Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

satay · Oct 27, 2014

vehve said:
Bleh, we have a heat wave here too, it's 10°C outside and we've been getting this misty rain since yesterday. It's making the coop super humid, I don't like it.

Not quite a heat wave felix.

cwrite · Oct 27, 2014

AussieChics said:
My 4th chicken has laid her first egg today! Yay!

Congrats

@satay you must have heat hardened chickens or/and well managed heat. My girls panted so badly & we were not nearly as hot as you.
Glad to hear that so far everyone's chooks have made it!

Snowy reintroduced herself to the flock yesterday (by escaping while the transfer from trampoline run was happening) & was chased across the lawn by Steve, but seeing as she can run faster there was no fight. The hens haven't bothered at all about the chicks & seeing as Snowy kept jumping into the other part of the run today, I made a small gap for the chicks to come & go as they please. Snowy sticks close to the fence & can get out of the broody run, but not back in. So far so good luckily. The only hassle is keeping the fence up so that the other chooks don't get stuck into the medicated feed.

Another hot day tomorrow. Hope it goes ok for everyone!

vehve · Oct 27, 2014

@satay Well it was 15 deg colder a few days ago, so I'm counting it as a heat wave

I'm starting to be ready for snow already, although the chickens are probably happier as long as it stay snow free. But I have a pair of cross country skis I didn't get to try properly last year, so I'd like to get some use out of them this year.

Ashburnham · Oct 27, 2014

appps said:
Cute little beggars! I was only thinking of you and hatching the other day, there is a big industrial incubator on my local Facebook group for $600. Reminded me of your fridgebator. Are you still using that, notice you have downsized a bit in these pics.

The fridgebator was not a success. Very poor hatching rates.I just use my two Rcoms these days.
Rcom 50 and a Rcom Suro 20. -I can usually jam in about 80 eggs between them.

xxxxx M

appps · Oct 27, 2014

@Teila so do you only have them together free ranging? My problems have all been in the run but the yard isn't really peep escape proof.

I never imagined this bit would be so hard, they've never fought like this ever before.

Fancychooklady · Oct 27, 2014

AussieChics said:
Rang the fodder today and he's never heard of it. Only has the shell grit :-(

Egg shells are 97% calcium carbonate. You either need to educate your feed store staff or sack them and move on. Shell grit is to aid in digestion because hens have no teeth, calcium carbonate is the most readily absorbed form of calcium supplement, the problem is people think they are one and the same.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/08/for-strong-eggshells-size-matters.html

Outpost JWB · Oct 27, 2014

Fancychooklady said:
It's usually labelled calcium carbonate.
We have ducklings hatching in every direction.

Goodness Fancy! Those ducklings are absolutely gorgeous

I am adding them to my WANT list. (Maybe my NEED list.) What type are they?

IamSamSam · Oct 27, 2014

It was forecast the the Alps ( lol Australian mini mountains) were due for snow today after the heat yesterday

This weather truly is absurd

IamSamSam · Oct 27, 2014

LMAO Felix if we reach 10 I in winter I have the fireplace going the electric blankets on and am hibernating!

Mind I don't like heat either! Give me temperate 20-25 and I'm happy LOL Satay says it's too cold ! But they had colder temps than us and I'm in NSW a whole state South of her!