A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[ruth]

Good luck Henry - I'll be pulling for you. I'm not sure my flock is "nicer" they just get to roam wherever they want without fences and don't seem to get too concerned about space. In the pics from today, there must have been 20 laying hens in that coop and none bothered the baby chicks or the peachicks. I find that's really the case outside where they have even more room and aren't trying to lay eggs.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
I just moved my older peachicks to the ground. about same age as your.
Yes I worm mine also 3 times a year. Also keep them on medicated feed for 12 weeks.
They should be fine without heat, as long as they are dry.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Mine free roam also but I guess the coop space is much more limited for me hopefully the head hen who may be going broody will settle and I can give her these chicks and she will integrate them with her aggresion LOL.

Henry

 

[ruth]

Hey - this is really cool.

I just candled the eggs I found and put in bator today. One of the green eggs was huge - more than twice the size of her normal egg - as big as my palm. Anyway, it has a double yolk. I know her eggs were all fertile from the last batch of them I had going in bator before storm so I'm hoping this one will be fertile in both yolks. TWINS. Wouldn't that be too cool? Anyone have double yolk eggs turn out to be double fertile or hatch twins? I think I read once Cyn (Speckledhen) did but they didn't make it. I'm going to be watching this one very carefully.

Think I'll start a separate thread for this one so others can watch it and see what happens.

 

[hcammack]

wow this should be really cool I want you input on the way I am going to try and raise my chicks. A 6x4 chicken tractor in about 5 weeks so mid october when it will be around 75-80 during the day and 60-50 degrees during the night. I think for the first 2 or 3 weeks I will provide a 60 watt bulb at least at night if not during the day. They will be on grass. At about 4 or 5 weeks old I am thinking I will allow supervised free ranging. Then after get a bit older I will put them in with the adults after living close by to them. The chicks will be eating non medicated chick starter and have fresh water every day I will move the tractor so they get fresh pasture.

What do you think? should I keep them inside for the first two weeks in the shed because of the fall weather?

Henry

 

[ruth]

Hi Henry - with enough of a heat lamp, you can raise chicks outdoors in just about any temp provided they don't get a cold draft blowing on them. They can always get under or near lamp if they are cold and need room to get away if they are hot. I usually keep mine inside in a brooder till they are a week old just so I can keep an eye on them and make sure all are eating, drinking, pooping. Then into cage in coop with lamp at night or daytime if temps are cool. Ruth's babies are already in coop with no light cause it's sooooo hot and humid here. During day they are allowed to run around coop with the "big girls".

One thing to keep in mind is that with the heat lamp on them, especially while it is already still warm, they don't feather very fast and don't get acclimated to the weather so it's harder to then put them out in cooler weather.

As far as freeranging, mine all have free ranged by 4 weeks but they have also been hanging out with all the adults since one week. I think they learn a lot by hanging out with the older chickens and watching and learning.

 

[hcammack]

Ok I will pull the tractor up to the area where the girls hang out allot. I was thinking slowly weaning them off the light is a good Idea like for 3 weeks on all the time then 4 -6 weeks on at night and then none unless its freezing and lots of scratch to fatten them up.

Henry

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Morning glad to hear your up and about after the storm. What luck to find a nest and the double yolker will be fun I will have to look up that new thread.

How is the pup doing bet you are learning a lot with her. I am working this month as well, I have the toughest job in the world. I socialize chihuahua pups. So translation, I play with baby pups for 4 or 5 weeks till they are old enough to go to their new homes. I have 4 girls and a boy now. I sure do love my job LOL.

I did want to ask you a turkey ?, I was wondering what breed would be best to raise for a 15lb dressed bird. I am thinking of raising about 15 or 20 a year. Any suggestions on that. Also what age is best to harvest them so they are not tough.

Thanks again for sharing and glad you weathered the storm, will the next one miss you.

 

[ruth]

Hi Jean - always good to hear from you. I don't raise turkeys for the very reason that I know if it depends on me killing and eating it for Thanksgiving dinner, dinner will be turkeyless. Anyone who raises them is free to offer advice here and answer your question. You might want to post that question in the Meat Bird Forum - I NEVER go there - just don't want to know. Can't bring myself to "process" any of our dozen roos. Heck, I'm even having a hard time eating the eggs now that I know they are fertile. I want to put them all in the bator.

The puppy is great. She sleeps with us and is my little shadow. She does chase the chickens though and seems to have such a great time doing so and it's the only time she doesn't mind me. So we're working on that. I'm not sure what she would do with one if she caught it - maybe she just enjoys the chase. The week of having all the evacuees here really helped her in her socialization because the house was full of strangers that she at first growled at and hid under furniture, and they all brought their cats and dogs and let them run around house. But I was amazed at how quickly she adapted and was getting in everyone's lap. Several people asked if they could have her. Our son and his girlfriend wanted her to sleep with them - I think they are still scared of the "ghosts" they heard when they were here last. Anyway, she kept breaking out of their room and coming back upstairs to get in bed with her "mommy and daddy". When they left they asked if they could take her. A great big "NO". I've fallen in love with the little Priss.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Well I am so happy she found you and your hubby. Glad that she got the love and cuddles from the strangers LOL but sure wish it wouldn't of took an act of God LOL. Glad everyone is safe and sound and sure hope that is it for you and big storms.

I will check out the meat section, I am a farm girl from way back in fact I was 16 before I went in a store and couldn't believe that meat was in a package LOL.

Have a great day