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

[Roan]

I would take the 10 and put them with the adults after dark. Let them all out in the run in the morning and see who at the end of day doesn't return to the main chicken house. Move them back, after dark, in with the adults and repeat. Don't move the step 2 pullets into the starter house until you have successfully got the 10 joined-up with the adults. I think locking them in the coop, unless it is large and has lots of places for them to stay separate from the adults, could causes problems. If the weather is going to be as bad as you say, they, more than likely, aren't going to be off the roosts much anyway. What is the age difference between the step 1 and step 2 pullets?

That's definitely a good idea! I'll talk with my brother and we'll probably do that. Thanks!!

This is just my opinion of course but if your adult birds and the ones you want to move into the main coop have already socialized I don't see why you can't lock them all up as long as your keeping an eye on it...
Do you garden? This is what I'm trying to do with my older pullets and cockerels: harden them off like you harden off the seedlings you started inside before you plant it outside... I would do that and I would definitely try to block wind out of your pen. Is there some sort of chicken house in this pen the birds are graduating to? And is it just a daytime thing or you gonna have them out overnight?

It's just a wire kennel. They'll be in it during the day and brought back to the brooder at night until we can get the 10 out of the starter house. Then, we can get these ladies into the starter house over night. I'm not a gardener so I have no idea what "harden them off" means. lol

You have gotten good advice!

6 weeks is a general rule. Some breeds feather slowly but most breeds will be fully feathered at 6 weeks and can go out to below freezing temperatures. Chickens can take a lot of cold but not so much heat.

Chickens die here in the Sacramento Valley in the summer from the heat.

Yeah, they are fully feathered. My main fear was taking them from a heated house and putting them out in the freezing cold. But since that doesn't seem to be an issue, I'll start it tomorrow. Thanks again!

Thanks to all of you!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Six out of seven - seven was fully developed but never made it to the pip.

Love the color..are they BO.?

 

[Cynthia12]

Anyone have a thread started for the EHAL?

Too soon?

 

[MisfitMarie]

Ooooh, Easter Hatch A Long! My pullets should start laying by March....

If I could get my hands on a true Ameraucana roo for them... that would be PERFECT!

 

[valleychicks]

Thanks, but it is definitely not spraddle leg. The legs are positioned correctly but the knee joints are locked solid. They are folded as a chicken normally would to sit down. This is a relatively common defect in mammals but I don't know if it is caused by the same thing.

Oh, I've never heard of that happening.

 

[NotAFarm]

On a side note....

I went to the farmers market today, the same spot where I got my NYD HAL eggs. They only hold it once a month during the winter. Anyway, the sellers of my HAL eggs were not there. But I did make the acquaintance of a different seller, who is vending fertile eggs, who gave me her card and said that if I ever wanted to get serious about a hatching adventure again to call her and she'd set me up with fresh eggs only a few hours old. Sweet!

Love Farmers Markets!

Quote:
YEP!!

Anyone have a thread started for the EHAL?

They usually have it up in February. Easter is April 5th!!

 

[blackgoat]

I'm posting this question here because there are more people here than over at the Jan Hal. I got some eggs today but won't be able to set them until Tuesday. The question is, should I bring them inside or leave them in the car? The outside temp is 45 tonight, and 35 tomorrow night. I have them in the car right now. Is that within safe holding temp? Or should I bring them in. I know the optimum holding temp is 55, right? Unfortunately, that is not an option. The inside temp is about 70.

 

[hennible]

That's definitely a good idea!  I'll talk with my brother and we'll probably do that.  Thanks!!


It's just a wire kennel.  They'll be in it during the day and brought back to the brooder at night until we can get the 10 out of the starter house.  Then, we can get these ladies into the starter house over night.  I'm not a gardener so I have no idea what "harden them off" means.  lol


Yeah, they are fully feathered.  My main fear was taking them from a heated house and putting them out in the freezing cold.  But since that doesn't seem to be an issue, I'll start it tomorrow.  Thanks again!

Thanks to all of you!!!

Hardening off is when you slowly introduce the plant to the outdoors you put it out for couple hours each day bring it in at night protect it until it gets a little tougher same thing that you're working towards with your chickens

 

[NotAFarm]

I'm posting this question here because there are more people here than over at the Jan Hal. I got some eggs today but won't be able to set them until Tuesday. The question is, should I bring them inside or leave them in the car? The outside temp is 45 tonight, and 35 tomorrow night. I have them in the car right now. Is that within safe holding temp? Or should I bring them in. I know the optimum holding temp is 55, right? Unfortunately, that is not an option. The inside temp is about 70.

Do you have a basement? or a closet on an outside wall that stays cool? 55 is what major hatcheries use but many of us use what we have available. I wouldn't risk the colder temps.

 

[chickwhispers]

Congratulations on everyone's hatches!!! Unfortunately due to a death in the family I was unable to keep up with all the posting during the last week. All the pictures are awesome. I am still trying to reading the last 25 pages or so. But again Congratulatins!!!! And thanks for letting me lurk behind the scenes so to speak!