Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

@chicken danz - That building looks like a great size.

@tweetybaby2005 - Totally off topic... what is claying a car. I have a guess but it's a term I've not heard before.

My broody hen took a potty/stretch break and I candled her eggs. At first I thought none were developing. But, then I candled an egg from the fridge from my flock. Now I'm confused... what I saw when I candled was no spider veins. I did see a fairly large dark blob that moved around when I rotated the egg on maybe all of them, or at least most of them. I thought it was the egg yolk but the egg yolk didn't show up on the fridge egg. It's day 8 I believe. No circular bloodlines, that I could tell.

Do you think they are developing or not?

On day 10 you definitely will be able to see the veins, they're harder to see at the first. If you candle again in a few days & the dark blobs are bigger then I would say they're developing. They will move around when you shine a bright light on them but they should not be totally free floating so that they move end to end when you turn the egg, that usually means they started & died when they do that.

Well I finally got my husband back this afternoon. He was sent to Montreal, Canada for work & left Monday & was supposed to be back last night. However when the plane was trying to go to Dallas to land for part of the flight they ran into a bad storm & had to be diverted to Little Rock, Arkansas. They never were able to get back in the air due to the storm so he had to spend the night there & take a flight out this morning & then when he got to Dallas he had to rent a car to come home because they said the next flight they could get him on would be at 10:45 tonight. He didn't relish spending the whole day wandering around Dallas, so he just got a car & drove home.

 

[morgangirl1]

My broody hen took a potty/stretch break and I candled her eggs. At first I thought none were developing. But, then I candled an egg from the fridge from my flock. Now I'm confused... what I saw when I candled was no spider veins. I did see a fairly large dark blob that moved around when I rotated the egg on maybe all of them, or at least most of them. I thought it was the egg yolk but the egg yolk didn't show up on the fridge egg. It's day 8 I believe. No circular bloodlines, that I could tell.

Do you think they are developing or not?

I will be siding with the rest of the crew, when I was working on our first batch I was watching them grow and the only excitement I was having was noticing the dark blob. To be honest I had always looked for a blob and not the veins I suppose.

 

[HEChicken]

Zig, the shells get thinner as time goes on when incubating so it is easier to see the yolk in an egg that has been incubated for awhile, than a fresh chicken egg. It is possible there is no development and you are just seeing the yolk moving around in there but I'd definitely leave them be for awhile longer. Seeing veins is easier with experience and also depends on the strength of your flashlight. I do remember being frustrated candling in the beginning because mine never looked as clear as those photos on that link someone posted for you awhile back, but then my DH got me a really good LED flashlight and suddenly I was not only seeing veins but could make out the toes on a chick's foot as it swam around! A good flashlight makes all the difference in the world.

Well, it looks like we had a frost last night. Sigh. It seems like the first frost is earlier and earlier every year - last year it was mid-October. Then as is always the way, it warms back up and we could have had stuff growing for another 4-6 weeks if we just hadn't had that one early frost. I almost don't dare go up to see my garden this morning. I'm sure the tomatoes and zukes will be history and I'll have to do one last harvest and turn the fruit into salsa.

I have 3 mother hens with chicks 1-3 weeks of age who have been quite independent for some time now. I bet they were all quite happy to sleep under their nice warm mamas last night though! My silkie went broody a couple of days ago but she has been living in my hoop coop with a few other bantams for awhile now so she has gone broody in a great place to brood her own eggs. I gave her a few eggs last night and we'll see how they do. It will be near the end of October before they hatch so they'll be tough little chicks, growing up over the winter.

 

[sharol]

I have 3 mother hens with chicks 1-3 weeks of age who have been quite independent for some time now. I bet they were all quite happy to sleep under their nice warm mamas last night though! My silkie went broody a couple of days ago but she has been living in my hoop coop with a few other bantams for awhile now so she has gone broody in a great place to brood her own eggs. I gave her a few eggs last night and we'll see how they do. It will be near the end of October before they hatch so they'll be tough little chicks, growing up over the winter.

