Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[cheeperchick]

We

Wow, how exciting!!! That's great that you guys are so close to selling and buying another home. I hope that you can get the 10 acres, that would be awesome. I also wish you the best with being able to stay in your current house until the new one is ready. That would be a big hassle to have to move twice especially with animals. I hope that it all works out the best for you.

It sounds like a good plan so far to me. Make sure they have plenty of ventilation too. They'll have shade and sun, so I think you've figured it out. One thing I have learned is not to over think everything and worry too much. Chickens will pretty be happy anywhere as long as you have the key stuff available. Space per bird, shade, sunshine, ventilation, outside time in a run or free ranging too. Food, water, predator proof home, roosts, nest boxes,  etc...

Have you tried calling Meyer's if you did not get the tracking number yet? I've never ordered hatching eggs from them, only chicks.

How many chickens do you have now? How many are you allowed or do you want? Right now we do not have a rooster but I have been flirting with the idea of having one too, but we probably won't since not sure if the neighbors would like the crowing.

I really like your dilemma, that is so neat! I wish that would happen to me, but with no rooster that would never happen here. I'd love to see pics of how you secured her in the chicken tractor. I'd move your other ones in with her if I were you. She is the best for the chicks, as long as she accepts them and seems like a good mom to all of them. Under a close watchful eye of course. That is just the cutest picture. How is mama hen doing today? and her baby?

Well I leave for work @ 5:30am so I don't really have a chance to check on them. I have my meyer chicks in the washroom with their brooder lamp and DH monitors the the heat. I would like to see if my broodyaccepts the meyer chicks but I would have to let the rest of the flock out of the coop so that I can watch n observe. I think it would be great if my broody accepted them, if she does then should i take her and her brood out so that they have more privacy?

 

[trsturself]

We
Well I leave for work @ 5:30am so I don't really have a chance to check on them. I have my meyer chicks in the washroom with their brooder lamp and DH monitors the the heat. I would like to see if my broodyaccepts the meyer chicks but I would have to let the rest of the flock out of the coop so that I can watch n observe. I think it would be great if my broody accepted them, if she does then should i take her and her brood out so that they have more privacy?

I would leave them in. Privacy isn't the issue but if you take her out and she loses her place in the pecking order she won't be able to protect the chicks as well. Chickens have been raising chicks in the middle of a flock for ages. They have it under control.

 

[autumnhearth]

Our chicks are one week old today! Here's some assorted pics from today and yesterday. So fun with their jumping and flapping of their beautiful wings and tiny tail feathers!

 

[MamaShell]

Our chicks are one week old today! Here's some assorted pics from today and yesterday. So fun with their jumping and flapping of their beautiful wings and tiny tail feathers!

LOVE the photos! So, great!!

 

[christine9]

Great pictures!

 

[NotableNancy]

Wow, not much longer for those chicks!! Excited for you!!
Those are nice breeds you are thinking of getting.

I just add a teaspoon or two mixed in wet food or sprinkled over leftovers that I give them. That is a lot of cayenne pepper, so you have a nice supply! I just went to the grocery store today and got a few bags of zucchini and tomatoes in the overripe discount area for my girls and gave them that. I feel so sorry for them, the run has nothing in there except dirt, so I keep tossing in grass clods, compost and leftovers and veggies etc. since they can't free range. The city is almost done now and they should be seeding our grass soon. We'll still have to wait for the grass to come in before I set them free. We still have a little older grassy area I can let them on once all the heavy machines are gone.

My husband's procedure went well but he is in pain. He had to stop the heavy meds they gave him because it just made him feel worse, so he is suffering and just taking tylonal and ibuprofen and rotating between them. My daughter is on the Z pack antibiotic for strep. I am so so tired. I feel like a nurse. I forgot how hard it was taking care of sick ones since all my kids are grown now. Just need sleep!

Thanks for the pepper info. I just gave them the yogurt yesterday so I'll wait until Friday to do the pepper. I don't want to overwhelm them with too much new stuff.
Hope your DH and DD are feeling better today. I don't like pain meds either. They make me loopy and still have pain!

These are my march babies! They're adorable. Two weeks old (not from Meyer)

Look at the comb on this guy compared to the others!



#3 I feather sexed as male after hatch. Not that I knew what I was doing.


What do you guys think? I hope at least one is a girl.

I'm absolutely no expert but my guess is #2 is a girl. Keep us posted

Some sad stuff for sure but it sounds like you and your husband handled it well!! I hope you have no more crises!

