Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[MamaShell]

I am new to the board and chickens and awaiting my 6 Meyer Hatchery chicks this week. Can't wait, this has been on my bucket list for a long time. Everything is ready and waiting. I am getting an Ameracanus, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Barred Rock, Silver and Gold Laced Wyandottes and a Buff Orpington. Finishing up the coop enclosure, but weather is not agreeable with rain forecast all week. Not really worried as will have 4 or 5 weeks before they are ready to go out in it. Will try and post pics every once in a while.

How exciting! Welcome!!

 

[chickadee5002]

I hope that you have no more egg breaks. The problem with leaving mine in the coop is that the nest box is off the ground, the coop is too so they'd have a couple foot fall if they (the new chicks) fell from the nest box and also another couple feet when they went into the run since the coop is higher off the ground. Our plan is to build a mini coop in the run for a broody and babies. I'm just too worried about them falling.

Yup, I agree a wired bottom cage works the best. I have been having a broody in a cage non stop for the past month. As soon as one stops, another starts up. I have 2 more cages ready to use, so far they've been good and have only gone broody one at a time.

Glad all is well with Kiwi, love that name too!

How is she today?  That's a lot of eggs, sounds like she is determined!

The top picture look more rooish to me, think I see pointed saddle feathers and more red in the comb. I hope that the lower picture is a girl, but not sure about bantams if they grow faster since that is a pretty red comb for 12 weeks.

  Great and welcome! It's always exciting getting new chicks!! I've had mine since Feb 2012 and am really enjoying it!! Can't wait to see your pics!

She is doing good today. I messed up her nest area and put her on the roost last night. She hasn't touched that area since. We'll see tonight when they go in tonight!

 

[NotableNancy]

I put her on the roost with the others. She had 17 eggs under there!

I couldn't believe it! I took them away hoping that she maybe won't go back

17 eggs!! Wow, I can't believe she could sit on all of those. Can you imagine if she hatched out that many??

I do not have experience with bantams do they mature faster I have 2 mottled cotchin bantams at 12 weeks. I'm thinking 2 roosters any one want to make me wrong? I'd love it if you do!

I've never had bantams so I don't know about maturing differently. I just assumed it was the same as LF. They sure are pretty though. Hope they are girls.

I am new to the board and chickens and awaiting my 6 Meyer Hatchery chicks this week. Can't wait, this has been on my bucket list for a long time. Everything is ready and waiting. I am getting an Ameracanus, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Barred Rock, Silver and Gold Laced Wyandottes and a Buff Orpington. Finishing up the coop enclosure, but weather is not agreeable with rain forecast all week. Not really worried as will have 4 or 5 weeks before they are ready to go out in it. Will try and post pics every once in a while.

WooHooo. Can't wait to see pics!!

I am starting to think I hatched three boys

See how the comb is turning pinkish? All three are like that! (At four and a half weeks) I'm so bummed. This might keep me from hatching again. It's almost worth the shipping costs just to be sure you get a girl. Is there any hope that one may still be a girl? Or am I going to have to stalk the Meyer site for a blue ameraucana?

Awww, I hope not. Doesn't look that pink though... maybe not??
That's what I did when my cochin kept going broody last year. I'd keep going out an putting her on the roost and it seemed to work.

 

[christine9]

Thanks for your optimism Nancy! I hope at least one is a girl and hopefully it's not too hard to find homes for the boys if necessary.

 

[jonsccm]

Second order arrived from meyer! 2 DOA but the rest look real perky! Out of 23 chicks I'm happy. Sex identification was good and the vital pack was under the bedding.

 

[NanaLynn]

She is doing good today. I messed up her nest area and put her on the roost last night. She hasn't touched that area since. We'll see tonight when they go in tonight!

That's what I did when my cochin kept going broody last year. I'd keep going out an putting her on the roost and it seemed to work.

I wish my broody PR was as easy to break as your hens. I let her out today, probably too soon and she was back in the nest box. Now I am doing a full 3 nights. So release date is Saturday. If she is still determined I may just go find a couple chicks to put under her in a few weeks. I am afraid the other hens though will follow her lead and I'll have a ton of broodies!

I am starting to think I hatched three boys

See how the comb is turning pinkish? All three are like that! (At four and a half weeks) I'm so bummed. This might keep me from hatching again. It's almost worth the shipping costs just to be sure you get a girl. Is there any hope that one may still be a girl? Or am I going to have to stalk the Meyer site for a blue ameraucana?

