JANUARY 2015 Hatch-A-Long

[Renee572]

Oh wow...Sorry Renee~
The dog crate should work out ok. I put a blanket over mine at night but we were pretty cold here. In the house in my back room it is 60 or so. 
I hope your 4 kids are doing okay. 

Thanks. The 5th one flew out of the brooder at some point yesterday and was long gone before anyone noticed. We have no idea where it went but I told hubby last night that was it. I was grabbing them in the morning and they will live here from now on.
So far things are going good I think. I let the 6 of the chicks roam around the yard together while I fixed things up. Then I put just the babies in the coop for a few hours, then added the other 2 in there so I could finally let my 4 hens out in the yard. Boy this is tricky. I did have to go out there because I heard a chick chirping loudly and found it had been blocked from getting to the dog cage by both big chicks so I made some adjustments to how I had the dog cage in the coop so they'd have better access. So far the 4 chicks are steering clear of the 2 big ones but hopefully with time and as they get bigger they will get along.

 

[Purpletie3]

They probably don't know what to think about the two big chickens! i wonder where your other one went. Does she have a cat or any pets? It was in the house wasn't it?

 

[Renee572]

They probably don't know what to think about the two big chickens! i wonder where your other one went. Does she have a cat or any pets? It was in the house wasn't it?

The brooder was on her back porch and unfortunately she has 3 dogs that stay outside all day. I asked if she thought it became a chicken meal but she says she didn't find any blood or feathers. I dunno though, it's not like the chicks are big yet, would there really be blood or feathers? Her dogs aren't big but I dunno. Anyway, I actually feel much better now that they are in the coop and I can check on them at any time. Hindsight is 20/20 but I wish we had done the coop sooner and I had just kept them here the whole time. Well you live and you learn. Now I'm just praying they aren't all roos because that would be sad but also we'd have to hatch more eggs (which I guess wouldn't be bad but still).

 

[Purpletie3]

I would feel the same way! Well, they are home now and get to chill out with your fam and the hens!

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Change of plans. Here are my babies in their new home finally!

notice there are only 4. So you see I had to change plans. I wrapped my dog cage in chicken wire and cut out a little hole the babies can fit through. Hooked up the heat lamp to the coop. The babies and bigger chicks are just gonna have to share the coop and figure out how to get along because I am NOT losing another! Went from 18 down to 4 in a week and a half!

Oh no what happened with the 5th one Renee?

 

[Renee572]

Oh no what happened with the 5th one Renee?

it flew out of the brooder and it was long gone before anyone noticed.

My 4 babies survived the night. I feel so much better knowing they are here and I'm confident there will be no more loses because of things I can control!

 

[ChickenLady2014]

it flew out of the brooder and it was long gone before anyone noticed.

My 4 babies survived the night. I feel so much better knowing they are here and I'm confident there will be no more loses because of things I can control!

Oh that's so sad, glad the 4 are finally home to roost

 

[Purpletie3]

How did they do today?

 

[Renee572]

How did they do today?

thanks for asking. They are doing real good. They are still steering clear from the 2 bigger chicks but I think over time they will get along. They are all growing their back feathers back, I can't wait to see what they look like. It's so exciting having mystery chicks, it'll be fun trying to guess what they are. I think they are all silkie mixes but I have no clue what they are mixed with besides the white that I think is polish.

And then of course determining who is pullet and who is cockerel! :/

How are yours?

 

[Purpletie3]

Things are crazy here... I have some really beautiful birds growing here. I did lose a couple runts...that turned out to be ones i had assisted to begin with. I am really contemplating that assisted hatch thing. Only one left assisted is that Dec Rhodebar Roo. We are completely frozen though...it's -6 again.

Glad your chicks are doing well now, I can't wait to see how they develop! How's the little peppermint stick doing?