My latest batch is the most independent bunch I've ever seen. My chickens are free in the fenced yard when I'm home. The little pills get out under the fence where it is a bit off the ground and take off to explore on their own. Yesterday Graycie was having a holy fit by the fence, and I went out to help. 5 of the 6 were 50 yards away under the cedar tree having a great time. She was FRANTIC. I chased them back in the yard (through the gate this time), and she scolded them and herded them into their run. I shut them in for the rest of the afternoon. You could see her relief that they were contained and safe.

The BR's especially are a problem because they are significantly smaller than the speckled sussex and they are also much more interested in wandering. I just hope something doesn't eat them before they get too big to slip out under the fence. The area is too uneven to patch the fence, so I guess until they get a little bigger, I'll just have to keep supervising them.

 

[chicken danz]

I have about 2, maybe 3 sweet potato plants that I want to see if they produce anything. Now will be a good time to dig them up if there are any sweet potatoes then I'll have to let them sit for a couple of weeks before cooking them. Fingers crossed.

Tweety I've always read to wait until the first frost to dig sweetpotatoes because it makes the sugar go down into them. I don't know how cold it got here last night cause I didn't think to look when I got up. I doubt it was enough to give them a good frost though. I will have to look later. I really haven't had time to do much of anything and the garden is pretty much a weed patch at this time. I do have sweet potatoes though. I'm just not sure how they did. Last year it just wasn't hot enough for them to produce well.

I'm so pleased! My rooster who was having issues with his legs and kept falling over because he was so wobbly is Much better. There's only a faint hint of a wobble now and then and he doesn't seem to be in pain any more. I was pretty worried about him for a while.
My Brahma chick seems to be having problems with one or possibly both of it's eyes. They don't open all the way. It seems fine other than that tho. Eating and acting like all the others. Should I worry about it? I didn't notice any redness or discharge just that they seemed half closed most of the time.

If you have some neosporin you might put a little in his eyes. It is excellent and the same compounds that are used for prescription eye treatments. It could simply be the shape of his eyes or a little dust irritating them.

@chicken danz - That building looks like a great size.

@tweetybaby2005 - Totally off topic... what is claying a car. I have a guess but it's a term I've not heard before.

My broody hen took a potty/stretch break and I candled her eggs. At first I thought none were developing. But, then I candled an egg from the fridge from my flock. Now I'm confused... what I saw when I candled was no spider veins. I did see a fairly large dark blob that moved around when I rotated the egg on maybe all of them, or at least most of them. I thought it was the egg yolk but the egg yolk didn't show up on the fridge egg. It's day 8 I believe. No circular bloodlines, that I could tell.

Do you think they are developing or not?

Everyone probably looks at these things differently . I never toss an egg before 13-14 days. Some of them are just a lot harder to see and some breeds actually develop in the egg at different rates. My guess is that they are either fertile and developing or started developing and have died. Just give it time. If you weren't candling in the dark I wouldn't assume anything at all. Patience.
I was so busy yesterday I didn't even have time to look at the posts. I had company all day. It was also so cold and wet and miserable. I need time to acclimate to this weather. I had aching joints last night and this morning woke up with my neck very stiff and sore. I kind of feel like that all winter. There wasn't a lot of progress on the building yesterday due to very high winds, rain, and cold. They did get the windows and doors in and trim up around them. This morning they are hanging insulation and I saw them moving some of the siding metal. I kind of think if the weather cooperates they might finish today. These guys are fast and efficient for sure. If I could build like that things would sure be different around here.
I had a friend come down yesterday and buy some birds so that was a help. I got him to bring me 14 bags of chick starter cause he can buy it much cheaper than I can. Even after paying for that I made a couple hundred dollars more.
I need to sell lots more.

 

[HEChicken]

My latest batch is the most independent bunch I've ever seen. My chickens are free in the fenced yard when I'm home. The little pills get out under the fence where it is a bit off the ground and take off to explore on their own. Yesterday Graycie was having a holy fit by the fence, and I went out to help. 5 of the 6 were 50 yards away under the cedar tree having a great time. She was FRANTIC. I chased them back in the yard (through the gate this time), and she scolded them and herded them into their run. I shut them in for the rest of the afternoon. You could see her relief that they were contained and safe.

