Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

I don't really know the answer to your questions, but are these the eggs that were crossed with the marans? Marans can be notoriously late to hatch. I have never had any luck helping chicks out if they are not already pipped. Also, if they were in a styrofoam incubator sometimes the temps are not quite even and some may be later than others.

Maybe someone else can give you better advice.

Congratulations on your first hatches!

Which ones are hatching? Any of the ameraucanas hatching yet? If any of the crossed chicks are hatching, what do they look like? You know we have a rule here you have to post pics of your fuzzybutts!

 

[pikeman94]

Kinda bummed this evening.

Came home to find one of my birds dead from what appears to be a hawk attack. The other 5 birds were freaked out and hiding near the AC unit. I think what happened was that Anise (the not-so lucky bird) was sitting on top of the coop when she was attacked. I haven't told my daughter yet and I know she will be devastated. Such is life. Now the question is do I wait till next Spring or get a full grown or near grown bird now? Any suggestions? If I got the full grown route I would go with a Maran (sp?) or maybe an EE. Anyone have either of those breeds or know someone I could get one from? I live on the western edge of Olathe. Let me know.

Going to bed sad,

Pikeman94

 

[CanChaser]

Ivywoods, b4 I got eggs from u I had got a few from Bama. I'm not sure what they r but they r darn cute! I will post pics tomarrow! The ones from u are due to hatch on the 21rst! Not much longer now! Can't wait!!!

 

[Ivywoods]

Quote:
I'm so sorry to hear this. Fortunately I haven't lost any birds to predators since we got our guard dogs, with the exception of one guinea hen I lost to an owl one morning. I have quite a few birds I let free range, but my breeders are kept penned up separately. We have a lot of owls around here and since they are protected, I don't know what one would do about that other than keep them all locked up. My guineas all free range, so they are suceptible to owls and hawks.

I do have some super nice ameraucanas and black copper marans, but I have sold down to just my breeders for the winter, other than a few extra cockerells. I will have plenty of hatching eggs and chicks in the spring however. I will have purebred eggs for hatching earlier than that, but I don't plan to do any hatching until spring.

 

[chicken danz]

Canchaser, Don't help those eggs; especially if you are using a styro incubator, just add more humidity. A couple of sponges soaked to dripping laid on the screen often helps. Patience and humidity are the key here.
Pikeman, If you can find a bird I'd get it now. The prices will be sky high in the spring for any kind of hen unless it is getting too old to lay. Look on Craigslist farm and garden.
Well I had a exasperating night last night. Renee was here to get the guineas and I decided to try to show her the birds although it was late and dark and we didn't get to see the ones I was looking for. When we went to my main hen house there was a possum in there. I guess my dogs were just too busy trying to make love to Renee. (My male acted like she was the love of his life. He jumped on her and I don't think he's ever jumped on anyone before. It's usually just that leaning on you and handing you a paw.) The dogs never did get upset about that possum. I wonder why they ignored it? Anyway DH disposed of it I guess it was a stroke of luck that we walked out there. I also suppose that means I am going to have to start shutting up the pens at night which I've gotten very lazy about not doing.
It was very nice to meet you too, Renee. It is so nice to meet those you are talking to.

 

[checoukan]

Danz Those darn possums, Lucky you your DH was there to help you out. I think this winter is going really tough for preditors, and I think we have just seen the start of the problems.

 

[tntblake]

Quote:
The possums must be really think this year. Just yesterday morning someone had hit one on our street and last night I was on my way home from my moms and walking up my street was another one. I very rarely see one in my neighborhood and to see two in one day is crazy. I hope they don't try to get into my coop.

 

[Trish44]

I hate possums! Those darned things ate half my guineas in one night, man did they have a feast that night. I'm not giving them a chance now to get my chickens, they're locked up at night.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well, I got SO much work done today! But my fingers are nearly froze off.

The only thing left to do is hang the vent door (it's made and painted--but I can't find the hinges I bought!!) and put the dividers into the nest box and put up the roosts. All of that can be done tomorrow, I know it will be cold, but I'll be mostly inside the coop. Let's hope I can finish the inside. The outside is nearly done, too! I got the nest box framed out and painted. I even made the pop door system with wire that will run thru eyelets and be opened from the outside. I didn't get pictures of that, I'll do that later. I drilled a hole in the front of the coop up high under the eaves and hammered in a metal bushing for the wire to run thru so that it won't rip into my wood when it slides open/closed. The wire hangs down and I'm going to crimp on a clasp that will hook onto an eyelet on the outside so it can be locked in the "open" position.

First picture show the nest box framed out and painted (dividers will be put in tomorrow- the paint is drying). The pop door has clear plexi glass in it, but it is so clear, you can't see it. The other opening is the vent and I can't find the hinges to put the door on. (of course!)

Second picture shows the other side of the coop and the vinyl I ran up the wall. That is where the roosts are going, so I figured it would be easier to clean off poop on the wall if I put vinyl up there. I still need one more tack strip along the side of the wall where it is hanging out a bit.

 

[Trish44]

Wow, Hawkeye, that's beautiful! It looks really nice, your chickens are going to love that!

Gosh I went out a bit ago to make sure all the chickens had gotten into the coop so I could shut the run door. I had to go fill their water & wanted to fill up their feeders before the cold gets here & it's already getting darned cold out there. That wind just whips through you. My tarp flew off the south side of the run completely today, so I'm done putting it back up. I'm going to the store in a bit & get a heavier one, the clear plastic just won't hold up to the wind. I've put it back up 3 times & now I'll have to mess with the new one in the darned cold, ugh.