California - Northern

[ronott1]

Sadly I have reached my limit for Vimeo for this week so the SG Dorking video will have to wait until tomorrow.

I do have a picture though. These are CapayValleyChicks SG Dorkings. They are from her best hen and it is a single mating hatch, so they are all from the one hen. They are amazingly healthy and active! Ok they always are.

SG Dorking chicks, less than 12 hours old:

 

[Hangtown Farms]

the good news is cooler weather returns tonight at least
though they say today may be the hotest day since 2006

 

[lawatt]

www.weather.com says it is 86 in Antioch right now with a high of 96 predicted. They were way off yesterday! They said the high was 96 but I saw 101 but my friend a couple miles away had 113 in the shade! I wonder whose thermometer was off?! They must be taking the reading right down by the waterfront. I need to find a new weather site!

Accuweather says that the temp right now is 71 with a high of 102 predicted. I can guarantee that it is a lot warmer than 71 out there. DH and I are working out there trying to get the second level of the quail pen finished so we can divide the quail into 2 groups. They scalped one little one this week. We have 19 young bobwhites in a 4 x 8 ft pen and I guess that is too crowded for them.

the joy of microclimates -- forecasting can't be precise down to the individual location.

up here on sonoma mtn it's 90 outside and 80 inside (no AC, just one fan) -- forecast is for 93, but i am hoping to fog will come in earlier/stronger at the coast than expected and cool us down again? i realize i shouldn't complain, as this is nothing compared to the valley...

stay cool, all!

 

[capayvalleychick]

These are CapayValleyChicks SG Dorkings. They are from her best hen and it is a single mating hatch, so they are all from the one hen. They are amazingly healthy and active! Ok they always are.

Woohoo! These are from a male and a hen that previously had fertility problems. Thanks so much Ron! I can't wait to see how they mature.

Congrats to Debi, on your hatch.

Happy Graduation to Molly's daughter.

Oh, and I like the new coop, Laura.

 

[lawatt]

Sadly I have reached my limit for Vimeo for this week so the SG Dorking video will have to wait until tomorrow.

I do have a picture though. These are CapayValleyChicks SG Dorkings. They are from her best hen and it is a single mating hatch, so they are all from the one hen. They are amazingly healthy and active! Ok they always are.

SG Dorking chicks, less than 12 hours old:

so so cute! congrats to you both, Ron and Kim!

 

[ronott1]

so so cute! congrats to you both, Ron and Kim!

One of them was chirping a bunch, so I took it out and covered it with my shirt while sitting in the living room. It snuggled right in and was very happy!

 

[BCollie]

I seriously can't believe this...I called 2 tractor supplies and at least 5 feed stores near me, and not a single one has the 7 lb Harris Farms hanging plastic feeder. They all only have 10lb ones, and I really don't need one that big.

 

[ronott1]

I seriously can't believe this...I called 2 tractor supplies and at least 5 feed stores near me, and not a single one has the 7 lb Harris Farms hanging plastic feeder. They all only have 10lb ones, and I really don't need one that big.

Amazon can usually get things like that to you quickly. I have Prime and it has more than paid for itself in free shipping. Most things get to me in two days.

Are you waiting until it is cooler to put the chicks out to their new coop?

 

[tommysgirl]

I might have! I hope not though...

Pullets will have small yellow combs and either no wattles or very small yellow ones. Cockerels will have larger yellow combs that start to go pink at about 6 weeks. Wattles often start out as a pink line at a very young age.

Pullets often do not get pink combs and smaller pink wattles until closer to point of lay. A couple of weeks before POL they will suddenly get bigger combs and wattles. They will also turn bright red just before laying.

I am talking about Australorp types with straight combs. BAs get big combs too. If the Rooster parent had a big comb too, then you most likely have a pullet at 6 weeks.

A picture from the front that shows good comb and wattle detail will really help.

BTW, feather color is meaningless with crosses like this. They are not like Easter Eggers where red on the wings equals a cockerel. If Ray JR was a Basque, it would be 100percent pullet just based on the reddish orange color.

In all the Bresse pics I have seen I have not noticed the blue legs. That's kind of cool!

Big Ray had a Big Ol comb. I will take a better pick. I also need to start looking under their beaks for wattles.

My SFH cockerel is a little whack job. He is in a frenzy almost continually either fronting up on every one in sight or flying across and landing right in the middle of another group of chicks. I would like someone to take him NOW!

 

[tommysgirl]

Sadly I have reached my limit for Vimeo for this week so the SG Dorking video will have to wait until tomorrow.

I do have a picture though. These are CapayValleyChicks SG Dorkings. They are from her best hen and it is a single mating hatch, so they are all from the one hen. They are amazingly healthy and active! Ok they always are.

SG Dorking chicks, less than 12 hours old:

Awesome!

So glad the previous fertility issue seems to have resolved.