First hatch!!

[rlh1]

LOL I started out saying "we will only have 2" I now have a red sex link, black sex link, two EE. A serema, bantam Cochin and an Ameraucana silkie mix that I'm getting from Utah soon. I'm hatching SBEL and OE, which I will keep one each of. And silkie eggs coming tomorrow that I will keep two of, one for me and one for my niece in MO. LOL what am I doing!?!

 

[loveourbirds]

I am you 300 or 400 birds later LOL.... be careful. chickaholics anonymous is looking for new members.

 

[rlh1]

I may have to join!300 or 400!?! What do you do with them all? I can't have much more unless I sell my house and move where I will have property...which is an option. LOL

 

[loveourbirds]

I have 7 acres of hillside in southern ohio. we have built special barns just for the chickens. a standard sized pair, or up to 4 small bantams get a 3 foot by 4 foot cage. each cage has its own light to help keep them warm in winter. in the summer we open the top half of the walls to allow a lot of airflow. then I have outdoor runs so they get some grass. not every bird gets grass every day. unfortunately if I let my birds run, the coon, coyote, mink, fox, dogs, would all be full.

my wife wanted me home more, I told her I needed a hobby. my hobby overran my yard LOL

 

[azer]

It does get addictive I made a home made incubator had a successful hatch 10 jersey giants so I ordered some more eggs right now I have 15 a&m quail eggs and 10 chukur partrige eggs. I also have 20 5 week old chicks so this does get very addictive watch out! Lol

 

[rlh1]

How do you go about finding buyers? I'm in Las Vegas. There are a few people that are selling chickens but not very many. Do you advertise or is it word of mouth?

 

[azer]

I posted my jersey giants on Craig's list so far I sold 3 I'm keeping 3 they are great egg layers.. I have 4 for sale.. I reposted the add today the babys are 2 weeks old.. the older they get the more expensive they are so a lot of people like to get them when they are baby chicks still. When are your babys hatching???

 

[loveourbirds]

I advertise my more common chicks, and second year birds on craigslist. if you hatch eggs from younger hens, you usually get more hens. so I typically don't keep the same birds from year to year.

my more expensive birds i take to swaps with no intent of returning home with them. i sort them by quality and price accordingly. if you do trade, remember to isolate new birds on your farm for 2-4 weeks to watch for illness.

 

[rlh1]

Thank you for the info everyone. I can see how this incubation stuff can be addicting! I saw heart beats tonight!

 

[loveourbirds]

you are reminding me of myself LOL. if you must keep looking in your eggs, try to keep it at the point where you open your incubator to simulate the hen getting up. do your best not to turn the egg, but if you do; don't panic.

incubation is an exact science, but ive never seen a broody hen with a science book. just do your best to be no different than the hen and you will be fine.