Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[NanaLynn]

She's such a character and a cutie pie!!!

Awww, Pip, I'm so sorry. Po was adorable. So sad for you and him. Is there a chance he escaped and is hiding out somewhere?

Yes, I put the divider in there too. I let her out this morning and she hasn't attempted to go in the coop and she's perched on a branch so I think she's broke. It got pretty darn chilly last night so I'm sure that did it! If it happens in the heat of the summer I'll put it up higher. Maybe the sun has something to do with it too. Her cage was in a lot of sun in the morning and I know when they're broody they want a cool dark warm place. I don't know but I think one problem is solved.
Found remnants of a soft shelled egg this morning which is so odd since I'm pretty sure it was my BR and she laid a hard egg yesterday and now she's in the nest again. She may have just developed laying issues. Who knows. But I did get 7 eggs yesterday which is a first in a long time!

LOL.... nevermind... she just went back into the nest

hopefully to lay an egg but doubtful. she's back in the cage. I'll figure out how to raise it higher today.

That would be great if Po is just hiding somewhere.

I guess with Spring here, they get harder to break. We have a rotating broody situation here I think. Looks like Rocky the PR is trying to be broody again. This will be a 3rd time for her. She has stayed in the nest box all morning when the rest we're free ranging and growled at me when I stole eggs out from under her. She was trying to hatch her sisters eggs I guess. Maybe I am wrong but she seemed a little naked in the chest area again. We'll see how the rest of the day plays out and if she is still in there at night. I need a revolving door on that broody cage.

 

[NanaLynn]

So I recently found this site:
http://www.sustainablepoultrynetwork.com/spn-recognized-flocks/

There is a farm not too far from us called Allee' Bubba Farms and it is listed as a SPN flock on the site. They have Partridge Chanteclers & Black Ameraucanas. Not sure if they sell hatching eggs, but they do sell chicks at times. Those Black Ameraucanas should lay blue/green eggs since they should be the right type since they're certified. I hope so anyway. I don't plan on getting any right now, but just planning for the future. Some of you may see your states listed too.

We're going there today! They have organic veggies, eggs, strawberries, honey and other things. Plus they have horse back riding too. I may be keeping my 13 yr old niece and 12 yr old nephew some this summer, so they'd enjoy the horse back riding I'm sure. Hopefully it is as nice as it sounds on their Facebook page.

 

[trsturself]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about Po.

 

[rnchick74]

I forgot to close Po's hutch last night and something got him.

My handsome little guy... He was from Meyer's black frizzle Cochin bantams, but he didn't inherit the frizzle. He was so handsome anyway, and I was looking forward to getting him back in with the girls...

My big boy... I'll miss his big-man-in-a-little-body crows...

Poor baby!

 

[christine9]

Oh sorry about Po!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I don't know that Po would have been able to escape, but I will keep an eye out for any sign of him. Just, not holding my breath. :/ But thank you for giving me something to hope for, anyway.

My brother and I followed the trail of feathers left behind out into the woods. It stopped cold about 150 feet or so on, no body to be found, but we did find prints and fur. It was a raccoon. The coop that the hens sleep in is secure (1/2 inch welded wire on the windows and vents, latching doors with carabiners, etc.), and I moved the rooster that was in the adjacent pen inside where he'll be safer, so I don't think it'll find as easy of a target if there is a next time. I'm still kicking myself a bit for forgetting to close him in. But, live and learn.

I spent time with the babies and got pictures (chicky-romp-time makes everything better, right?), so I'll post those a little later. I've got to go get all of my birds in for the night right now, though. I don't want to risk them staying out too late right now.

 

[MamaShell]

I was really tempted with the free shipping offer but we'll hold off until next year still. It is getting harder and harder to hold off now. I figured next year I will either get more from Meyer's in a more variety pack, more from TSC or more from a local source. I really like the variety and I want some of those BCM's or Legbars and more EE's not just brown layers. My husband is not as picky but since I do all the chicken chores it's more my choice. He does all the building for me though and he wants a lot of eggs that's it. He does enjoy watching them though and giving them pat downs. Yay!!! So glad you're coop is coming!!! Can't wait to see the pics!! Speaking of pics, here is the setup in the run for the broodies. This is the one cage I have setup and I just leave there. Please excuse the mess...but well you know...chickens are a little messy. I placed a storage tub lid on the top of the cage. There is a rock on it now since the others like to jump on the cage. When they did that last time they scared each other when the lid fell off and they all stayed in a corner of the run forever and would not go in the coop. So that's why I have a heavy rock on it. (Took me awhile to figure out what happened, I thought some sort of predator got in. Chickens are so funny sometimes. You can see the cage cups that hook to the sides too. One is not hooked up but the other is. They work better then just bowls, less spilled water and food. This is the other side of the chicken porch where I can add another outside broody cage, if needed. They sit very nicely on those two boards that come out on each side of the porch and the poop falls through the cage wire since I took the bottom tray out. Here is a bigger view of the chicken porch. I'm not sure where I would put another broody cage if I have 3 at one time. Just hoping that does not happen. We did not plan to make two broody areas on both sides of the porch but it just worked out that way. The wood we worked with for the porch was a lot shorter then we thought and did not extend the full length. So a happy mistake, I guess. So not pretty but very useful.

