LizGio
Songster
We don't know exactly what the cluck we're doing but definitely loving the learning process! Who knew there was so much to know?! Our crazy bunch now includes 6 birds, two cats, one dog, one 4yo child, one husband and myself....
My husband and I originally planned on starting our flock a few years ago but COVID put us out of work for a bit so we didn't have the funds to take on anything new. We bought a chicken coop but ended up cancelling our chick order. Now, we're ready but first some background.
Before COVID, I taught Pre-K (as well as other age groups for about 5-6 years). Each year we hatched chicks in our class, always successful. The farmers would bring in the eggs and incubator and set it up. All we had to do was turn them three times a day, add water and paper towels on Friday and by Monday, we'd have a bunch of peeping fluff balls. Nothing to it. The absolute best time of the year!
When COVID hit, I decided to make a career change to protect my family. Working in and sending my son to daycare during the beginning of the pandemic was nerve racking. Daycares are a place where we not only share toys but inevitably germs as well. I became a Nanny. I would take my son with me to care for children of parents who worked from home. Well you can take teacher out of school, but not school out of teacher. I decided I would provide these kiddos with themed activities and learning experiences the same as they'd get in school. Well, I'm still teaching while I nanny. And, since our world is returning to normal, I thought now is a great time to do a feathered friends unit and start a flock.
I bought a CHEAP incubator I came across online. Mistake number one
. Not only could I not see through it, but I trusted the temperature and humidity reading 
. The temperature was actually 95F contrary to the digital reading on the incubator with high humidity until day 16 when I finally thought to get a back up thermometer. I put the temp back to where is should be and lowered the humidity. Man, was I discouraged as research told me I wouldn't have any hatch!
Well bless the farmer we got our eggs from! He was the only one to keep faith and told me to wait it out, it might just take longer. Out of the 12 fertile heritage RIR eggs we incubated, 4 hatched and yes, toward day 23. Not a complete failure! I may have had minimal hatching experience in the classroom but no knowledge of the specifics. I learned all about the temperature and humidity needs, and embryonic development as I candled for the first time during my home hatch.
Day 2 I did my best to sex them according to their wing feathers. No way I was going to fuss with their little butts! I was under the impression that I had one roo and three pullets. I'm not so sure anymore though. Here we are three weeks later and I'm thinking maybe I have two RIR roos. The combs grew in faster and legs are chunkier. But who knows for sure. Now I'm waiting for their saddle feathers to show up. Their personalities are so funny and loving. They are so excited everytime I walk in the room and open their brooder. Our one cat, Dexter is so laid back with them, they've taken a liking to him. They'll perch on him and use him as a launch pad back into their brooder.
This last weekend, we picked up two more chicks, a week younger than ours. A school did a hatch with nowhere for the birds afterwards. The farmer I was in touch with contacted me knowing I was looking for two more girls. This worked out as he could not keep them -they were golden comets and he only raises RIR. In the batch of golden comets was a black little mystery chick. This was interesting to me so I took that one and one dark yellow (hopefully a pullet). They seemed to have integrated with minimal pecking. The yellow was accepted immediately but the black one was a target. Didn't stop it from puffing it's chest and stretching his neck and chest bumping the other haters. It wasn't putting up with anyone's 
.
More about our individual chicks:
All banded chicks are RIRs.
Purple band: Catwoman. Pretty sure a pullet. Hobbies include being the first to use our cat as a perch and launching pad eating and pooping. Small comb, thin legs.
Green band: Rex Rooster (Lex Luther). Most likely to be a roo. Larger comb hulk-sized legs. Enjoys long walks down the upstairs hallway, staring at our cat, and chest bumping his homies. Also likes to eat and poop.
Red band: Chickaletta. The sweetest little thing, calm when I pick here up. Likes to hang with me. Small comb thin legs. Enjoys eating and pooping on me.
Yellow band: Name was Baby. Might change it. Was the last to hatch, needed assistance. My first time doing assisted hatch. Reminds me of the road runner from Looney Tunes. Has reproductive organs of steel, tries to free range when we go outside. (Mommy's not ready for free ranging yet)
Black Mystery Chick: This chick has yet to be named. Doesn't take from older birds. Hobbies include eating, pooping, and looking to jack up haters.
