Alaska hatchers..How is everyone doing? Baby pics !!!!!!

[Mrs MIA]

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You'll have the best hatch ever, because they'll be OK on their own.

good vibes Adrienne!!

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

I've got pips under one of my broodies!

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Go chickies Go....

 

[paulandashia]

The 12 Maran eggs that my father bought have arrived last night, and are in the bator as of 2pm this afternoon (along with 3 of Tori & Rusty's eggs), so I am FINALLY done with the eggs!
NO MORE..!!!

Let me see, 24 Marans eggs at Krystals, and I have 38 Marans eggs here, 12 Penedesencas, and 6 of Amy's eggs.
My luck will be:
90% or more will hatch, or hardly any at all.
And it appears it will be the first one, as every egg I candled so far has movement!!! Ugggg!!!
This was NOT supposed to happen to me! This is my FIRST TIME HATCHING! I'm supposed to have 1 or 2 out of every 10 eggs hatch DARN IT.!
And except for the 12 Marans eggs I got from Deb, 3 of mine (Tori & Rusty's), and the 6 of Amy's, the rest are SHIPPED!!!

Don't take me wrong, I love chicks, they are cute as a button, but I like my adults better!
(I know, I know, I'm a freak of Nature, I mean, who in their right mind doesn't like little chicks over adults right?)

WHAT am I going to do with all these chicks.!?!?!?

I got both incubators going right now. I moved the eggs that are first going into Lockdown into my new Bator, and the rest is sitting in the one Amy lend me.
Right after the first ones hatch, the 2nd batch is going into Lockdown (Penedesencas).
6 days to Lockdown. Grrrrr. Time is not flying fast enough!

I'm getting ready for the Lockdown. I made a separator, for eggs/chicks that are hatching, so the chicks that are hatching are not rolling the other eggs around the Bator. I will have to take a photo of it once I have it in place when it's Lockdown time, but I think it will work out pretty good. I also made the "cups" out of egg-cartons to stand the eggs up on end, as you suggested Deb.


*** *** ***
And I need some advice on Rusty. He's gotten SO bad (aggressive), that I can't even let the chickens out to Free-Range anymore, and have to distract him to the back of the coop behind the hen-house, with corn or something so I can even put food into the feeder, or change the water.
Don't know what to do with him. I don't know if he's being that way because he's the only Roo or what is going on in that head of his.
He's seriously been scaring me lately! He used to be SO sweet! I don't know what happened....

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

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What do you mean by "agressive"?

 

[paulandashia]

I mean, he CHARGES me, chases, and doesn't back down! Tries to peck, jumps with his feet out at you, and FLUFFS all out! It's really SCARY!
I used to let them all out, but now I can't, as he chases my 2 kids down and attacks them! He put a bruise on my son's leg couple days ago!
I don't know what to do. I don't want to kick him like I have seen some people do, so I waive my hands at him, or use my sleeve of my jacket (without my hand in there), trying to shoo him away, but he won't back down.!!! And he chases you when you turn your back!
I mean, you can NOT take your eyes off him for even a second!
He's always been so sweet, and has been eating out of my hand, and when I hand-feed the hens corn or something, he will eat with them one second, then he will go into ATTACK mode!
He's really getting VERY unpredictable, and is REALLY starting to freak me out!
(And now he's trying to take a chunk out of me thru the fence!

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

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Here is what you do. You need to be the Alpha in this relationship.
Fisrt of all, he is not allowed to mate the hens in your presence. Knock him off the hens when you are out there with the chickens.
Also, you need to carry a large rake or light weight shovel, and EVERY TIME he charges you, take the rake in front of you, and force him to quick march for a good 5 minutes, or until he gives up.
NEVER! kick him. All that does is invite him to fight back.
Never let him see that he could have the upper hand.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Forgot....your kids need to do the same thing with him.

 

[paulandashia]

I will try that, I have some of those small kids plastic snow-shovels, so I will use one of those, but the kids can't do it, they are terrified of him. My son just turned 6, and my daughter is only 3, so there is no way.

Oh, and I would never kick him. Love the little Turd too much!

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

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Maybe have the kids with you when you do it then. He needs to know they are not fair game either, especially your 3 year old.
Animals know fear, and will act accordingly to gain the upper hand.
I mentioned kicking, because that is a natural defense.
And yes, never let him mate a hen in your presence, at least for the time being.
He must know that the flock is your first and foremost, and that they are a privilage for him.