Dixie Chicks

[minihorse927]

That's what I did with the Marans I did get to hatch out... went fully dry til lockdown... and yeah, I just went to check humidity in the bator, it was down to 15%, and the constant rain for 3 days upped it to 27% all by itself...

left the tray out all night long, and it is at 31%. Think I'll leave it out.

 

[vehve]

Is anyone weighing their eggs to monitor the weight loss? That would be interesting, to try to work out the optimal weight loss ratio. That should be a more universal tool than blindly staring at the humidity, since air flow would affect what's happening in the egg too.

 

[Outpost JWB]

I put my eggs in the cooker at 10:30pm. Most have been fully washed because they were so soiled. I am just experimenting

. I'll let you all know how it turns out. In the meantime, there is work & housework to be done! Oh, and I am still searching for a SS hen, or 2 or 5.

@Beer can , glad you are better!

@minihorse927 , Sorry you had non hatchers. Slackers.

@vehve , nice step by step pics on the hutch. Can you send Karin to Ohio to help me build one?? It's a lovely state....Really! LOL! Just bring your mud boots!
I am in total agreement about culling the chick. I only have one gimped up chicken. She was born with a bad eye. Thought it was some infection, but later came to the conclusion it was something in the birthing process went wrong. Her mom and dad were genetically fine and not related. She is 1/2 cochin and therefore hardly ever lays eggs, so I don't worry about hatching out any of her eggs. Other chicks have had scissor beak, acted weak at birth, or whatever. We have tried and sometimes successfully nurtured them back to what we thought was good health, only to lose them later and realize I should have culled it as a chick.

@Amberjem , Your projects are looking good too!

Well, I gotta wake up the family and get ready for work. I am working at different branches now. I get paid drive time and mileage. It's awesome, but sometimes confusing! Where am I today? LOL! Have a great day everyone!

 

[vehve]

JWB, I think I'd rather keep her here... she's good on the mud boots though. She's got... let's see... summer and winter versions of neoprene boots, short boots, two pairs of safety boots, although the other pair is missing, a cheap pair of boots somewhere, and then a pair of crocs boots. So that's, what, 8 pairs of mud boots. Combat boots she's only got two pairs of, and gore tex sneakers two as well. But high heeled shoes? A grand total of zero. She finally tossed those godawfully ugly ballerinas that have been looking like a dog ate them for years already, so hopefully she will buy a pair of decent looking shoes for dressier occasions soon. Usually men complain that their spouses buy way too many dresses or shoes, but I don't have that problem.

 

[minihorse927]

I appreciate it JWB. I figured some wouldn't hatch since I was having to learn a new incubator. Doesn't ale it any less aggravating.

 

[vehve]

I've been struggling with the chicks not getting enough to eat, they don't seem to find my chick feed mix palatable, but now I finally managed to make it tasty for them. I mixed together a few spoons of cottage cheese, an egg, some creme fraiche, vitamins, and added this to the chick feed, I'd say the feed made up about two quarters of the container. I also threw in a bit of dill, and water, and put it all through a mixer. The mommies looked at the weird, green end result with a puzzled look for a minute, but once Emma tried it, she started clucking like crazy, and the chicks started eating it pretty enthusiastically too. The nice part about adding dairy to my feed is that it should balance out the lack of methionine in it.

 

[hennible]

Anyone consider that the birds being purebred, are just a little weaker genetically?
Like with overbred anything.

 

[Razadia]

Morning, afternoon, and whatever else to everyone. Woke up running a fever, but I actually feel a little better today.

 

[hennible]

Green snot?
Hope you don't have a sinus infection raz

 

[BriardChickens]

JWB, I think I'd rather keep her here... she's good on the mud boots though. She's got... let's see... summer and winter versions of neoprene boots, short boots, two pairs of safety boots, although the other pair is missing, a cheap pair of boots somewhere, and then a pair of crocs boots. So that's, what, 8 pairs of mud boots. Combat boots she's only got two pairs of, and gore tex sneakers two as well. But high heeled shoes? A grand total of zero. She finally tossed those godawfully ugly ballerinas that have been looking like a dog ate them for years already, so hopefully she will buy a pair of decent looking shoes for dressier occasions soon. Usually men complain that their spouses buy way too many dresses or shoes, but I don't have that problem.

Well lets see:
a pair ofeach:
8" steel toe boots (work shoes, so wear them pretty much 6 days a week)
winter boots
runners
rubber rain boots
1 tall pair of black boots for going out
2 pairs of flip flops

... and dh forced me to buy a pair of black ballerina flats for dresses when we went to St. Lucia in March