Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[rnchick74]

Everyone seems normal thank goodness

So much fun!! Since you are getting them in the summer you will be shocked at how quick they ditch the heater! Mine are 3 1/2 weeks old and are never under it during the day and sleep half out of it at night. What kind of nipple waterer did you get... I've always been tempted to use one. To not have to change chick water 5 times a day would be wonderful!!

Boy that sounds painful. I had a guy here doing work yesterday and was telling me he has had tons of surgery and the shoulder was by far the worst of all of them. He said blinking his eyes made it hurt. Must be awful. But you gotta do that PT!!!! Should help tremendously!!

Nancy - I'm glad everyone is doing ok today. How are YOU doing? I'm sure losing the one was quite an emotional event. Make sure to take care of yourself.

I'm sure they won't be on the heat for very long, but I'm keeping them inside while they are little & we are already using the AC here in KY! I didn't want to use a heat lamp because I work outside the home & the risk of fire with cats running around. (The brooder has lids that lock down with cat proof screens). The premier 1 heat panel seems very nice & I will have it for a very long time! I ordered the waterer from premier one as well. Here is the link: http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=120914&cat_id=140

I'm doing the PT! It hurts, but I keep pushing on!

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

@NotableNancy
I am so very sorry for your loss. She lived a happy healthy life and no doubt you have enjoyed her company while she was with you. Some girls are just special, and we won't forget them. Rest in peace, Mrs Puff and my sweet wyandotte Baby.

 

[trsturself]

Our fence is finally up!!!!


Here are the ladies when I finally set them free after being penned up for 4 months or more.


They stayed close to the coop and run at first and then wander a little further.
We let them out last night around 7pm and the last one put herself to bed around 8:30pm


I supervised the whole time since my garden areas are not blocked off yet. Our land is no longer a vision of red clay.
We actually have grass! So exciting!! It still needs to feel in a lot more and some areas need work, but the girls did not complain.


Here they are this morning, I let them out a couple of hours.


I got a picture of the baby cardinals too, they're outgrowing their nest. They grow faster then chickens!


The project around our house is pretty much complete except for a few minor things. Our dog can now run free in the backyard. She use to be on a tether line for years, now she is free.

I have zucchini, squash, tomatoes, herbs, cucumber plants in the ground and the next step is more raised beds for more veggies. My first addiction was gardening, that's what got me thinking about adding my other addiction of chickens. I have been going crazy here not being able to put plants in the ground. I feel so much better now. Big relief. I must feed these addictions!!!!

That's awesome! What a relief that must be to finally be done with! The chickens look happy out there. I bet your dog doesn't know what to do with herself!

Nancy - I'm glad everyone is doing ok today. How are YOU doing? I'm sure losing the one was quite an emotional event. Make sure to take care of yourself.

I'm sure they won't be on the heat for very long, but I'm keeping them inside while they are little & we are already using the AC here in KY! I didn't want to use a heat lamp because I work outside the home & the risk of fire with cats running around. (The brooder has lids that lock down with cat proof screens). The premier 1 heat panel seems very nice & I will have it for a very long time! I ordered the waterer from premier one as well. Here is the link: http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=120914&cat_id=140

I'm doing the PT! It hurts, but I keep pushing on!

That's nice it sits on the heating plate and can get higher as they grow. We used a nipple system for our chicks last year. It works great to keep the water clean but I found they dripped it all over the shavings. If you can find something to catch the drippings it will help keep your brooder clean because you can just dump the container of water/shavings instead of trying to clean all the wet shavings out.

 

[MamaShell]

Yeah, I was really excited to open that package. Shipped really quickly too - 2 days from order placed. I plugged in the heating plate for about 2 hrs to test it out, make sure it was working properly. It heated up nicely; hot enough that it was just warm enough to touch & be hot to body temp but not give me a burn. I'm very pleased so far but the real test will be how the chicks like it I fell on the bad ice we had back in January & partially dislocated my right shoulder. It popped back in by itself, but not 100% correctly & I got a compression fracture at the head of the humerus (arm bone where it makes the shoulder joint). The injury caused a frozen shoulder, so I had to have surgery to fix that. I can now move it but man is it one of the most painful orthopaedic surgeries around! And I have nicknamed my PT "the physical torturer". But in the end, my shoulder should be pretty good, though it might not be 100% pain free.

