ALABAMA!!

[Razadia]

Just candled 7 silkie eggs. I think I should be able to see something at 5 days but I only see blood vessel in 1 egg.

Finger crossed the chicks are late developers. Will candle again in 5 days. Hopefully with better results.

I would wait until at least day 10 to pass judgement on them. I know silkie eggs are light in color, but even they can pull one over on you.

I would like to know what everyone is using in their nesting boxes. I was thinking about just using the wood shavings. Please help me figure out what to use!

Nothing!

No matter how many times I put straw in the nest boxes they scratch it right back out.... then when they go broody they gather it all back up.

 

[bbdal]

Just checking again if anyone has mealworms for sale...
Thanks!

 

[ohb]

Thank you holypolish! I appreciate your help!

I'll ditto this. I was using straw and the hens acted like no one knew how to keep house better than they did. They'd poke and scratch at it until they deemed it just right--which usually meant 3/4 empty--and then they'd nestle down in it. Go figure.

 

[Dylon]

My bantam white orpington and bantam Cochin just hatched five sebrights each!

 

[Dylon]

I'm using hay or straw. You can usually find a barrel of it for something like 6 bucks. Also if you have pine trees, pine straw seems to work well as well. Shavings are fine too. They'll likely just kick it all out at some point anyway.

Wood shavings work well with mine. It clumps up nicely when soiled so clean up is easy

 

[chirpingcricket]

Thank you chirpingcricket! Will do!

Late getting back, but my theory is, they use what birds of flight use to make their "nest". What is available to them in their area. Keep it as natural/low cost as possible!!

Be it oak leaves, pinestraw, itty bitty pieces of twigs etc. Nothing really makes them 100 % happy. They are like human expectant Mother's, they "clean house", (nest) and put a little zone of comfort around them while they eventually stand/squat, and ever sooo carefully, Drop that egg on bare wood!!! Then pick the bedding up around them piece by piece, to nest, as the bloom dries, (and unless they are broody), walk off screaming about the good job they have done!!

(Alot of folks believe, as do I, that they carry on about "their" delivery (quacking about, etc. post delivery) of the egg, as a way to distract predators away from the nest of newly hatched eggs and towards themselves.)

Of course, if they are in the hen house, then it's a "what's up", ? unless they are just trying to impress the Roo.! But as birds of the wild originally, the distraction kinda makes sense! They sacrifice/chance themselves to give the eggies a chance! Regeneration of the species! Survival of the species. Amazing, humbling, tooo.

Just my humble opinion!

 

[chickadoodles]

I would wait until at least day 10 to pass judgement on them. I know silkie eggs are light in color, but even they can pull one over on you.
Nothing!

No matter how many times I put straw in the nest boxes they scratch it right back out.... then when they go broody they gather it all back up.

How funny Razidia!

 

[chickadoodles]

Late getting back, but my theory is, they use what birds of flight use to make their "nest". What is available to them in their area. Keep it as natural/low cost as possible!!

Be it oak leaves, pinestraw, itty bitty pieces of twigs etc. Nothing really makes them 100 % happy. They are like human expectant Mother's, they "clean house", (nest) and put a little zone of comfort around them while they eventually stand/squat, and ever sooo carefully, Drop that egg on bare wood!!! Then pick the bedding up around them piece by piece, to nest, as the bloom dries, (and unless they are broody), walk off screaming about the good job they have done!!

I have not got to see all this yet as my chicks will not be old enough to lay eggs for abt. 2 more months.... I can hardly wait!

(Alot of folks believe, as do I, that they carry on about "their" delivery (quacking about, etc. post delivery) of the egg, as a way to distract predators away from the nest of newly hatched eggs and towards themselves.)

I had not heard that about chickens before but I know quite a few animals do that to keep their babies safe!

Of course, if they are in the hen house, then it's a "what's up", ? unless they are just trying to impress the Roo.! But as birds of the wild originally, the distraction kinda makes sense! They sacrifice/chance themselves to give the eggies a chance! Regeneration of the species! Survival of the species. Amazing, humbling, tooo.

Just my humble opinion!

I like it! Thank you for sharing and offering me advice on the nesting boxes!

We did not get the coop finished today. But we used 200' of wire on 1/2 the run. We got the outside of the hens run done and half of the top and ran out of wire. So we have to go get some more tomorrow! We put the birds in the run anyway's! I figured it is not any different than other open air coops. lol and they needed out of the brooders it was just way to cramped in there! Till we get done with the coop we gave them some concrete blocks and some tin on top for shelter up against the coop. They were all so happy to get all that room to roam in! lol

 

[chirpingcricket]

There you go!!

 

[kasey08]

I have a pair of White Silkies forsale $30 and extra roo for $10