The BR's especially are a problem because they are significantly smaller than the speckled sussex and they are also much more interested in wandering. I just hope something doesn't eat them before they get too big to slip out under the fence. The area is too uneven to patch the fence, so I guess until they get a little bigger, I'll just have to keep supervising them.

Mine do that as well. My chicken yard fence is 2x4 welded wire - the chicks slip right through and think its wonderful to browse by themselves in the hedge. The mothers are used to it and just kind of wait patiently by the fence for them to come back. Last year I lost two to my neighbor's cat and this year I've heard mother's calling in panic because they've spotted the cat but the chicks this year seem to be better about listening to their mother's frantic cries and come running when she sees the cat, because I haven't lost any this year. I have 6 right now that are still small enough to fit through the fence but they've been free-ranging for a couple of weeks and so far so good. In another couple of weeks they won't fit through any more.

Danz - wow - that they are so close to finishing. I can't wait to see some updated pics.

I've been up to my garden to check and think I'll have lost quite bit to the frost. Its hard to tell this early because the leaves haven't actually wilted yet but in my experience it is the next day that it is obvious which ones are gone.

I brought in one ripe tomato this morning along with two huge zucchini - marrows really - and one zucchini that I got to while it is still regulation size. There are several smaller ones and I'm giving them another day just in case but those plants look pretty affected so I'm doubting it.

 

[chicken danz]

I have that one barred rock chick that keeps slipping out through the 2X4 wire. I saw him day before yesterday really struggling to get back in. I hope when he can no longer make it one way or another he is inside and not outside. He's such an idenpendant little bird.
They are putting siding on as they insulate. I am loving the color. I wish I could put siding on my house to match it. Well maybe some day I can make that happen but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Zig, the shells get thinner as time goes on when incubating so it is easier to see the yolk in an egg that has been incubated for awhile, than a fresh chicken egg. It is possible there is no development and you are just seeing the yolk moving around in there but I'd definitely leave them be for awhile longer. Seeing veins is easier with experience and also depends on the strength of your flashlight. I do remember being frustrated candling in the beginning because mine never looked as clear as those photos on that link someone posted for you awhile back, but then my DH got me a really good LED flashlight and suddenly I was not only seeing veins but could make out the toes on a chick's foot as it swam around! A good flashlight makes all the difference in the world.

Well, it looks like we had a frost last night. Sigh. It seems like the first frost is earlier and earlier every year - last year it was mid-October. Then as is always the way, it warms back up and we could have had stuff growing for another 4-6 weeks if we just hadn't had that one early frost. I almost don't dare go up to see my garden this morning. I'm sure the tomatoes and zukes will be history and I'll have to do one last harvest and turn the fruit into salsa.

I have 3 mother hens with chicks 1-3 weeks of age who have been quite independent for some time now. I bet they were all quite happy to sleep under their nice warm mamas last night though! My silkie went broody a couple of days ago but she has been living in my hoop coop with a few other bantams for awhile now so she has gone broody in a great place to brood her own eggs. I gave her a few eggs last night and we'll see how they do. It will be near the end of October before they hatch so they'll be tough little chicks, growing up over the winter.

Sorry about your garden we work so hard and Mother Nature comes in with an attitude and is over it in 24 hours LOL. We did our harvest yesterday, but I don't think it even froze last night here. We have plenty of zucchini if you live close enough, I am having trouble finding homes for it all!

My boys were already reaping the benefits of Harvest. My youngest was quite proud of his tiny eggplant.


I have a late broody too, she is due for hatch in a week. I don't plan to fuss with any chicks over the winter (so I say now), so that and what is in the incubator due a week later will be the last of 2014!

 

[Trish44]

tarabellabirds, that's quite a harvest, wow! I'll be glad when I can have a garden again.

I guess we're finally going to get to see our granddaughter for a couple of hours this afternoon, it's been awhile since she's been able to come over.

 

[chicken danz]

My building is done. I love it. Now for the hard work...Finishing the inside.