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  1. TheresaV

    Favorite ways to preserve eggs?

    I'm freezing mine. I beat up 1 dozen eggs in a glass measuring pitcher and divide the eggs amongst 12 silicone cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. After freezing they pop out of the liners easily. After freezing, I am vaccuum sealing them, a dozen to each package. This makes them nice and compact...
  2. TheresaV

    Are these Barred Rocks roosters or hens?

    Thanks for the help. I hope they will be nice roosters- I'd like to keep both of them. They are sparring with each other so hopefully the rooster hierarchy will get established soon. My next goal is to integrate them into my flock of 1 and 2 year old hens so the mature hens can start training...
  3. TheresaV

    Are these Barred Rocks roosters or hens?

    yes, from looking at other pictures in the forum mine certainly appear to be older! I have only had them for a week.
  4. TheresaV

    Are these Barred Rocks roosters or hens?

    Which would be the Marin? They look so much alike, other than a different comb shape. To me the feathers look identical.
  5. TheresaV

    Are these Barred Rocks roosters or hens?

    Thanks.
  6. TheresaV

    Are these Barred Rocks roosters or hens?

    I am fostering these chicks in hopes that one of them is a rooster. One of them was heard to crow at around 1 month old. I think they are about 6 weeks old now. The first one pictured has a shorter comb and smaller wattles but are the same shade of bright pink as the second chick. The first...
  7. TheresaV

    Broody sitting on eggs past 23 days

    Wow that's good to know. We have beef cows so we have plenty of grass hay that we got to feed them over the winter. I will definitely give it a try!
  8. TheresaV

    Broody sitting on eggs past 23 days

    I plan to butcher the excess chicks later on (another thing I will need to learn how to do.) I am actually doing this in hopes that one or two of the chicks can grow up to be nice roosters for my flock. I have enough laying hens right now but I want my flock to be self sustaining in the long...
  9. TheresaV

    Broody sitting on eggs past 23 days

    I candled the eggs which is so easy I wish I had done it earlier. Two of them looked just like the infertile eggs. The other two each had a smallish dark mass in them so those must have been fertile but the chicks died early on. My theory is that even though Sydney is really into being broody...
  10. TheresaV

    Broody sitting on eggs past 23 days

    Thanks NatJ. I will candle the eggs and report back.
  11. TheresaV

    Broody sitting on eggs past 23 days

    I gave my devoted Marin broody, Sydney, four fertile eggs to sit on. She is 2 years old and this is her first time trying to hatch eggs. She is on a nest of her own in a private area within sight of the rest of the flock. Every day she goes outside in the chicken yard by herself, and often gets...
  12. TheresaV

    Comment by 'TheresaV' in article 'Top Ways To Keep Your Chickens Cool In Summer'

    In the Pacific Northwest this summer, we had historically high temperatures for a week in late June. We were predicted to have temperatures as high as 107 in our area. Thankfully we have a dry climate in Eastern Washington. From my observations, it got to 104 at my house on the worst days. I...
  13. TheresaV

    Question about nest boxes

    Thank you! :)
  14. TheresaV

    Question about nest boxes

    Thanks for the replies! It was so helpful. We put the boxes on top of a couple of short cinder blocks and also screwed them to the wall. The lower edge of the opening on the lower boxes is about 8 inches above the floor. The next challenge will be getting the hens to switch over. I need to...
  15. TheresaV

    Question about nest boxes

    Thanks so much! I plan to put them just a few inches above the floor. I am waiting until my hubby has time to help me position them and after that I will post a picture. :)
  16. TheresaV

    Question about nest boxes

    I will post some as soon as I can get out and take them. I have 8 adult hens and 16 pullets who are going on 3 weeks old.
  17. TheresaV

    Question about nest boxes

    I just built my new set of nest boxes. They are 2 boxes high and 4 wide. I put a perch in front of the second level to help the hens get in easier. I also tilted the top so they can't land up there. I plan to raise the boxes off the floor but I'd like to keep them as low as possible. So how...
  18. TheresaV

    Switching one week old chicks from a heat lamp to the Mama Heating Pad system.

    The frame is a piece of heavy fencing. I bent it into an arch then squished the back down. This way there are higher and lower areas so the chicks can choose warmer or cooler areas inside the cave. The heating pad is a couple inches narrower than the frame so the very front is the coolest spot...
  19. TheresaV

    Switching one week old chicks from a heat lamp to the Mama Heating Pad system.

    There seem to be 2 different routes to go for the framework- one is with a flat frame like yours and the other is with a flexible frame which is what I made. I think both work well. I was careful to leave an opening in the back so there are 2 escape options. They do go in and out both ways. I...
  20. TheresaV

    Switching one week old chicks from a heat lamp to the Mama Heating Pad system.

    Video of my chicks on their first day with the MHP. They learned fast how to go in and out.
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