First Time Hatching....Round 2

[MotherHen757]

Thanks KZ...I'm so addicted! Now we are going to put some others together and maybe hatch some EEs, and some other mixes! All is good because my husband is as addicted as I am! We have a Welsummer Hen (lost two and only have one left) and one Golden-Laced Wyandotte hen (lost two of those as well) that are not laying yet, but as soon as they do, they will be separated so we can hatch some of those. We just sold off about 18 hens in the last week or two to make room for some more!

 

[KZ]

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So I have to ask, what are you doing with the roos you hatch? I hope to have a big hatch, but I want to keep the nicest hens and roos and sell the rest. I don't know if anyone will buy the roos, though. Also, since I have to keep a lot of chickens until I can see what is what (and who is who) I will need to be building some more coops! I think I will put my 4-5 week old chicks in one (with heat) and use it as a grow out pen, as well. Then I can sell out of that coop. I should be able to tell hens from roos at 6 weeks.

 

[MotherHen757]

KZ - I can't tell the roos from the hens at this point! I will try and sell them at Chicken Swaps in our area or on Craigslist...we are running out of room as well. We only have 4.5 acres...lol! We have several dog pens we are using temporarily to separate some of the flock and to keep roos from fighting with each other. The Cochins are about five weeks old now I think...but still is hard to tell. They just went outside with a light because they were getting really stinky in the rec room downstairs! So, to answer your question, we don't know what we will do!

 

[Kathryn4629]

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What kind did you get? I forgot and can't find it in the old messages.

I got Dorkings. I really like the fact that they are rare and need some help developing the breed.

 

[Kathryn4629]

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So I have to ask, what are you doing with the roos you hatch? I hope to have a big hatch, but I want to keep the nicest hens and roos and sell the rest. I don't know if anyone will buy the roos, though. Also, since I have to keep a lot of chickens until I can see what is what (and who is who) I will need to be building some more coops! I think I will put my 4-5 week old chicks in one (with heat) and use it as a grow out pen, as well. Then I can sell out of that coop. I should be able to tell hens from roos at 6 weeks.

I have also been contemplating what to do with all the roos. Not sure if anyone will buy them in this area. I have to consider butchering them... it seem to be more cost effective when considering giving then away for free.

That is just my .02

 

[MotherHen757]

I would raise them up myself if I could find someone else to butcher them for me!

Are you hatching now?

 

[Kathryn4629]

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I butchered a lot of chickens as a kid. I hated plucking, I think if I did it now I would just skin them. In my opinion if we have chickens we should lean how to butcher them. I know someone around here will butcher for $2 a bird, so I guess its an individual choice.

Yes I currently have 18 Dorking eggs that I got in the mail today and 12 barnyard mutts under a broody. I also have 8 3 week olds in the brooder.

Oh and I am already thinking of more eggs to get.

 

[KZ]

I don't think I can do the processing (I can't even say the "b" word). There is a place around here that charges $2.50 a bird. I have never done this before, so it's all new. I would prefer to eat my own healthy chickens but I just can't do the deed at this point in time.

On a lighter note, I have to show y'all a couple of pictures of my chicks eating. I don't know if they eat all the time, but whenever I am visiting them, they all run to the feeder and have at it. Eating and pooping machines.

Here they are before they notice I am taking a picture:

Then suddenly, a couple of them notice - the little black ones couldn't care less:

 

[Kathryn4629]

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WOW great brooder!!! Where did you get it?

They are so cute all lined up

Great photos!

 

[KZ]

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It's a GQF Brooder and I got it from them (GQF).

I love it. Chicks can't poop in their food or turn it over, same thing with water. It has a sliding metal tray I line with newspaper underneath to catch the poop (chicks are on wire) so no wood shavings. I can change the newspaper daily with ease. I find it is much cleaner than the brooders I made in years past. It's very easy to see into, also, so it is fun to watch them. In short, everything I didn't like about brooding (the constant mess in the water dish, the spilled food, the smell) have been taken care of, and only the cute chicks part is left.