6th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2015 Hatch-A-Long

[FuzzyHens]

It seems Santa is encouraging my new chicken habit...

Just in time to set up my brooder.

And as I put together the last minute needs for my first hatch, I'm wondering what everyone feeds their new chicks...
medicated or non-medicated chick feed? What about some of the vitamin supplements/probiotics like Gro-gel Plus or Quik Chik? Just want to make sure I'm prepared!

 

[blackgoat]

LOL that's me! I entertained the possibility of a DYI incubator but until I get more than 3 or 4 birds out of 24, I'm not even gonna bother with that!

By the way, when is it socially acceptable to start dropping hints that it's time for everyone to leave? LOL Dinner is done and over, I'm exhausted and it's time for the after turkey nap!!!

Oh! And I made my first microwaved turkey! A full bird baked in the microwave and it came out great!!! Our oven went out and we haven't had the money to get it replaced so I had to break down and try it in the microwave! I'm truly impressed with the results!!!

Wow. Microwaved turkey? I thought that was a myth!

(also, the traditional way to hint to your holiday guests that it's time to leave is to play the song 'Baby, It's Cold Outside" , preferably the Miss Piggy/Rudolf Nureyev version )

 

[blackgoat]

It seems Santa is encouraging my new chicken habit...

Just in time to set up my brooder.

And as I put together the last minute needs for my first hatch, I'm wondering what everyone feeds their new chicks...
medicated or non-medicated chick feed? What about some of the vitamin supplements/probiotics like Gro-gel Plus or Quik Chik? Just want to make sure I'm prepared!

It's always great to have Santa encourage your chicken addiction

!
You probably won't need the gro-gel, some sugar in their water should be enough. The gro-gel stuff is mainly for shipped chicks that haven't had any water for a few days and need to hydrate. Whether you use medicated food or not is up to you. It's probably not necessary with a small batch of chicks. I used it for my chicks, but that's because that's all they had at the store at the time.

 

[Cynthia12]

It's still snowing here! We have around 3 ft. of snow now. I just went out and put a heat lamp in for my girls. The EE that is getting close to laying was just sitting up on the edge of a nest box. All fluffed up, looked at me like, I'm not moving. For the rest of the night! This photo here? No way my chickens would go into it.

 

[Cynthia12]

Why not..I feel like one...once in a great while.

 

[ronott1]

It seems Santa is encouraging my new chicken habit...

Just in time to set up my brooder.

And as I put together the last minute needs for my first hatch, I'm wondering what everyone feeds their new chicks...
medicated or non-medicated chick feed? What about some of the vitamin supplements/probiotics like Gro-gel Plus or Quik Chik? Just want to make sure I'm prepared!

Perfect!

Medicated feed treats cocci, so if you do not have it at your place, you do not need it.

 

[Roan]

I bet they will be okay! I am amazed what eggs can endure. I don't do the cool down period because I know I would forget about them. I would need to set a timer. I get distracted too easily around here. Yesterday I was going to come inside to get my stapler to staple down some netting in the turkey pen, but got distracted and forgot. When I got home at midnight last night I was missing a turkey hen! I finally found her in a corner of the garden... thankfully.

Yeah, I agree about the cool down period. I too get distracted like this one time when I was going to...Oh look, a butterfly! Aww, it's so...Wow, shiny lights! Wait, what was I saying?

Wow. Microwaved turkey? I thought that was a myth!

(also, the traditional way to hint to your holiday guests that it's time to leave is to play the song 'Baby, It's Cold Outside" , preferably the Miss Piggy/Rudolf Nureyev version )

Nope, definitely not a myth! And what's even more bizarre is that you actually wrap the tips of the wings and legs with aluminum foil!!! I had always been told that was a BIG NO NO!!! lol As for dropping the subtle hints, there really wasn't any need. We had too much fun playing Clue and being insane. Finally, everything started to dwindle down and they just naturally left.

It's still snowing here! We have around 3 ft. of snow now. I just went out and put a heat lamp in for my girls. The EE that is getting close to laying was just sitting up on the edge of a nest box. All fluffed up, looked at me like, I'm not moving. For the rest of the night! This photo here? No way my chickens would go into it.

3 ft??? The last time we had that much snow at one time, my brother, a foster boy that was staying with us and I built an igloo that was 6 ft high on the inside and an 8 foot tall snowman that lived there! We were also out of electric for a week. Fortunately, we live in a very good community so everyone would go around offering to share what food we all had and receiving whatever else we might need in return. It's awesome how the community came together in a crisis. (It's really the only time most of us ever even talk to each other. lol)

 

[chickkrakidd]

Trust me I don't need to lead into temptation. I walk out my back door and bam! There it is! Found it!

Gorgeous bird!! Just beautiful.

Perfect! Medicated feed treats cocci, so if you do not have it at your place, you do not need it.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe medicated feed TREATS cocci, I believe it is sorta like a preventive measure. It keeps the chicks from getting cocci. Again, I may be wrong...

 

[bantambury]

Both of my eggs hatched! From the same parents i got one black and one blonde! The black hatched today and the blonde hatched yesterday! Couldnt ask for a better birthday present!

Its so special my nyd chicks from last year are their parents! Its amazing how generations work!

Merry christmas everyone!

 

[silly4buttons]

Both of my eggs hatched! From the same parents i got one black and one blonde! The black hatched today and the blonde hatched yesterday! Couldnt ask for a better birthday present!

Its so special my nyd chicks from last year are their parents! Its amazing how generations work!

Merry christmas everyone!

they are so cute