So I had this idea to use one incubator up until lok down and a 2nd incubator for lok down only. It’s working. I mark the eggs with the lok down date. Transfer them on that date. I use fully dry hatch only.
I haven’t been trying to incubate eggs for long and the first incubator I bought was a Kenonnix. The unit said 99.5 degrees but my digital thermometer said much less. Then I brought in a Smart Incubator as it’s very inexpensive. After setting it up my thermometer showed it was at 99.5 degrees so...
My situation is that I have a hen that's apparently trying to sit about a dozen eggs. This is new for me. What concerns me is that she's in a large nesting box about 5' off the ground. I don't think she's left these eggs for 3 days now. Doesn't she need feed and water?
I've got 29 hens now 9 months old that were laying ... getting about 6-7 eggs/day. I have been expecting increased production however they have almost quit instead. It's record hot here in Central Texas... maybe that's it or shorter days.
What's your thoughts?
Just finished this nesting g box. I used to be more conventional but I've decided to try a more custom approach. Obviously the girls don't care and always seem to favor one.
So, last June I bought 15 straight run Rhode Island Red pullets. They shipped 17. From June til present, I've lost 12 of the 17 to dogs and hawks. I free range 100% of the time.
Here's the punch line. Of the 5 chickens I have left, which are finally mature birds, 4 of them are ROOSTERS!
We just got 10 new pullets only to lose 2 to a rattlesnake. But I killed the snake yet last night we lost 2 of the 5 new chicks to replace those eaten by the snake. There are no feathers or bodies so I don’t know what could be happening. I also have not had a light on in the coop. I didn’t think...
So, for the month of May I got a feed bill of $60 ... well, I nearly choked and decided I had to do something different. As I live on an acre I elected to free range my chickens and quit buying feed. The wheat harvest was in full swing and I was able to get about 2 - 55 gal barrels of wheat...
So a little while back I collected 24 fertile eggs from my six RIR hens and RIR rooster. A friend hatched them in his incubator. We had 16 chicks that hatched.
My question is that at about 10 days old I can see different coloration .. especially in the wings. I recently bought 40 RIR chicks...
So, I'm splitting 24 baby chicks with a friend who provided the incubator. I'd love to pick 12 pullets and no roos. I know the hatcheries use some method as you can buy only pullets. Is this something that is easy to do?
My situation is that I have two 12x12 coops with a 12x24 pen between the coops. I have six hens and my rooster using one of the coops and I've got 40 month old chicks in the other coop. Per advice here I intend to integrate my flock in another month when the chicks are two months old.
I would...
So, I love on an acre and like to allow my flock to free range, however, they have began to stray too far. When they were younger they stayed close to the coop but now at nine months old they have began to move farther and farther away ... the last time they were allowed to free range they were...
So, about two weeks ago when I stopped at my local feed store I was invited to build a coop and the feed store manager felt certain that we could sell them. Just this morning I will be adding the finishing touches ... I believe this one is my best to date. After building two coops I've decided...
So, I've got 8 ten month old pullets and 9 three week old chicks. I've built a roosting area that has plenty of room with a long ladder for them to reach the high roost. I'm curious about the time when the chicks will also want to roost off the ground. I just don't know if the older birds will...
I'm 7 months into my first year as a chicken owner. I have to admit that's it's been a great time and I really enjoy owning my flock. I started with 9 RIR pullets and 1 RIR rooster. The girls have done great ... the last 2 days I've collected 9 eggs a day ... that's 100% production ... so coodos...
I've got 9 RIR 6 month old pullets and one rooster that was raised with them.
I've got a 12 x 12 coop ... so pretty roomy.
Yesterday I received the 12 new RIR chicks plus a surprise 7 additional free Rocks ...
Today I put a volunteer chick out in the main coop ... alone. I thought if they...
So I just completed a remodeling job inside my 12' x 12' coop. I had a good 4 box nesting box but it was at ground level and bending over picking up the eggs was clearly a poor idea. I had just built it so heavy that I couldn't raise it w/o help. But I built a strong stand and got my brother to...