Maine

[dowgirl71]

My adult EE seemed to get a raspy "voice" a few times, this spring, and then, I've heard her sneeze, too, but thankfully, it hasn't amounted to anything. I know it's not good for them to sneeze, but hers just sound so cute!

 

[MustardTiger]

My chicks arrived from McMurray yesterday. I am on cute overload. They all seem to be very healthy and thriving. They even put in two freebies! I spent some time figuring out what my free exotic chick is yesterday - looks to be a Buff Cochin. Not all that exotic but fun none the less!

 

[Jazor]

My chicks arrived from McMurray yesterday. I am on cute overload. They all seem to be very healthy and thriving. They even put in two freebies! I spent some time figuring out what my free exotic chick is yesterday - looks to be a Buff Cochin. Not all that exotic but fun none the less!

I got a buff cochin from Aubochon when I picked up a half dozen 'buff orptingons' there a few months back! I think it was a freebie from the hatchery, but they didn't know what they had in their brooders. I was happy to take it off their hands, always wanted one of those buggers.

 

[anyasmifya]

Jazor~ I agree with the others that it is nothing to worry about. Mine sneeze every now and then also. I think it's just some dirt/pollen whatever that gets up in their noses. They do keep their heads awfully close to the ground.

 

[Branch Chickens]

That's a happy "surprise". I love our cochin chick. She's black. I wish our other (a blue) had survived. I think she would have been a beaut.


@MustardTiger how many new chicks did you get?

 

[lazy gardener]

The chicks are finally moved out of the house for good. Their tractor is liveable, but still needs a bit of buttoning up. Once again, I goofed up when I made the door on the top. I didn't plan correctly for the hinges, so will need to wait until hubby can problem solve for me. But, oh, what a joy to be able to air out the house and garage, and know that they won't be kicking up any more chicken dust!!!

congrats BC and MT on your chicks. Enjoy!

 

[buckabucka]

I'd like to get my chicks out of the house soon too! They are only 2 weeks old, so I'll probably wait another week. If I run a long extension cord, I could set up their Ecoglow in the "jail" grow-out pen, although I'm not sure if that is sufficient until they feather out. I want to make 4 weeks the limit this year. They get so rambunctious and dusty!

 

[lazy gardener]

It's after 8:00, and the chicks are all in a panic, plastered against the front of their little tractor, screaming: "Help me Momma!" I put a nice layer of fresh shavings at the back of the tractor. A few have been back there to check it out, but then they come to the front to scream with the others. No doubt they'll spend the night huddled on the cold ground at the front of the tractor. Funny thing is, it's the same tractor that they've been in since I started them, but now they're petrified because it's been moved.

 

[quailtrail]

Cute babies!!!
@lazy gardener oh poor babies. Mine are not happy being cooped up. The 3 of them are moving into the dog kennel inside until the grow out coop is ready - redid the quail coop now need walls vs. The wire.

So nothing from last hatch 2nd hatch due tomorrow. ..candled and looked good on quite a bit. Hopefully something hatches...then the dominique batch...I give up...I did everything that was suggested and still nada...granted 90% were shipped eggs...

 

[lazy gardener]

QT: If you're having problems with your hatch, I'm guessing that you have faulty thermometers. What are you using, and what is your temp range? I use the digital thermometer/hygrometer from Incubator Warehouse. It gives a high/low for both humidity and temp. So, every time the light cycles on/off, I have a high/low temp reading. It will also give a max/min reading, so I can check to see how it's been behaving since I last checked it. I move that probe around in the incubator. It's amazing how much temp variance there can be, even with a fan. I've been a bit anal with my record keeping, sometimes recording the high/lows for 3 - 4 cycles to see if any adjustments need to be made. We've used wood heat for the past 2 years, which makes it even more difficult to be accurate with temps. I keep a bunch of towels handy, and wrap the incubator up a bit more snugly when the stove is not cranking well, or if we're having a cold spell. (Had plenty of those, didn't we!) What do you have for an incubator? If all else fails, ditch the store bought one, and make one!