Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Kris5902]

I tried to use a broody once. I didn't do it right and it didn't turn out well for the chicks. This particular hen was devout and living in the convent. So I stole her eggs and gave her fertile eggs from the breeding pen. She quit about half way through and another hen took over. Four hatched and she mothered them well for the first week or so, then she took them into main population and wasn't able to protect them properly. I learned a lot from it but at the expense of the chicks. Pretty much planning on sticking with the bator and brooder going forward.

Kris, keep a close eye on your temps and how much heat you have available for the chicks. We're still having 38C+ days here in the afternoon, so fighting pasty butt on the babies and then one night last week it dropped overnight to 10C and I just didn't have enough heat in the brooder to combat the cold. So I lost a bunch. I'm down to 18 now. I'm hoping the guy still shows up to buy them as he was wanting 25.

Ouch! Sorry you lost some chicks... I also hope your buyer shows. 18 more little high maintenance mouths to feed this winter? So far everyone is basically staying under the heat plates 24/7 and just popping out for a little water and feed then back under. I’m thinking we should put them all together for warmth for the first month (almost all of mine are either going to be white or have feathered feet so it’s not going to be hard to keep everyone straight) of course working with someone else complicates matters. But there’s power in the building at least! It’s just past sunrise here now and I’m reading 9 degrees Celsius out in my barn. It’s a little colder on average on the other side of the island, and the building is in fairly deep shade as well

 

[rjohns39]

This is the reason I don't brood in early spring or late fall. The drastic temperature swings are too much for the little ones to handle. If the guy would have picked them up the day after hatch, he would have gotten 34 for the price of 25 and taken them home to an indoor (heated space) brooder. But he had a family emergency and had to leave town. Two days before hatch, he emailed me to let me know he was out of town and to ask me to hold them for him. ugh...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Must be the Albertans... and the way our weather has turned, the temptation is great indeed! We haven’t started to hit freezing temperatures yet, but it’s definitely not summer here anymore! Too cold for me, time to migrate? Given the choice I would probably move south. Louisiana, Georgia, Coastal Texas, or Florida are all fairly high up on my list. I like a humid heat... I know, I’m weird! I don’t think I could handle your summers though.

I’ve only ever visited those states in late August and Early September, and I quite enjoyed the temperatures. Andrew, not so much (and he doesn’t like the gun laws in the USA either). I Also loved how everyone would abandon the hotel pool/hot tubs when it would start to rain. Suddenly I had the whole pool to myself! You’re in a pool or hot tub, you’re already wet... what difference does a little more water make? And it’s not like it was a cold rain!

Well, usually our storms are MAJOR thunderstorms... so it’s likely they were avoiding a possible lightning strike .... Although, way back... when people weren’t as concerned with those types of things.. you know.. seat belts and whatnot.. my dad would take us to the lake and we’d swim in those conditions always!

 

[BY Bob]

If I lived close enough, and there wasn’t that pesky border and customs issue (“ma’am, why is your purse cheeping?” ) I’d totally give you some chicks to slip under her @BY Bob then you would have another chance for green eggs!

You are so sweet. I would take your little peepers too. I am loving the border guard image.

 

[Ribh]

I would love to try hatching with a broody!

Get a Barred Rock. Man, I spent ALL last summer dealing with a super stubborn broody BR. She'd've made a great mama but I am not in the chick business. I'm dreading our heat kicking in because she'll be back @ it!

Too cold for me, time to migrate? Given the choice I would probably move south.

Keep going...

I like a humid heat...

Humid heat we have...

 

[Ribh]

Well, usually our storms are MAJOR thunderstorms... so it’s likely they were avoiding a possible lightning strike .... Although, way back... when people weren’t as concerned with those types of things.. you know.. seat belts and whatnot.. my dad would take us to the lake and we’d swim in those conditions always!

Swimming in the sea in a storm is the best!

 

[Kris5902]

Get a Barred Rock. Man, I spent ALL last summer dealing with a super stubborn broody BR. She'd've made a great mama but I am not in the chick business. I'm dreading our heat kicking in because she'll be back @ it!

Keep going...

Humid heat we have...

And you have all those pretty scaled things I love as well. One day I should look up thoseseco d cousins and take a trip out your way!

Swimming in the sea in a storm is the best!

No can do... 1: our seas are way too cold for that, 2: I watched “Jaws” as a child, 3: I can’t actually swim! (That’s still on my someday list) for now I can usually float, and sort of half soggy paddle/crawl my way through the water, if I’m lucky. I do better in salt water pools, but the actual ocean? Scares me beyond belief!

Thanks for the comments, I needed a little pick me up and this was just the thing

 

[Kris5902]

This is the reason I don't brood in early spring or late fall. The drastic temperature swings are too much for the little ones to handle. If the guy would have picked them up the day after hatch, he would have gotten 34 for the price of 25 and taken them home to an indoor (heated space) brooder. But he had a family emergency and had to leave town. Two days before hatch, he emailed me to let me know he was out of town and to ask me to hold them for him. ugh...

Well not so many babies, but things have taken a little twist with my chicks as well. I’m trying to figure out the next two months if we can manage with the chicks, two cats and us all in the trailer until they can handle the weather. Things are going a little sideways on me ATM, but I’m going to try to work through it with the other person involved on the hatch.

 

[Ribh]

And you have all those pretty scaled things I love as well. One day I should look up thoseseco d cousins and take a trip out your way!

We have a spare bed...

No can do... 1: our seas are way too cold for that, 2: I watched “Jaws” as a child, 3: I can’t actually swim! (That’s still on my someday list) for now I can usually float, and sort of half soggy paddle/crawl my way through the water, if I’m lucky. I do better in salt water pools, but the actual ocean? Scares me beyond belief!


Thanks for the comments, I needed a little pick me up and this was just the thing

Well, I grew up by the water & I could handle a boat practically before I could walk but my father wouldn't let us on the water [even life jacketed] until we could swim @ least 25m really well ~ so I can swim ~ but I sailed & capsizes terrorised me. All that sail & ropes & you can't touch bottom, then the idea of sharks.... However we had an ocean pool & I loved swimming in that as a kid. Now I never get in the water. Too itchy & too much like hard work...

 

[Ribh]

Well not so many babies, but things have taken a little twist with my chicks as well. I’m trying to figure out the next two months if we can manage with the chicks, two cats and us all in the trailer until they can handle the weather. Things are going a little sideways on me ATM, but I’m going to try to work through it with the other person involved on the hatch.

Oh, Kris! I can't imagine the complications your weather causes! Best of Bristish!