Maine

[Carrie54452002]

Carrie,
I was a little surprised to see my chicks at about 3 wks old dust bathing in their shavings, this year. I never noticed it with last years' batch, but I also had them in our basement and didn't observe their behaviors as much. I also had a chick with the pasty butt problem and had to repeat the cleaning with the warm water, a couple times. Always an adventure-isn't it? But they are fun!

Good luck!

Thanks and yes they are fun, I am excited for them to be a tad older so I can have my girls handle them without me worrying so much

Yes, warm water gets the poo glue off. It's called pasty butt and it does happen.

I think your chicks might be grooming because they're growing feathers in. That makes them itchy and makes them groom to expand the feathers.

Ok good, that's what I figured just didn't remember the first batch of babies being so itchy

 

[Dita Von Cluck]

I heard a whole bunch of loud chirping and went out to find this. Looks like I have a little escape artist on my hands! Hehe Yup, time to expand the brooder...silly Domino... Daisy and Dolly are looking at her through the Tupperware probably thinking "hey, you don't belong there!"

 

[Carrie54452002]

Any guesses on breeds for my new chicks? I know one is a mille fleur!!

 

[gracejr]

So... Had chicks set to hatch this weekend. Put them in lockdown last night. What do I see this morning? A whole bunch of pipped eggs! At last check four were hatched and four more with pipped shells. My temps have been consistently 99-100, so I'm not sure why they are early? They all seem to be doing ok though so I'm not gonna complain!

 

[buckabucka]

So... Had chicks set to hatch this weekend. Put them in lockdown last night. What do I see this morning? A whole bunch of pipped eggs! At last check four were hatched and four more with pipped shells. My temps have been consistently 99-100, so I'm not sure why they are early? They all seem to be doing ok though so I'm not gonna complain!

i always seem to have a few hatch a little early. This last hatch I had one on day 19, a bunch on day 20, and just the last few on day 21. It may be that my temperatures are off, or maybe it is just the breeds. The hatch before with shipped eggs I only had one on day 20, all the rest came on day 21.

We got the hoop coop moved finally, and DH tilled half of the garden. We still need to move a hoop house before we plant the peas, but things are progressing. The chickens have a nice view overlooking the woods in their new spot. I could have spent some time just sitting out there, if I didn't have so much to do!

 

[lazy gardener]

i always seem to have a few hatch a little early. This last hatch I had one on day 19, a bunch on day 20, and just the last few on day 21. It may be that my temperatures are off, or maybe it is just the breeds. The hatch before with shipped eggs I only had one on day 20, all the rest came on day 21.

We got the hoop coop moved finally, and DH tilled half of the garden. We still need to move a hoop house before we plant the peas, but things are progressing. The chickens have a nice view overlooking the woods in their new spot. I could have spent some time just sitting out there, if I didn't have so much to do!

This time of the year is crazy insane busy... and that was BEFORE I started the chicken thing.

 

[lazy gardener]

This time of the year is crazy insane busy... and that was BEFORE I started the chicken thing.

Ok folks, please help me out here again. I went to buy a new bag of feed for my chicks, now ages 6 - 8 weeks, and was told that I should be buying grower. the last bag I bought was multi flock starter-grower at 22% protein. This bag they sent me home with was 15% protein. (Blue Seal) Is this enough protein? I've been giving them free choice dry crumble, and offering FF 1 - 2 x/day which they suck down. 22 - 15% seems like a huge drop. Should I use the stuff as is, should I suppliment it with some boiled egg, should I take it back for some more multi-flock? Or am I over analyzing it??? I hope to get chicks out doors within the next week for a more natural life style, but unfortunately won't be able to allow free range (I don't think) due to too much predation.

 

[hoppy]

I can't wait to get my seedlings started, this weekend is what I planning. poultry meeting with youth day on sunday- all are welcome, located in Washington maine at the evening star grange hall, starts at 10:00am

 

[hoppy]

the 22% covers you for turkeys and game birds, but for chickens, the protein in chick starter is 18-20% so it is a huge drop from what you were feeding but not really that much when you look at what other protein levels are at. layer pellets are 12-16% with more calcium for egg laying. if birds are kept on too high a level of protein, it will burn out their kidneys. this might be more of an issue if we kept chickens for 5-6 yrs but most people replace birds every 3 yrs or sooner. (chick starter is priced higher too)

Ok folks, please help me out here again. I went to buy a new bag of feed for my chicks, now ages 6 - 8 weeks, and was told that I should be buying grower. the last bag I bought was multi flock starter-grower at 22% protein. This bag they sent me home with was 15% protein. (Blue Seal) Is this enough protein? I've been giving them free choice dry crumble, and offering FF 1 - 2 x/day which they suck down. 22 - 15% seems like a huge drop. Should I use the stuff as is, should I suppliment it with some boiled egg, should I take it back for some more multi-flock? Or am I over analyzing it??? I hope to get chicks out doors within the next week for a more natural life style, but unfortunately won't be able to allow free range (I don't think) due to too much predation.

 

[buckabucka]

This time of the year is crazy insane busy... and that was BEFORE I started the chicken thing. 

Ok folks, please help me out here again.  I went to buy a new bag of feed for my chicks, now ages 6 - 8 weeks, and was told that I should be buying grower.  the last bag I bought was multi flock starter-grower at 22% protein.  This bag they sent me home with was 15% protein. (Blue Seal)  Is this enough protein?  I've been giving them free choice dry crumble, and offering FF 1 - 2 x/day which they suck down.  22 - 15% seems like a huge drop.  Should I use the stuff as is, should I suppliment it with some boiled egg, should I take it back for some more multi-flock?  Or am I over analyzing it???  I hope to get chicks out doors within the next week for a more natural life style, but unfortunately won't be able to allow free range (I don't think) due to too much predation.

I don't know how important it is, but usually I try to start out with a high protein feed. This time, I am using Purina medicated chick starter, which I didn't realize is not high protein, so I'm mixing it with flock raiser.