought to ..how to say...
Thanks. I got involved with chickens in a slightly unconventional way...ordered some beautiful chickens from a breeder. All died from Coryza within a week. Then got some chickens from our labourer, he is the rooster in my profile pic. Those indigenous chickens lay eggs that are 63 grams and are...
So happy to have found this forum! I'm from Cradock, Eastern Cape. I have White Australorps, Partridge Brahma and breed indigenous chickens. would like to exchange some fertile eggs.