Illinois...

[Molpet]

I had to buy some bedding... Usually I get bags of leaves but it was a wet fall and I ran out.

Guess what Big R had

I didn't get any

oh and most of my chickens have never seen shavings. 2 coops have older birds that had so they were ok with it
but one coop no one had seen shavings. At lock up 12/19 birds were circling the coop looking at the roosts. When they finally went in the closest roost was full and the back roost had 4 birds on it. They can't get to the back roost without walking through the shavings.

 

[Faraday40]

I had to buy some bedding... Usually I get bags of leaves but it was a wet fall and I ran out.

Guess what Big R had

I didn't get any

oh and most of my chickens have never seen shavings. 2 coops have older birds that had so they were ok with it
but one coop no one had seen shavings. At lock up 12/19 birds were circling the coop looking at the roosts. When they finally went in the closest roost was full and the back roost had 4 birds on it. They can't get to the back roost without walking through the shavings.

Coincidence! I went to the same Big R on Monday for dog food. I saw them unloading the delivery boxes. I was so proud of myself for not buying any.

That's so funny about the shavings.

 

[Molpet]

Coincidence! I went to the same Big R on Monday for dog food. I saw them unloading the delivery boxes. I was so proud of myself for not buying any.

That's so funny about the shavings.

I am proud of you too

I started to look at the breeds and caught myself.
They had a list of what you could order or what breeds would be available... I ran off when I started looking at that

Only thing I might buy would be ranger meat birds and I didn't see them listed... I did see no special orders except what was listed

Actually, I wouldn't buy any unless I had a broody to do the work
I had 18 broodies at one time last year, I should have ordered abatch then

 

[Faraday40]

I am proud of you too

I started to look at the breeds and caught myself.
They had a list of what you could order or what breeds would be available... I ran off when I started looking at that

For me.... I had to stop when I saw the RIR & thought a high production bird might be a nice contrast to my big fat orps. I quickly realized my rationalizations were too dangerous and had to leave the area.

 

[cavemanrich]

You both also did not have another thing cross your mind... (the excitement blocked that)
THE 6 CHICK MINIMUM.
But that would not have applied to you. You would have left with a BAKERS DOZEN ANYWAYS

 

[cavemanrich]

My chickens started laying for a couple of weeks now. They were (all) on STRIKE since October when they molted.

 

[Faraday40]

You both also did not have another thing cross your mind... (the excitement blocked that)
THE 6 CHICK MINIMUM.
But that would not have applied to you. You would have left with a BAKERS DOZEN ANYWAYS

Naaaa. 6 chicks is nothing - especially when they're different breeds.

I have 16 "test eggs" due to hatch this weekend. Incoming chicks is a far greater deterrent. It would have been a bigger problem if I had gone to Big R next week with my chicks already hatched.

At that point, slipping another handful of chicks into the brooder can go unnoticed by the spouse.

 

[cavemanrich]

When do the classroom hatching start?

 

[Faraday40]

When do the classroom hatching start?

The 1st school started very early - YESTERDAY! That's why I started some test eggs a couple weeks ago. I don't even have the flock separated into breeding groups yet, but I could at least identify the orp eggs. (Both roos in the coop are orps but it will be a surprise to see what colors I get.) I also have 3 serama eggs in there just for fun. I did have 2 silkie eggs - from MaiMai our gorgeous buff- but neither one developed. I'll have to test her eggs again before selling any.


Anyway, the school got a big grant for their agriculture club. Last year the school board gave them a fully automated Brinsea Advanced with humidity pump. Basically due to the new security protocols it was a big hassle to get into the building on weekends to check on eggs.... so the teacher got a high end incubator. (I think it was the older model with the cradle which gentle rocks the whole incubator.) Boy did I come home with incubator envy after seeing it!!!!

This year, the same teacher wrote up a grant proposal for a school chicken coop. This is my 4th year doing the embryology class at the school, so the principal is enthusiastically supportive. (In fact, she plans to buy some chicks from me once her own backyard coop is in place. LOL) Anyway, the hatched chicks will go home with the lead teacher until they're about 8 wks old. Then some of the pullets will move into the school's coop until the end of the school year. The teacher's dad has a farm, so the remaining chickens will be sent to him. After the summer, they'll decide whether the pullets will return to school for a couple months in the fall or stay up at the farm.

___________________________________________________________

The other 2 schools will start incubation on April 9th. Those chicks will likely return here in May. I find they make pretty good pets because the teachers spend a lot of time handling the chicks. I even ordered some additional Leghorn eggs for these schools. Our amazing Leghorn Tillie came from their hatches last year. I never had a Leghorn so calm (not to mention lays an egg a day). I can't believe her streak is still going strong. She hasn't missed a single day since her 1st egg in Sept.

 

[Faraday40]

@cavemanrich
Do you remember:

?

I can probably help you out this year. Main issue is Chicago's winter temps. They're fine in a heated coop but I brought them inside when we had nights with single digit temps - or colder! Our roo is beyond a pampered pet. He spends time with his hens during the day when DD's at school, but spends his nights in the house. DD made him a little cage in her bedroom (for when she's not holding him).