Sorry that you are going through that! It's great to have something fun to look forward to and keep your mind off your pain! My Mom had shoulder surgery at age 83. It was not fun! A year later, she still doesn't have full range and is not pain free because she was not very diligent about doing her PT homework. Make sure you do everything they suggest and don't overdo it with your own PT or you might not be happy with the results. Easy for me to say, I am not one to sit still and wait to heal when there are things to be done. So, maybe I am just trying to convince myself? Happy healing!

Yay! My hubby's boss said we could have as much construction sand as we want...FREE! Woohoo! I was hoping at least for a discount. Gotta love small business loyalty perks! Can't wait to get rid of this dusty, yucky play sand.

Free is good! I wish someone could hook me up!

Our fence is finally up!!!! Here are the ladies when I finally set them free after being penned up for 4 months or more. They stayed close to the coop and run at first and then wander a little further. We let them out last night around 7pm and the last one put herself to bed around 8:30pm I supervised the whole time since my garden areas are not blocked off yet. Our land is no longer a vision of red clay. We actually have grass! So exciting!! It still needs to feel in a lot more and some areas need work, but the girls did not complain. Here they are this morning, I let them out a couple of hours. I got a picture of the baby cardinals too, they're outgrowing their nest. They grow faster then chickens! The project around our house is pretty much complete except for a few minor things. Our dog can now run free in the backyard. She use to be on a tether line for years, now she is free. I have zucchini, squash, tomatoes, herbs, cucumber plants in the ground and the next step is more raised beds for more veggies. My first addiction was gardening, that's what got me thinking about adding my other addiction of chickens. I have been going crazy here not being able to put plants in the ground. I feel so much better now. Big relief. I must feed these addictions!!!!

I absolutely love the photos! Everything looks great and so serene! You must be so relieved to have it done! I'm so happy for you. I love gardening, too. I haven't had much luck with vegetables, yet. I never have enough time to tend to them or enough fencing to keep deer away. For now, I am sticking to my flower gardens, some container gardens for tomatoes and herbs on my deck and a few raised planters for the chickens. I will dream bigger for next year. But, isn't great that feeding your addictions also feeds you and your family? Win-win!,

 

[MamaShell]

Always happy to share. My husband's little Dorking, Victoria: Day 1 Day 2 One week Day 12 Day 18 Day 30 Day 36

Sorry, with all the sadness surrounding the unexpected death of Mrs. Puff, I didn't comment on these photos. What a beauty! Victoria looks so sweet. I can see how your husband became attached to her.

 

[MamaShell]

That's nice it sits on the heating plate and can get higher as they grow. We used a nipple system for our chicks last year. It works great to keep the water clean but I found they dripped it all over the shavings. If you can find something to catch the drippings it will help keep your brooder clean because you can just dump the container of water/shavings instead of trying to clean all the wet shavings out. 

I have found the same thing. I ended up putting the dust bath under the nipples to catch the water. Now that I have moved the chicks out to the coop, I can set the waterer up in the run with construction sand underneath and not have to worry so much about the dampness. I don't think I would use one inside the coop. In the winter, I might have to revert to a fountain. It think they are easier to keep from freezing. I do not like having to constantly clean and refill the water fountain, though. With 22 birds, they go through a lot of water and it can get messy. Any suggestions for winter from those in colder climates?

I have had my chicks out in the coop since Sunday night and haven't let them out in the run, yet. I had a few gaps in the fence to fill and I wanted them to get used to their home first. I am working from home today and was hoping to let them out for the first time but it is raining. They might not mind, but, I want to sit out with my work and watch them. I guess I will wait and see how the weather is this afternoon. This is almost as bad as waiting for the post office to call!

