Colorado

[Chesterchook]

So very, very bummed. I had 5 silkie babies hatch on Thursday and I put them under the broody hen. They seemed to be doing fine and then today, I go out and 4 of them are dead.  They were so beautiful and I'm so bummed.  I was going to take the remaining one away but she screamed bloody murder and I didn't have the heart to separate her from her mama.   So this next batch will be only silkie eggs and olive eggs.  I'll set in another week to give me time to collect.

Ugh, that really sucks, sorry. Best of luck with your turkey eggs.
I don't think he's NPIP so it probably wouldn't help you, but if anyone else is interested there's a guy in Penrose selling Narragansett poults. We've only lost one ( accidentally squished under a waterer by our nine year old) but after hearing about everyone else's losses we figured we'd pick up a few more just to make sure we get enough to adulthood. The guy selling them was a nice old farmer, gave me marbles to put in their water and a printout about the breed with some notes on it.

 

[Pozees]

I suspect had I kept the little silkie chicks in the house, they'd still be here. I wanted them to know the love of a mother hen though. I won't make that mistake again. The other losses from my flock and my SILs were from the prettiest little eqyptian fayoumis that came from one of the hatcheries. I have supplemental heat but even with that, they are having a hard time. 2 are in the house with the baby turkeys and the second to last hatch chickies. Judi (Pozees) is not having issues with her EFs but the rest of us seem to be. sigh. My brother lost 2 of his 4 turkeys but so far, my 2 are hanging in there. One of them is still very, very tiny so I'm trying not to get attached to the little gal. Thus the reason my brother bought eggs from McMurray to try.



It's the Fillmore Exit, west at the top of the big, big hill. The DeMolay group sells spaces for yard sales the first saturday of every month because it has a great amount of traffic. So I figured that it might make a great place for a chicken swap too.

Ah, okay, sounds like it would make a good spot!

As for the EFs, I haven't lost any, and my only theory on why is that they are in a good sized group - I have the 10 of them in with 11 Cuckoo Marans and a Barred Rock right now, they are in an unheated, uninsulated shed, and the only heat source other than one another is the heated waterer (which got plugged back in tonight - will winter never end?!). On very cold mornings they are huddled (but not piled) together in the corner near the waterer and away from the exterior wall of the shed. The waterer sits on a couple of patio blocks, so may be creating a small amount of radiant heat. The pen is made of pegboard, so air moves well, meaning it isn't holding as much heat as a pen made of solid wood. If the group was smaller, I may have lost some.

I have 4 males and 6 females, and one of the males has begun the oddest little crow in the mornings LOL. The males are establishing dominance, and it is likely I will have to rehome a couple of them to settle things down a bit, so if you want more, or if anyone else would like a pair or two, PM me. I would be happy with only a male or two, and 4 females.

 

[pichuris]

Candled eggs today and had to toss 5. They started but then appeared they stopped shortly after candling last week. Of the 30 I'm down to 18 but they are looking good. Kiddos were very excited because several of them we could see moving.

 

[samsr]

I candled this evening for the first time. Day 7. Out of my 18 eggs set. 18are fertile and are moving around like crazy. I can make out the eyes and the beak on a few of the lighter colored eggs. I hope they all hatch but i am not holding my breath as this is my first time hatching eggs. It looks good so far though. My kids thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Me too for that matter.
The other 3 eggs from my friend down the street, not so good. Only one of his was fertile. He says his roo must be on the lazy side. He may take my BO roo off my hands but is really looking for an americana roo, since his girls are mostly americanas.


Coloradogal. I am sorry to hear about your silkies. It sounds like the hen must have been to heavy or they may have been at the edge of the crowd of chicks under her amd may have gotten to cold. The little silkie that i got from you is doing well, however a little shy and not at all as annoxious as the rest of my chicks at the moment. She is very small compare to my other chicks of the same age. I kind of expect that because the silkies develope slower than others, i have read. She is a little cutie and my kids favorite.
If you want to pick up the feed from the mill let me know. Depending on the date i may be able to pick up the feed using my truck. It looks to be three hours or so up annd back. Depending on what you are getting, some of my neghbors here along fountain creek may be interested also. Maybe making the order two tons and making it even cheaper. Send me a pm

 

[suncatcher]

Wow, this thread is moving right along! Welcome to all the newbies!!!! I am wondering if the chick losses might be because the cold weather keeps hanging on! I am wondering if spring will ever get here??

Some nice looking chick pictures on here, enjoy them, they grow up so fast! And love the ideas on the chicken coops being built here in Colorado.

I have been looking at the Boston news way to much, time for something postive. Like chickens!

 

[pichuris]

Wow, this thread is moving right along! Welcome to all the newbies!!!! I am wondering if the chick losses might be because the cold weather keeps hanging on! I am wondering if spring will ever get here??

Some nice looking chick pictures on here, enjoy them, they grow up so fast! And love the ideas on the chicken coops being built here in Colorado.

I have been looking at the Boston news way to much, time for something postive. Like chickens!

I think "Mother Nature" has decided to skip spring this year and go straight to summer. Does that mean we can skip spring cleaning too?

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: I would vote :yes" on that one! Just so cold again, is getting REALLY old!

 

[FrogEggs]

LOL. Just be careful I learned the sad way with toddlers & chicks. My son killed one with kindness.

They are sooooo freaking cute!!!

I am not kidding when I say I have to keep him away. He's a little sweetheart, but all boy already, and a little maniac who doesn't know yet his hits, bites, scratches and head butts hurt . He's learning..... but in the meanwhile, the chicks are on the other side of the house, behind a gate, and two doors, to protect them from him.... and the dog has an escape route....

I suspect had I kept the little silkie chicks in the house, they'd still be here. I wanted them to know the love of a mother hen though. I won't make that mistake again. The other losses from my flock and my SILs were from the prettiest little eqyptian fayoumis that came from one of the hatcheries. I have supplemental heat but even with that, they are having a hard time. 2 are in the house with the baby turkeys and the second to last hatch chickies. Judi (Pozees) is not having issues with her EFs but the rest of us seem to be. sigh. My brother lost 2 of his 4 turkeys but so far, my 2 are hanging in there. One of them is still very, very tiny so I'm trying not to get attached to the little gal. Thus the reason my brother bought eggs from McMurray to try.

I'm so sorry about your chicks!

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Yikes! Sounds like you are doing double duty!

 

[Chesterchook]

I candled this evening for the first time. Day 7. Out of my 18 eggs set. 18are fertile and are moving around like crazy. I can make out the eyes and the beak on a few of the lighter colored eggs. I hope they all hatch but i am not holding my breath as this is my first time hatching eggs. It looks good so far though. My kids thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Me too for that matter.
The other 3 eggs from my friend down the street, not so good. Only one of his was fertile. He says his roo must be on the lazy side. He may take my BO roo off my hands but is really looking for an americana roo, since his girls are mostly americanas.

EE roo on craigslist:
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/grd/3750959083.html