I hope that you have a few girls, maybe it is too soon to tell? It's just pink and not red so that's a good sign.

Our coop is setup like your's Lynn. I really should move her. I'll try to figure something out this week.

If she is already settled in and you've given her eggs, I think I have read where some people wait until the chicks hatch so they do not break up her broodiness. Maybe you can block off the nest close to hatch date? Then after they hatch move her and her chicks before they go exploring.

I've been reading the hatching under a broody thread and they mention to move her with fake eggs to the new safe nest and if she stays broody then give her fertile eggs in her new place. That way you don't have to worry as much about her deserting the fertile eggs. I am nervous about doing the whole broody hatch so I've been reading a ton of stuff on it to see what'll work for me and my setup.

Second order arrived from meyer! 2 DOA but the rest look real perky! Out of 23 chicks I'm happy. Sex identification was good and the vital pack was under the bedding.

Yay! Congrats!

So sorry about the 2 DOA

 

[trsturself]

I wish my broody PR was as easy to break as your hens. I let her out today, probably too soon and she was back in the nest box. Now I am doing a full 3 nights. So release date is Saturday. If she is still determined I may just go find a couple chicks to put under her in a few weeks. I am afraid the other hens though will follow her lead and I'll have a ton of broodies!

I hope that you have a few girls, maybe it is too soon to tell? It's just pink and not red so that's a good sign.

If she is already settled in and you've given her eggs, I think I have read where some people wait until the chicks hatch so they do not break up her broodiness. Maybe you can block off the nest close to hatch date? Then after they hatch move her and her chicks before they go exploring.

I've been reading the hatching under a broody thread and they mention to move her with fake eggs to the new safe nest and if she stays broody then give her fertile eggs in her new place. That way you don't have to worry as much about her deserting the fertile eggs. I am nervous about doing the whole broody hatch so I've been reading a ton of stuff on it to see what'll work for me and my setup.

Yay! Congrats!

So sorry about the 2 DOA

That's a good idea. I can put up a piece of wood to keep the babies in until they are all hatched. Didn't really think this through at the beginning. lol
Luckily the weather should cooperate by the time they hatch so I can put them under the coop in a dog crate. I can put food and water dishes in that so they won't have to worry about exploring until they are strong enough to get out of it on their own.

 

[NanaLynn]

That's a good idea. I can put up a piece of wood to keep the babies in until they are all hatched. Didn't really think this through at the beginning. lol
Luckily the weather should cooperate by the time they hatch so I can put them under the coop in a dog crate. I can put food and water dishes in that so they won't have to worry about exploring until they are strong enough to get out of it on their own.

Sounds like a great idea!

So my broody is acting mad at me. I know that we should not give human emotions to chickens. I gave them all a mixture of yogurt, scratch and livers, the others devoured it, but when I placed her little bowl in her cage she looked at me and then turned her back to me.

She is eating when I am away from her though. I imagine she is calling me every name in the chicken encyclopedia of curse words. I feel so mean, she just wants to be a mom, I get that.

 

[NotableNancy]

Second order arrived from meyer! 2 DOA but the rest look real perky! Out of 23 chicks I'm happy. Sex identification was good and the vital pack was under the bedding.

Yay!!! Are these your first chicks ever?

Sounds like a great idea!

So my broody is acting mad at me. I know that we should not give human emotions to chickens. I gave them all a mixture of yogurt, scratch and livers, the others devoured it, but when I placed her little bowl in her cage she looked at me and then turned her back to me.

She is eating when I am away from her though. I imagine she is calling me every name in the chicken encyclopedia of curse words. I feel so mean, she just wants to be a mom, I get that.

LOL, I bet she is mad at you!! She's waiting for you to cave and bring her some real eggs to hatch

 

[MamaShell]

Sounds like a great idea!

So my broody is acting mad at me. I know that we should not give human emotions to chickens. I gave them all a mixture of yogurt, scratch and livers, the others devoured it, but when I placed her little bowl in her cage she looked at me and then turned her back to me.

She is eating when I am away from her though. I imagine she is calling me every name in the chicken encyclopedia of curse words. I feel so mean, she just wants to be a mom, I get that.:/

Too funny!!