Awesome set up!!

Ah, la Frou! Well, I think my newest picture of her is my avatar, actually, and that's from mid May.

Frou-frou, herself, is doing well. Still insisting on her nightly visit to the house. Laying 2 or 3 eggs most weeks--in the corner of the coop, of course, and not in the nests like the rest of the girls. She had to relearn how to dustbathe! It must have been a long winter for her! Her first dust bath of the season, she kind of laid on her side with her feet sticking out and shifted around like she wasn't sure what she was doing! She's finally getting it again now. Silly bird.

So sweet!

I forgot to close Po's hutch last night and something got him. My handsome little guy... He was from Meyer's black frizzle Cochin bantams, but he didn't inherit the frizzle. He was so handsome anyway, and I was looking forward to getting him back in with the girls... My big boy... I'll miss his big-man-in-a-little-body crows...

So sorry about Po! He was beautiful!

She's such a character and a cutie pie!!! Awww, Pip, I'm so sorry. Po was adorable. So sad for you and him. Is there a chance he escaped and is hiding out somewhere? Yes, I put the divider in there too. I let her out this morning and she hasn't attempted to go in the coop and she's perched on a branch so I think she's broke. It got pretty darn chilly last night so I'm sure that did it! If it happens in the heat of the summer I'll put it up higher. Maybe the sun has something to do with it too. Her cage was in a lot of sun in the morning and I know when they're broody they want a cool dark warm place. I don't know but I think one problem is solved. Found remnants of a soft shelled egg this morning which is so odd since I'm pretty sure it was my BR and she laid a hard egg yesterday and now she's in the nest again. She may have just developed laying issues. Who knows. But I did get 7 eggs yesterday which is a first in a long time! LOL.... nevermind... she just went back into the nest hopefully to lay an egg but doubtful. she's back in the cage. I'll figure out how to raise it higher today.

Good luck!

 

[MamaShell]

So I recently found this site:
http://www.sustainablepoultrynetwork.com/spn-recognized-flocks/

There is a farm not too far from us called Allee' Bubba Farms and it is listed as a SPN flock on the site. They have Partridge Chanteclers & Black Ameraucanas. Not sure if they sell hatching eggs, but they do sell chicks at times. Those Black Ameraucanas should lay blue/green eggs since they should be the right type since they're certified. I hope so anyway. I don't plan on getting any right now, but just planning for the future. Some of you may see your states listed too.

We're going there today! They have organic veggies, eggs, strawberries, honey and other things. Plus they have horse back riding too. I may be keeping my 13 yr old niece and 12 yr old nephew some this summer, so they'd enjoy the horse back riding I'm sure. Hopefully it is as nice as it sounds on their Facebook page.

Sounds like a great place. I hope you enjoyed it.

You niece and nephew will be lucky to spend some of the summer with you!

I don't know that Po would have been able to escape, but I will keep an eye out for any sign of him. Just, not holding my breath. :/ But thank you for giving me something to hope for, anyway.

My brother and I followed the trail of feathers left behind out into the woods. It stopped cold about 150 feet or so on, no body to be found, but we did find prints and fur. It was a raccoon. The coop that the hens sleep in is secure (1/2 inch welded wire on the windows and vents, latching doors with carabiners, etc.), and I moved the rooster that was in the adjacent pen inside where he'll be safer, so I don't think it'll find as easy of a target if there is a next time. I'm still kicking myself a bit for forgetting to close him in. But, live and learn.

I spent time with the babies and got pictures (chicky-romp-time makes everything better, right?), so I'll post those a little later. I've got to go get all of my birds in for the night right now, though. I don't want to risk them staying out too late right now.

Our birds are extra vulnerable at this time of year with all the racoon babies, etc. to be fed in the woods. You are definitely wise to reign them in early!

 

[rnchick74]

Off the top of anyone's head, does anyone know the crop emptying time of a 1.5 almost 2 week of chick? I'm not terribly worried, but I was doing my nightly clean up on the babies brooder & noticed that both their crops were quite full. They did get a treat of watermelon today & some fermented feed with some sprouts. I put some appropriate sized chick grit in there & they had a blast with all the new stuff.

I have no idea what time they finished up all their eating, so it is quite possible that they had just "loaded up" when I went to clean their pen which is why their crops are full. They are quite chirpy, active, & pooping normally. Which is why I'm not terribly worried.

I guess I will just check 1st thing in the morning & make sure its gone down quite a bit. But you know I will be worried!

 

[christine9]

Off the top of anyone's head, does anyone know the crop emptying time of a 1.5 almost 2 week of chick? I'm not terribly worried, but I was doing my nightly clean up on the babies brooder & noticed that both their crops were quite full. They did get a treat of watermelon today & some fermented feed with some sprouts. I put some appropriate sized chick grit in there & they had a blast with all the new stuff. 

I have no idea what time they finished up all their eating, so it is quite possible that they had just "loaded up" when I went to clean their pen which is why their crops are full. They are quite chirpy, active, & pooping normally. Which is why I'm not terribly worried.

I guess I will just check 1st thing in the morning & make sure its gone down quite a bit. But you know I will be worried!

When I had an issue with this, I was told they'd be flat by morning.