Colorado

[coop410silkies]

COChix, incubator set up looks good; are you going to use one of the bators as a hatching bator at lockdown? I've drilled a hole in my styrofoam bator, too. Am going to try something different this year with a humidistat and a "personal" humidifier. Just for fun. I love it when a person gets nervous, shows that she cares. Or maybe has performance anxiety.

The Silkie hatch at Unihill did not go so good: only 3 of 14 have hatched.

It was cold during the time I collected the eggs, and it took over a week to get 14. The incubators were Brinsea Minis, and the hatch rates in the past have been 100%. Might be a couple of interesting colors, though, judging from the stripes. Just more data for the data pool.

The address of the property for sale is 617 Sunbird Lane, 80513. I THINK Remax is listing it, and it's been listed and unlisted a couple of times. It can be Googled at Realty.com. It's at the corner of West County Road 8 and Sunbird Lane. If you Google Hands on Horses, you can see more of the property. Looks good on paper, but seems to have had problems in the past, for some reason or another.???

Good luck with your incubation, I am excited for you. nervous, even? Flutterbies in my stomach!

 

[COChix]

COChix, incubator set up looks good; are you going to use one of the bators as a hatching bator at lockdown? I've drilled a hole in my styrofoam bator, too. Am going to try something different this year with a humidistat and a "personal" humidifier. Just for fun. I love it when a person gets nervous, shows that she cares. Or maybe has performance anxiety.

The Silkie hatch at Unihill did not go so good: only 3 of 14 have hatched.

It was cold during the time I collected the eggs, and it took over a week to get 14. The incubators were Brinsea Minis, and the hatch rates in the past have been 100%. Might be a couple of interesting colors, though, judging from the stripes. Just more data for the data pool.

The address of the property for sale is 617 Sunbird Lane, 80513. I THINK Remax is listing it, and it's been listed and unlisted a couple of times. It can be Googled at Realty.com. It's at the corner of West County Road 8 and Sunbird Lane. If you Google Hands on Horses, you can see more of the property. Looks good on paper, but seems to have had problems in the past, for some reason or another.???

Good luck with your incubation, I am excited for you. nervous, even? Flutterbies in my stomach!

Yes, I am using the bator with the turner and fan for lockdown, thanks for the good luck wishes.

The address is pricey only $599,000.00!

 

[ygritte]

Morning all!
I'm so excited for you COChix, I'm resisting getting an incubator but I don't know how long my willpower will last, specially if I don't get any broody hens to raise next seasons chicks.
The rooster is starting to fit in over here. He seems to be getting the hang of things, and I haven't seen him flogged by any of the hens in the past day. Fingers crossed he stays as polite as he is now.
I also made a new roosting ladder! Since I'm more than doubling my flock in two weeks, I thought they could use more room once the babes arrive. and bonus it was made from all scrap wood and downed trees. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.



Spring forward weekend!! YAY! Hope everyone enjoys this gorgeous weather!!

 

[Latestarter]

Ouch... Pricey is a word for it...

 

[Percheron chick]

The problem with ladder roosts is the chickens on top poop on the birds below if there isn't about 30" horizontal distance between roosts. Most chickens also want the highest roost so you don't gain as much extra as you think you do.

 

[ygritte]

Thanks for the constructive critcism.

My roosts are definitely less than 30 inches apart (22-25 if i remember correctly), but i think it's more about the angle in which you set the ladder. If it's too steep, doesn't matter how far apart they are on the ladder, poop is still getting on chickens. With that said, mine is set at a very mild angle. Horizontal space between roosts with the ladder setup to the wall is about 17in. I have large chickens, but i think I'm good on that account!
I know what you're saying with the chickens wanting to be in the top roost though. It's all a grand experiment so we'll see how it works. Right now there's plenty of space for all of them on the top roost. Last night only one went to the top... But i chalk that up to them not having much time to explore it.
I went for it because it worked with the space well, gave multiple levels for chickens to be on if they choose to be in the coop during the day (thinking forward to winter days), and was easily made with materials i had on hand.

 

[COChix]

9:20 am the bators are officially loaded e

 

[coop410silkies]

21hens, thank you for the tips on bulbs. Allium sounds familiar - garlic and chives? The narcissi are toxic to many animals, was thinking I'd try some this fall, maybe some tulips, too. We'll see.

Yeah, I thought the Hands on Horses property was a bit pricey, but it's just $569K now.

I erred in saying only the chickens have remained in residence; I think at least at least one or two of the horses are still there.

Yesterday while I was just sitting back relaxing with my puppy, Moses the mellow Roo came up and hopped on my ankles, then made his way up to my lap. He perched and made himself comfortable, and I decided I'd try to pet him. He did not move and was ever so still all the while I petted him. When I brought my hand back, I noticed a little red thing crawling on it, so I started ruffling Moses' feathers, and sure enough, he had little red things crawling on his skin and feathers. All this time he's looking at me with one of those "I want to be groomed" postures, and he sat right there perfectly still while I checked for critters over his entire body. I didn't have to restrain or hold him or do anything to make him be still, and I felt as though he was asking - pleading - me to do something for him. So I did, right then, immediately: I got out the miticide ( a version of Comfortis) I used to rid Abbie of her fleas, soaked some bread in it, and he ate it all. Within minutes he was scratching and biting at himself like crazy, but this morning and today, he is completely at peace, no scratching, "preening," or being miserable. This morning I treated all my flocks with the diluted Conserve. I believe that without the opportunity to dust bathe during the winter, my chickens may have incurred heavier than usual mite infestations. Next will be to spray their roosts and nesting boxes, I guess.

OK, I read somewhere that fertility may be reduced during cold temperatures of winter. Is there any truth to this? I have had really bad hatch rates when I've tried to hatch in winter. Last year almost half of my February eggs failed to start and were infertile. I could easily fault the rooster or my hatching expertise, but certainly not this late winter thing with the Silkies. I should be hatching right now, as the birds seem to be in full lay.

Check your birds for bugs.

 

[21hens-incharge]

So far no bunny bites out of any of the tulip leaves here. I have about 400 tulips so that should say something about him not liking them. The iris fare well as do the crocus so far.

Tomorrow I plant potatoes in shavings bags I have saved up. We shall see how they do in due time of course. I also have onion sets ready to go in but need to build more raised boxes so they should be in by next weekend.

I hope everyone is enjoying a nice day with little wind and not getting all wet.

Thanks for the reminder that it is time to treat for mites or at least inspect for them.

 

[Latestarter]

I brought a doz fresh eggs over to a neighbor, since my girls are laying again.
She had a guest visiting who recently came here from CA and is "living/renting" at another neighbor's place and to make a long story short, I may have sold my place... cash... at the time frame I was hoping for - June/July, and at a price I'm quite happy with.

By owner, no realtor, no commissions to pay!