Oh no, so sorry...at least she is no longer suffering...from what I read about the problem she had it is hard to repair a chicken like that. You guys were responsible owners to think of her well being and end her suffering. I know last year when I tried to save the ones attacked by the dog. Five survived the initial attack and then 3 of those died the following days while I tried to save them. So hard to deal with, guess it is the sad reality with owning chickens that we have to deal with. So sorry.

I am glad you are going to re-home the RIR. My chickens are doing so much better without Daisy around, I did not realize how she ruled the hen house so much. There are normal pecks here and there from the 5 lead hens, but no more blood is drawn and no more brutal attacks. If all chickens acted like Daisy, I would stop owning them. I guess there are always some bad ones in the bunch.

That's great that you can free range them a little, you won't have to supplement with grass, dirt, worms, etc. since they'll get it themselves. Sounds like your DH may be getting a little more interested in the chickens too.

I can't believe it.... I put my RIR on craigslist this morning and 2 people responded by this afternoon and they both want her

I called the first one that responded and she lives 5 minutes away... who knew so many of us have chickens! AND the best part is, if she doesn't get along with her other 3 girls, she is going to give her to the guy about 30 minutes away that takes unwanted roos and hens and use her as a breeder because he wants a mature RIR! So glad she's getting another chance. She's coming to get her tomorrow!!

It's great to have a partner in crime! I was just out planning our coop and run placement with my husband. He's starting to get excited about it. We will start Easter Sunday. I hope we'll be forgiving working that day! He only has Sundays off from work and I want to get the coop set up as soon as possible!

I have a question about placement. Our coop has a vent on the back of the coop but the only windows are on the front. We are planning on the windows facing East to get mostly morning sun. There is a large tree that will shade the coop from afternoon heat in the summer but still allow sun in the winter. Does that sound good or do I want the windows facing south for both morning and afternoon sun? Part of the 14x24 ft. run will have a roof for additional shade and to limit snow accumulation in the run. Any opinions on our plan?

I think you'll be forgiven for building on Easter... it's for chickens after all and God loves all creatures

I think our coop is facing East and it works out well.

You did the right thing. I think we all have to know where to to draw the line and when to make the tough decisions.

thx

Falling behind on posts after my 8 hour drive today!

I'm impressed hard decisions were made. We have nursed 2 chickens back to health after attacks. I agree you get attached after nursing them. One of them we could take or leave but after nursing it my DD is attached to it now. We have also tried nursing numerous chicks with mixed results. I'm glad I haven't had to make the hard decision. One came close enough that we were seriously discussing it but she finally pulled through.

The last 4 chicks we have to sell right now are going to homes. 2 went today and our real estate agent is buying the other 2 this week.
We are putting our house on the market at the end of the week and putting an offer on a house w/ 10 acres this wed. I hope we get it! A friend of a friend down the street from us put their house on the market yesterday and received 3 offers by today! If we sell ours that quick but don't get the one we want we'll be screwed! We have nowhere to go with 3 dogs, a cat, and many chickens. lol

I know there's posts I wanted to reply to that I'm forgetting now. I get so wrapped into reading the posts I forget to press the "multi" button. lol

Best of luck on the house!! 10 acres will be amazing!!!

Our chicks are one week old today! Here's some assorted pics from today and yesterday. So fun with their jumping and flapping of their beautiful wings and tiny tail feathers!

Oh my goodness ... great pics!!! Love the cat and chick

 

[NotableNancy]

Crud... I was out most of today and came back to what looks like an egg was eaten in the nest. Just a small pile of wet, goopy wood shavings in a nest. I think that's one of my biggest fears. I got 7 eggs the past few days and it seems like it should be a bit more. Double CRUD.

 

[christine9]

Crud... I was out most of today and came back to what looks like an egg was eaten in the nest. Just a small pile of wet, goopy wood shavings in a nest. I think that's one of my biggest fears. I got 7 eggs the past few days and it seems like it should be a bit more.  Double CRUD. 

Golf balls! I put golf balls in the nest boxes. It worked pretty quickly. By the end of the week, the girls gave up on those eggs. I find a cracked one every once in a while but not bad considering. I have two balls in each box now.

 

[MamaShell]

I think you'll be forgiven for building on Easter... it's for chickens after all and God loves all creatures

I think our coop is facing East and it works out well.

Thanks . . . for the advice and forgiveness!

 

[NotableNancy]

Golf balls! I put golf balls in the nest boxes. It worked pretty quickly. By the end of the week, the girls gave up on those eggs. I find a cracked one every once in a while but not bad considering. I have two balls in each box now.

OK, gotta get some tomorrow... thrift shop here I come.

Thanks . . . for the advice and forgiveness!

LOL