EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BantyChooks]

View attachment 1047043

Believe me, I don't need more of them things. They're hanging from every corner of the house. Shudder.

I was thinking like a nice cold spell... A blizzard.... Not more spiders.

 

[Pensmaster]

Shoulda seen it a month before that pic was taken. That pen in the back was completely covered in snow.

Just a hunch, huh?? You poor thing.
Send the snow my way, I need something to kill all these black flies and mosquitoes. My poor ankles...

The heat also sends them flying.
When the flies aren't buzzing it's too hot.
Well have too get to work.

 

[BantyChooks]

The heat also sends them flying.
When the flies aren't buzzing it's too hot.
Well have too get to work.

If the flies aren't out, it's too hot to sustain life. You all are crazy.

Enjoy.

 

[dan26552]

So Banty, you on desktop?

 

[BantyChooks]

So Banty, you on desktop?

Ayup. I'll go look now.

 

[BantyChooks]

#70097

Here, Dan. It's partway through.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Night all! Loved the roo parade! I'll be counting roo s tonight instead of sheep lol

My elderly aunt called me during the day yesterday to chat. I was on my bluetooth headset and was outside, and the boys started crowing all over the place. I had to apologize to her and explain that they do that EVERY time I'm on the phone.

They made a racket this morning. There are others with roosters around me, but I have my bedroom in the back corner of the house so I hear the crowing louder than any neighbor would. No complaints (and they didn't start until 5:15 - they've done 4:30 before), but it makes me nervous when they are as loud as that. I hope it settles down soon. In my experience, the young ones are the ones that start earliest and won't shut up (including daytime as well). Bachelors as well. They should mellow out in a bit, just going through some growing pains. The "old married men" totally like to sleep in.

Aren't they gorgeous? Unfortunately, the cockerel seems to be requiring some "corrective training" as I don't like his attitude. He doesn't have enough fear in him. Handled the brat too much as a chick, overriding all my principles just 'cos he was cute... Bad idea. Hope he doesn't suffer for it.

Bummer. Well, since the weather is warmer now for you, may I recommend a blast of water to the face? (Hose or one of those super soakers). Works very well and you don't have to get in there and try to catch/hold them like some of the other suggestions for correction... If he's smart he'll learn to recognize the hose/super soaker like mine do.

Morning, Banti!

And anyone else who is on!

Morning everyone. AC never turned off last night. We finally put it at 84 to get it to stop.

I hate nights like that. I actually am overdue to have the AC folks come and do my regular maintenance - I should call them today.

I like the picture because of the snow. Ok and Topaz taking off.
Summer seems a little early this year. We usually get a week or so of these temps but then they settle into the 90's. Just a hunch here but we're getting more than a week of this this year.
Our bank of snow in the mountains is in jeopardy.

Ugh. Sorry to hear. We get the occasional day(s) in the 100s in June (sometimes as early as May), but things don't really get ugly until July/August. Then in September it's similar temps, but more breezy, and so a little better (high pressure dome from July/August moves). It doesn't actually truly cool down until October, and you don't need a jacket or sweater until after Thanksgiving (if that).

Shoulda seen it a month before that pic was taken. That pen in the back was completely covered in snow.

Just a hunch, huh?? You poor thing.
Send the snow my way, I need something to kill all these black flies and mosquitoes. My poor ankles...

My legs look like I have smallpox or something - chiggers. I use lots of bug spray, but I think it's sweating off. Bought some of that Deep Woods Off that's supposed to be sweat resistant this weekend.

The heat also sends them flying.
When the flies aren't buzzing it's too hot.
Well have too get to work.

That's true - the flies are worse when it's cooler. As our hot is dry, the poop doesn't smell as much either (though I clean much more frequently in the summer anyway).

I was very pleased this AM to see that the newly installed automatic doors opened as they should have (not that I thought they wouldn't, but still), and most of the chickens figured out to go through them (they had been coming and going through the human door). Some of the S&G boys are a little slow, but Bubba came through it and out to say good morning to me. Kirk (in the next paddock) took exception, as he thought Bubba was flirting with his girls, and tried to fly out. Fortunately didn't make it and tangled a bit in the flagging tape before coming down - hope he's learned not to try that again, the only losses I've had are ones that get out of their paddocks and can't figure out how to get back in.

I had some nighttime visitors knocking stuff over in the yard. Need to get a trap. Whadda pain.

- Ant Farm

 

[BantyChooks]

Bummer. Well, since the weather is warmer now for you, may I recommend a blast of water to the face? (Hose or one of those super soakers). Works very well and you don't have to get in there and try to catch/hold them like some of the other suggestions for correction... If he's smart he'll learn to recognize the hose/super soaker like mine do.

My legs look like I have smallpox or something - chiggers. I use lots of bug spray, but I think it's sweating off. Bought some of that Deep Woods Off that's supposed to be sweat resistant this weekend.

That's true - the flies are worse when it's cooler. As our hot is dry, the poop doesn't smell as much either (though I clean much more frequently in the summer anyway).

- Ant Farm

I don't have the hose on much, or it'd be a great weapon---good idea, thanks. As for the super soaker... You really think the rugrats won't steal it?

He isn't bad now, I just see some body posturing that speaks about what's in his head, as well as more crowing near me than I'd like and a complete lack of fear.
I think I'm going to start with just making sure he stays at least 5' away from me at all times, and build up to him actively scooting it whenever I come in the coop. I don't want nor need hand-tamed roosters.
My lead rooster, Pebbles, acted up just once as a cockerel... He dropped a wing towards me and did a side shuffle. I smacked him a good one and he's been an angel since.

What are chiggers, anyway? I've often heard of them, but haven't encountered them. Are they a southern pest?

The heat wouldn't be half so bad here if it didn't always come with 80% humidity, sometimes 90%. Can't live in it, feels like breathing pea soup.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I don't have the hose on much, or it'd be a great weapon---good idea, thanks. As for the super soaker... You really think the rugrats won't steal it?

He isn't bad now, I just see some body posturing that speaks about what's in his head, as well as more crowing near me than I'd like and a complete lack of fear.
I think I'm going to start with just making sure he stays at least 5' away from me at all times, and build up to him actively scooting it whenever I come in the coop. I don't want nor need hand-tamed roosters.
My lead rooster, Pebbles, acted up just once as a cockerel... He dropped a wing towards me and did a side shuffle. I smacked him a good one and he's been an angel since.

What are chiggers, anyway? I've often heard of them, but haven't encountered them. Are they a southern pest?

Water is nice because it can be applied from a distance, and you don't have to smack them or anything. (I have mixed results with smacking - if they're pissed enough, it just makes them come more or think you're trying to escalate.)

Chiggers are horrific. See below. "Insanely itchy welts" doesn't even begin to describe it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombiculidae

OK, I gotta go to work. Later!

- Ant Farm

 

[BantyChooks]

Water is nice because it can be applied from a distance, and you don't have to smack them or anything. (I have mixed results with smacking - if they're pissed enough, it just makes them come more or think you're trying to escalate.)

Chiggers are horrific. See below. "Insanely itchy welts" doesn't even begin to describe it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombiculidae

OK, I gotta go to work. Later!

- Ant Farm

I squirt the chickens that go after the ducks if I happen to have the hose out. They scream like little girls and run for it... Makes sense that it would help a roo turning bad.

They sound awful. Keep them.