 

[rnchick74]

For the big coop, I'm going to splurge and get the Chicken Fountain because I want to have the garden hose set up to constantly refill it. I work outside the home & during the summer, the weather can get quite hot here, so I don't want to risk water ever running out! I plan on keeping the main food & water dishes in the run.

I might try to rig a small drip catcher for the chick bottle - I might use it in the coop since it's so small & doesn't take a lot of room.


But I just added another bird to my order from Meyers! LOL! I'm insane!!! My son is going to be so upset with me! I added the Black Copper Maran's female Of course if one of my other 1st choices opens up, then I will switch...

I need to STOP looking at the Meyers page! I'm at my max # of chickens!!!!

 

[MamaShell]

For the big coop, I'm going to splurge and get the Chicken Fountain because I want to have the garden hose set up to constantly refill it. I work outside the home & during the summer, the weather can get quite hot here, so I don't want to risk water ever running out! I plan on keeping the main food & water dishes in the run.

I might try to rig a small drip catcher for the chick bottle - I might use it in the coop since it's so small & doesn't take a lot of room. 


But I just added another bird to my order from Meyers! LOL! I'm insane!!! My son is going to be so upset with me! I added the Black Copper Maran's female Of course if one of my other 1st choices opens up, then I will switch...

I need to STOP looking at the Meyers page! I'm at my max # of chickens!!!!

You are in good company (or is it bad?), I just ordered 2 started Easter Egger pullets. I should have them on June 5th. The countdown begins . . .

 

[autumnhearth]

Sorry, with all the sadness surrounding the unexpected death of Mrs. Puff, I didn't comment on these photos. What a beauty! Victoria looks so sweet. I can see how your husband became attached to her.

I know, as soon as I finished posting I saw Nancy's post above mine and felt guilty for posting so many pics after her heartbreaking news Here is a pic from yesterday when most of the other girls were hanging farther back she edged over to me to be petted, of course our Buff Orpington was on my lap when I took this. I joked with my husband yesterday that I wish we could have all Orpingtons and Dorkings. Just reacting to the drama with our Buckeye who is very likely a roo or a really aggressive pullet, frequently picking fights. Yesterday s/he jumped up in the air and aimed her claws at another chick, twice. Finally Amelia or Golden Buff tapped her on the head twice and Clara our EE raised her hackles back at the Buckeye. I've never seen Clara have conflict with anyone, she is such a giant hawk compared to them. Seriously considering taking the Buckeye to a local TSC swap tomorrow and just cutting our losses, we were going to wait until she crowed. Her comb also just turned pink yesterday. Early suspicions were extremely slow growing tail (like had a smooth short fuzzy bottom two weeks after all the girls had one inch tails) and standing tall while the others hid when my husband had an epic sneeze. Also the loudest. Sigh.

 

[autumnhearth]

For the big coop, I'm going to splurge and get the Chicken Fountain because I want to have the garden hose set up to constantly refill it. I work outside the home & during the summer, the weather can get quite hot here, so I don't want to risk water ever running out! I plan on keeping the main food & water dishes in the run.

I might try to rig a small drip catcher for the chick bottle - I might use it in the coop since it's so small & doesn't take a lot of room. 


But I just added another bird to my order from Meyers! LOL! I'm insane!!! My son is going to be so upset with me! I added the Black Copper Maran's female Of course if one of my other 1st choices opens up, then I will switch...

I need to STOP looking at the Meyers page! I'm at my max # of chickens!!!!

You could always trade your Australorp for the Black Copper Marans *innocent smile* I was debating between the two and chose the BCM for the darker eggs, feathered feet and pretty copper neck. She is a sweetie, she used to perch on my finger, hunker down and go right to sleep. I know Australorps lay more but come on you know your son wants chocolate eggs! Lol. Though I can't actually speak for the eggs, ours are only 5 and a half weeks old