Colorado

[Percheron chick]

I can easily sell 200 pullets. There is a demand for POL pullets in the front range. I figure my profit is $7/bird. Any "extras" are just added to my flock. I stick with breeds I like.

 

[lomine]

I’ve only had the kids I bought. They were 2 months old by then so no experience with the birth process or first months. I’m excited but also nervous. It’s a lot different from hatching eggs.

I’ve thought about selling quail chicks too. I’ve seen them on CL for $2-$4 as day olds. That’s were I got mine. If I hatch them and they don’t sell I just put them in the freezer so there no risk. I guess the same could be said for chickens but I would rather not butcher a pullet.

 

[Percheron chick]

I would think you could easily sell chicks that are between 6-20 weeks in the COS area. People don't want the expense and work of raising chicks.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also urban/suburban people often aren't allowed roosters so will likely pay more to get a known sexed pullet.

 

[lomine]

Well I met Copper and he was a sweetheart. Really calm too and didn’t smell bad. He should be coming to my place towards the end of March.

Once more of the chickens are laying I might just fill up the incubator. I do have some ducklings coming some time this spring too so I have to make sure I have the timing of the electric hen down.

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm pretty sure my heated water bowl is dead didn't even last a winter. I checked the outlet last night and that is working, haven't tripped the breaker or anything (we were using it for construction the other day and I was wondering if something happened when we were using the saw, but I think the timing is coincidence) When I left the house I plugged the bowl into the outlet and not the extension cord to test if maybe it's the extension cord that's bad or if it's really the bowl... ugh, it was so cold when I left this morning too.

 

[lomine]

Was it completely frozen? Sometimes mine will form a little ice around the rim if it’s really cold. I don’t have an outlet tester so I use a blow dryer or lamp, something easy to move, to test outlets if I’m not sure they’re working.

 

[PirateGirl]

Was it completely frozen? Sometimes mine will form a little ice around the rim if it’s really cold. I don’t have an outlet tester so I use a blow dryer or lamp, something easy to move, to test outlets if I’m not sure they’re working.

Yesterday afternoon when I got home it was partially frozen around the rim, so I hit the GFCI reset button brought out a night light and plugged it in the outlet to check it and it worked, so I added some warm water and left it over night. This morning it was a totally solid block of ice (first time all winter with this bowl)... I've filled a waterer and another dog bowl (seems not to freeze as fast as the waterer) so hopefully they are good for the day. We'll see if the heated bowl is frozen or thawed when I get home after leaving it plugged directly into the outlet without the extension cord.

 

[Mtn Margie]

As long as they get a drink in the AM and before bed, they are good. That is the way it works sometimes and they will manage. No need to stress out about not having open water 24/7...

 

[21hens-incharge]

I'm pretty sure my heated water bowl is dead didn't even last a winter. I checked the outlet last night and that is working, haven't tripped the breaker or anything (we were using it for construction the other day and I was wondering if something happened when we were using the saw, but I think the timing is coincidence) When I left the house I plugged the bowl into the outlet and not the extension cord to test if maybe it's the extension cord that's bad or if it's really the bowl... ugh, it was so cold when I left this morning too.

Was this one of those blue dog bowls?
I had horrible luck with them. None of the 5 I got lasted more then a couple months.

Now I take water out in the morning, afternoon and dump it at night so its empty for the morning fill up.

My birds have done fine with that routine for 2 years.
I do have a drop in bucket deicer just in case we get below zero for days on end.