2018 Newbie Chat!

[Cbarr00]

So we were gonna let our broody, cricket, sit on eggs and see what happens. Well my husband went out to candle the eggs last night on day 5 and couldn't see anything. He thought they were duds and threw 4 of the 8 in the dumpster. When he looked in he realized they were actually developing! I'm not sure if the other 4 are fertile or not. So now we've decided to just put some chicks from TSC under her and see how it goes.
Here's broody Cricket in the center and Dak in the back trying to lay in the fave nesting spot.


Our chicks were labeled black sex link and ameraucana

(My sweet 7yo was born with his left hand missing due to amniotic band syndrome)

 

[Cbarr00]

Ok did some googling and found out Hoover hatchery, which supplies TSC, sells Americana not Ameraucana.

 

[CannedMonster]

YOU GUYS!!!!! I hear a lone chick peeping its heart out under my broody!!!!

Is she talking to the chick?
How many eggs are under her?
How old is she?

 

[CannedMonster]

https://www.ecopeanut.com/diy-chicken-waterer-and-feeder-plans/
I’m pretty sure I used this tutorial on it.
I also made a pvc gravity feeder. I honestly hate the gravity feeder as opposed to the bucket feeder. They still spill food everywhere with the gravity one

Thank you!
That might work especially if I place it in the coops.
I could see those stupid birds hopping in there but hopefully they wouldn’t.
I’m not sure I could get my birds to use it since they haven’t grown up using a feeder like that.
I’m would definitely need more openings in mine.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Is she talking to the chick?
How many eggs are under her?
How old is she?

She was born 12/8/17
Baby must have been born in the late afternoon. She is still sitting. I put four fertilized eggs under her, this one hatched a whole day and a half early! She’s talking to me when I get near her. Which prompted baby to start chirping. Checked on her again this evening and baby chirped once. I couldn’t see it so she is on it keeping it warm.

 

[Crystal87]

Hi and welcome
I have a prefab coop that has so far withstood a winter in SW Idaho, snow and all.
I’m not expecting it to last years but it works for now and they can be reinforced with better latches and a waterproof stain or paint.
Don’t paint with chickens in there though. And you only would do the outside that’s exposed to weather.
We actually haven’t painted ours.
The ventilation should be fine for 3 birds.
Don’t be afraid to keep them open at least partially in winter. The chickens create heat by breathing and pooping and the ventilation keeps condensation from forming in there.
It helps if you put your location in your profile so people know what your climate is like when answering any questions.
Cleaning is determined by your personal preference and smell lol.
I try to clean mine before any smell starts and before there’s enough poop that the birds are constantly getting it stuck on their feet.
It also depends on how many birds you have and how much room there is.
I had 12 chicks in my large prefab and had to clean fairly often but not every day.
Are they able to go back and forth between coop and run during the day?
If so, just wait until it’s getting pretty dark and they should go in on their own.
Mine try to “stay up late” and don’t go in as early as the older birds.
I used to put them in but I got sick of that and I’d just watch tv for a while and go back out when it was darker and they went in on their own.
I have mine over dirt and after a while I had to rake it out and put shavings down because it stank.
But now that my 2 month old babies are free ranging during the day and aren’t in there all day it’s fine.
BTW...I only free range birds that young because I’m home all day right now and my husband is retired.
Please post photos! We love seeing them!

Thanks for the helpful info. I will update my profile with my location... im just now learning about the site too so Im trying to catch up. I open the coop door in the morning so they can get out into the run... I usually dont get home till after dark through the week and they seem to be huddling up together in a little pile in the corner of the run instead of going back into the coop.. I have been just putting them into the coop every night and closing the coop door. I wish they would go into the coop on their own.. maybe they will after a little while.. I will also take some pics of the coop and my babies..

 

[Cbarr00]

Cricket adopted the chicks. She's only been broody for a week so we were nervous she wouldn't accept them if she knew it was too early. We put them under her last night around 9:30. DH placed a couple in near her breast at a time and she gently tucked them under her wing each time. I'm so proud of her!

 

[CannedMonster]

Cricket adopted the chicks. She's only been broody for a week so we were nervous she wouldn't accept them if she knew it was too early. We put them under her last night around 9:30. DH placed a couple in near her breast at a time and she gently tucked them under her wing each time. I'm so proud of her!
View attachment 1532902

 

[d.dachickenman]

I am also new, I had a flock of 5 bantams but they all dies from fox. Got 5 more about 6 months ago. One of them is broody with 5 eggs. My friend told me to isolate it in its own egg box with its own food and water. Should I do that? also should i leave the chicks in the cold or should I take them from mother and raise in house? Plz respond

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Cricket adopted the chicks. She's only been broody for a week so we were nervous she wouldn't accept them if she knew it was too early. We put them under her last night around 9:30. DH placed a couple in near her breast at a time and she gently tucked them under her wing each time. I'm so proud of her!
View attachment 1532902

Wow, how wonderful lovely picture too