Illinois...

[Faraday40]

The chicks are still hatching but I moved some into the Peck N Play brooder last night. I must say they are a very quiet & content bunch. Because eggs are still hatching, I can't say that we slept well, but I can say that loud chick peeping didn't keep anyone awake. The heating pad warmer is also working well. It will take a little for me to get used to, though. When I walk by, the brooder is quiet & I don't see chicks. (They're all snuggled inside the cave like in the pic below.) However, when I put my hand into the brooder, they all come running out to greet me.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Yay, @Faraday40 , hatching has begun! My chicks also seem very content in the cave, come out to eat and drink and say hello. I did move the heating pad onto the bottom of the brooder on some 12 x12 tiles, they seemed a bit cold when I picked them up. I will move it back up on top after a week or so. I really don't think the heating pad would keep them warm enough on 30 degree nites out in the coop at hatch. So will wait a bit before they go out. Can't wait to see more chick pics, love this time of year.

 

[cavemanrich]

The chicks are still hatching but I moved some into the Peck N Play brooder last night. I must say they are a very quiet & content bunch. Because eggs are still hatching, I can't say that we slept well, but I can say that loud chick peeping didn't keep anyone awake. The heating pad warmer is also working well. It will take a little for me to get used to, though. When I walk by, the brooder is quiet & I don't see chicks. (They're all snuggled inside the cave like in the pic below.) However, when I put my hand into the brooder, they all come running out to greet me.

Yay, @Faraday40 , hatching has begun! My chicks also seem very content in the cave, come out to eat and drink and say hello. I did move the heating pad onto the bottom of the brooder on some 12 x12 tiles, they seemed a bit cold when I picked them up. I will move it back up on top after a week or so. I really don't think the heating pad would keep them warm enough on 30 degree nites out in the coop at hatch. So will wait a bit before they go out. Can't wait to see more chick pics, love this time of year.

Just curious... did you place a thermometer to read the temp in the lil cave???

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Just curious... did you place a thermometer to read the temp in the lil cave???

I didn't, I knew just by picking them up after an hour of being in the cave, which is in my basement, that it isn't warm enough. Now when I put the heating pad under them, its such a difference. They are all toasty warm to the touch. So, even though people do put their chicks out right after hatch with these, I am going to wait. I want to ensure that they will be some good healthy chicks, once I put them outside.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Got the email today. My chick's from Heirloom are on their way.I am going thave chicks s galore in the next couple of weeks.

 

[SixChickFlock]

I am trading eating eggs for the beer. (which I am drinking right now!)

This is just for one customer. The local brewery will fill up a growler for $15 which is 3 dozen eggs for me. It's 64 oz of fresh - yummy - Red - beer.

I brew cider, but beer is too fussy for me to make. I am going to see if I can cultivate this type of transaction more (because who really has time for cruddy beer.)

Way to go!
I have been trading eggs for beer occasionally for a year now at a local microbrewery. Best trade so far was 18 eggs for a case of 24 short fills, which are 12 ounce bottles with not quite 12 ounces of extremely tasty fresh beer.

 

[Pixie]

Way to go!
I have been trading eggs for beer occasionally for a year now at a local microbrewery. Best trade so far was 18 eggs for a case of 24 short fills, which are 12 ounce bottles with not quite 12 ounces of extremely tasty fresh beer.

I am all for the bartering lately. It saves on time too! I just need to find more people to trade eggs for stuff I actually want or need. LOL

 

[Junibutt]

Got the email today. My chick's from Heirloom are on their way.I am going thave chicks s galore in the next couple of weeks.

Wow! what are you getting from Heirloom? Pics please when they arrive.

 

[Junibutt]

I found one my red stars huddled in a corner 5 days ago. She is the same one that lost her foot to frostbite last year. I brought her inside the house but she would not eat or drink anything. Her poop was normal but small. Gave her some electrolytes and some scrambled eggs with yogurt via syringe. Next day she would not even open her eyes and kept sitting. Rubbing her comb and wattles would make her open her eyes for a few secs but that's about it.

So, I gave up on her and asked my son to say goodbyes when he went to bed. She stayed that way for almost 2 days going in and out of consciousness and then my son decided to feed her a teaspoon of olive oil along with electrolytes. I kept telling him to let her die in peace but he took a day off from school yesterday (he claims he was sick) and cuddled with her off and on. and fed her olive oil again in the morning and evening.

Today (Day 6), I heard some noise coming out of the sun-room and there was Marcy standing up and eating away her feed. I have no idea if she will survive or whether it was the olive oil or the TLC she received but at least she has woken up!

 

[Faraday40]

Here are some of my new chicks The last egg just hatched around 1am this morning. (Happy St Patrick's Day!) I have 2 more eggs (from a lav orp & an EE) but I couldn't see an internal pip last night, so I'll be tossing them later today.
25 eggs went into lockdown & 23 chicks hatched. - 92% Most of the eggs hatched Mon-Tues(day 20-21), so when an egg pipped on Wed afternoon, I was very surprised. Although I had eggs hatch on day 23 before, I've never had an egg hatch so late when compared to the group.


Black & Lav Orpingtons




Here are a few of the Apenzeller Spitzhauben


Unfortunately I did a poor job picking out the Biele eggs. My friend has a Biele roo with 4 Bieles & 4 Black sex Link hens. All 4 chicks I hatched are mixes. 4 more eggs were started later & should go into lockdown tomorrow. I couldn't pass up a few free eggs, so I set up a 2nd incubator. I hope that I did a better job selecting the Biele eggs with those.

The kids are very happy to have chicks again. It's so much fun to put your arm into the brooder & within seconds it's crawling with chicks. BTW- If anyone in the Chicago area (western burbs) wants chicks, pm me for prices. I have many purebred Orps & 6 Spitz. plus 1 Easter egger, 4 Biele mixes, & 1 mutt.