Golden Comet: Leads a carefree life. Fits in with everyone. Hobbies include being the peacemaker.
My husband and I originally planned on starting our flock a few years ago but COVID put us out of work for a bit so we didn't have the funds to take on anything new. We bought a chicken coop but ended up cancelling our chick order. Now, we're ready but first some background.
Before COVID, I taught Pre-K (as well as other age groups for about 5-6 years). Each year we hatched chicks in our class, always successful. The farmers would bring in the eggs and incubator and set it up. All we had to do was turn them three times a day, add water and paper towels on Friday and by Monday, we'd have a bunch of peeping fluff balls. Nothing to it. The absolute best time of the year!
When COVID hit, I decided to make a career change to protect my family. Working in and sending my son to daycare during the beginning of the pandemic was nerve racking. Daycares are a place where we not only share toys but inevitably germs as well. I became a Nanny. I would take my son with me to care for children of parents who worked from home. Well you can take teacher out of school, but not school out of teacher. I decided I would provide these kiddos with themed activities and learning experiences the same as they'd get in school. Well, I'm still teaching while I nanny. And, since our world is returning to normal, I thought now is a great time to do a feathered friends unit and start a flock.
I bought a CHEAP incubator I came across online. Mistake number one
. Not only could I not see through it, but I trusted the temperature and humidity reading . The temperature was actually 95F contrary to the digital reading on the incubator with high humidity until day 16 when I finally thought to get a back up thermometer. I put the temp back to where is should be and lowered the humidity. Man, was I discouraged as research told me I wouldn't have any hatch! Well bless the farmer we got our eggs from! He was the only one to keep faith and told me to wait it out, it might just take longer. Out of the 12 fertile heritage RIR eggs we incubated, 4 hatched and yes, toward day 23. Not a complete failure! I may have had minimal hatching experience in the classroom but no knowledge of the specifics. I learned all about the temperature and humidity needs, and embryonic development as I candled for the first time during my home hatch.
Day 2 I did my best to sex them according to their wing feathers. No way I was going to fuss with their little butts! I was under the impression that I had one roo and three pullets. I'm not so sure anymore though. Here we are three weeks later and I'm thinking maybe I have two RIR roos. The combs grew in faster and legs are chunkier. But who knows for sure. Now I'm waiting for their saddle feathers to show up. Their personalities are so funny and loving. They are so excited everytime I walk in the room and open their brooder. Our one cat, Dexter is so laid back with them, they've taken a liking to him. They'll perch on him and use him as a launch pad back into their brooder.
This last weekend, we picked up two more chicks, a week younger than ours. A school did a hatch with nowhere for the birds afterwards
. The farmer I was in touch with contacted me knowing I was looking for two more girls. This worked out as he could not keep them -they were golden comets and he only raises RIR. In the batch of golden comets was a black little mystery chick. This was interesting to me so I took that one and one dark yellow (hopefully a pullet). They seemed to have integrated with minimal pecking. The yellow was accepted immediately but the black one was a target. Didn't stop it from puffing it's chest and stretching his neck and chest bumping the other haters. It wasn't putting up with anyone's .More about our individual chicks:
All banded chicks are RIRs.
Purple band: Catwoman. Pretty sure a pullet. Hobbies include being the first to use our cat as a perch and launching pad eating and pooping. Small comb, thin legs.
Green band: Rex Rooster (Lex Luther). Most likely to be a roo. Larger comb hulk-sized legs. Enjoys long walks down the upstairs hallway, staring at our cat, and chest bumping his homies. Also likes to eat and poop.
Red band: Chickaletta. The sweetest little thing, calm when I pick here up. Likes to hang with me. Small comb thin legs. Enjoys eating and pooping on me.
Yellow band: Name was Baby. Might change it. Was the last to hatch, needed assistance. My first time doing assisted hatch. Reminds me of the road runner from Looney Tunes. Has reproductive organs of steel, tries to free range when we go outside. (Mommy's not ready for free ranging yet)
Black Mystery Chick: This chick has yet to be named. Doesn't take
from older birds. Hobbies include eating, pooping, and looking to jack up haters.Golden Comet: Leads a carefree life. Fits in with everyone. Hobbies include being the peacemaker.
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