I need help.

[AccidentalFarm]

If you got them the day before Easter, they have to be at least 4 1/2 weeks old and should be close to the size and feathering of the first picture I posted.

 

[Cheri]

You know what? You are a god send. I appreciate all the advice you have given me. That goes to show how nice us Texans are, right? Yeah I guess they are about 4 1/2 weeks old. I would do baby chicks again in a heart beat. I don't know what I was so worried about.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

LOL, well thanks. I like to think Texans are a friendly bunch.

I'm pretty new to chickens as well, I've learned from the great folks here on BYC, Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (better known as 'the chicken bible'), and learn-as-I-go experience. I'm glad to help out when I can, but I'm mostly here looking for answers everyday myself!

Good Luck with your chickies...but be forewarned...it's an addictive hobby!

 

[tffstpp]

I've raised turkeys for as long as I've raised chickens and aven't had an problems at all. I've even had to stick chicken eggs under a Royal Palm hen who didn't have any fertile eggs.

 

[Cheri]

Quote:
OO cool. Now don't nobody get me wrong but my turkeys are going to be eaten eventually. My chickens are because my husband loves yard eggs. I like to hear the roosters crow and the hens cluck. I am also fixing to raise two pigs. One boar and one sow. I want to raise baby pigs and maybe make a little cash on the side.

 

[iopele]

I have a question if anyone knows. How do they dye the chicks--I mean, what do they use and how is it actually done? I've seen the dyed babies so many times and never bought any because I don't know what is done to them. If they dye them really fast and it's not toxic or scary to the babies, I'd love to know. I imagine all these newborn chicks getting dumped in vats of chemicals and coming up half-drowned and terrified... I'm a big softie, and I would hate to support anything that was harmful or traumatic to the chicks, but they're so dang cute in all those colors.

(Oh, and please don't think I'm criticizing anyone who's bought the easter chicks! I'm not, really. I know I'm overparanoid about stuff like this. Just wondering if anyone knows how the dyeing is done so my mind can be put to rest and I might be able to buy my boys cute little colorful chicks next year... thanks!

)

 

[Cheri]

I have no clue but I once heard it was food color tho.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

The egg is injected with dye prior to hatch. I have 4 of the little dyed chicks and they are all fine, growing like weeds. The dye is totally gone after the bird feathers out.

I don't believe it is harmful in respect to the dye used.

 

[Cheri]

That is so cool.