i got my FR's today!

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I had an escapee this morning...he climbed on top of the waterer and pushed open the little door at the top and off he went. Found him running around the room on the floor and they are FAST!!! Getting so big now at two weeks.

I also got mine from freedomrangers.com and split an order with several people which is how I only got 13.

2 weeks down; 7 to go!! But boy oh boy do they STINK!!

I believe they will be going down the basement today. I can't take it anymore.

 

[blue90292]

Quote:
yes, i noticed my group is pooping up a storm. they're still in my metal brooder and seem to be doing well. they've slowed down a bit and are starting to drink more water. they are about twice as big as the other two week olds and a bit bigger than the dark cornish i got for free from ideal.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I have mine in a bird-aquarium (the kind used to display birds at pet stores) and it works well but they are quickly outgrowing it.

What do you use for bedding? I'm just using newspaper for now because it's easier to clean. Have to clean it twice a day.

 

[blue90292]

Quote:
i have four of these.

https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=49

of course, not as fancy and as new. i got it used from this guy down the road thats no longer doing chickens. as a matter of fact, i can't figure out the electrical problem in it so i have heat lamps in there instead. lol. but it's the best money i've ever spent for my chickens.

anyway, i have them in there so they are on wire at the moment. i just have to pull out the metal pan underneath and clean out the manure occasionally. it's starting to look like i'll have to do it every other day now.

 

[blue90292]

whoa! they just took off to that pooing!!

it was getting pretty bad, so i moved them to a covered pen outside even though they're only a little over 2 weeks old. everyone was alive and doing fine this morning. i moved them all out to the pen and ran a couple of 85 watt bulbs and hung them low. i also put a bunch of shavings in there and they started dust bathing. they seem very happy and were trying out their wings, running real fast and flapping their wings. it's nice to see them happy. i feel bad they're going to be dinner in a couple of months. they are very very nice birds. i'll definitely be ordering from the lady in canada again.

now, this weekend, i'll need to mow the lawn and so i'll give them some grass clippings that they can play with and see how they like that. in a couple of weeks, when they're 4 weeks old and if i still have them, i'll let them start free ranging. i say if i still have them, since i'm thinking about selling them this weekend at $4.50 a chick. i was able to sell my 2 week old mixed breed birds that my broodies hatched for $3 last weekend so we'll see how this goes.

 

[greentree]

My FR's are FLYING!! They are still in the stock tank brooder (2x6x2.5 feet high). I had to move those little Polish in with the older layer chicks, because I has afraid one was going to get "landed" on!! I took the light off of them.

They look really good!!

Nancy

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Mine are a little over 2 weeks old too and doing the same - running and flapping their wings. Got mine in a stock tank brooder too - sounds just like yours Nancy. I moved mine to the basement because I couldn't take the stink anymore and am using newspaper and pine shavings. My coop is almost built so hopefully when they are 4 weeks they can go out.

I have noticed how curious they are though. When I open the door on the end of the tank they all run to the other side, but in a few seconds some bolder ones will walk over to check it out. Had to block all the exits so I didn't have anymore escapees!

$4.50 a peep sounds really good. I hope you can find some buyers! That would be a good profit at this point because you haven't spent that much on feed yet. I'm still on my first 50 lb bag but will need more in a couple days.

 

[greyfields]

My first 50 gold rangers came today. Very handsome little birds.

The brooder currently has some 1-2 week old ducks/geese in it, and I've had two traple deaths this morning.

But, crazy week it's the best I could do to combine the brooders.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Sorry to hear that.

One word of warning: don't move chickens to the basement to avoid the stink upstairs; it only makes it worse when the furnace in the basement blows the stench ALL througout the house...learning the hard way.

The good news is that the outdoor coop is almost built so they will be moving very soon.

 

[blue90292]

Quote:
oh, i'm so sorry. i know how things get when time gets away from you and before you know it, you're trying to figure out where to put everybody. i've had 2 years to make a "general population" coop, and i still haven't made it, but everyone else has their own little coops and pens.

but do you ever go, "crap, there goes $2"? i love my chickens, i hug them, love on them, talk to them, but in reality i can keep chickens cuz it's the only animal i don't feel REALLY guilty about if i sell them, they get killed, eaten, etc. and when they die on me or get killed by a predator, my initial thought is, "darnit, there goes $8!"