Michigan

[Opa]

While there are several commercial wormers available, the only worming I have practiced is giving them lots of raw pumpkin seeds the the fall.

 

[CricketYang]

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we have all had our moments as well, Sunday I took off for church and forgot to open the coop door. No harm done except for the one little hen that gets picked on was missing a few more feathers. How is the SLW hen doing?

She passed away shortly after I brought her in to warm up

. I was depressed that I ate two big cookies and just sat around for awhile. Thanks for asking though.

I am however afraid that I'm becoming a chicken hoarder bc I picked up eight chicks from Family Farm the other day and another eight today, along with two rouens. I'll just say I'm in mourning and am trying to help myself feel better.

 

[CricketYang]

@Olive I was curious about the geese bc DH wants them for his gigantic garden. I want them bc I just want them, I think they're awesome looking. He's looking around for fertile eggs or goslings online and just thought I'd check on here. If we don't find them before Chickenstock I'm sure we'll find them there.

 

[bjengel]

Just to update everybody - my chicks are 2 weeks old today and all 8 of them are still doing fantastic. I've really noticed a huge increase in their appetite the last couple of days. I went from having to refill their feeder every 3 days or so, to now having to refill their feeder every single day...... They are growing like crazy!!

Here is a updated picture of the group - 4 Black Australorps and 4 Buff Orpingtons (I believe that is what they are anyways)

Even Felix our cat is tolerating them pretty well

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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[Hillbilly Hen]

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I love my BA's, they are so sweet!

 

[Opa]

So far we are dodging the bullet.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Opa..Have you ever had the chicken poop checked for worms to find out if the pumpkin seeds work? Never heard of using pumpkin seeds...I'll have to read up on that.
Glad YOU dodged the bullet...I am looking at 6 inches and a white out. Looks like we will get the 12" of snow predicted for up here. Usually I'm mad at the weathermen for giving bum reports...THIS time they were right. Murphy's Law.
Ok...I have another question for you experienced incubator hatchers. This is my first hatch (if I get any) and I put the eggs in on March11. Counting the 11th....that puts day 18 at 28th and hatch at 31. Somewhere I read a thread on BYC that says you DON'T COUNT the first day. So that would be 29th for the 18th day and April 1 for hatch. I could email Wynette and ask her but I have done it so many times I figured I spread out some of my first time nerves/questions to the rest of Michigan.
Thank you for the worm answer....hope to hear a answer on todays question. I want to make sure I stop turning when I'm suppose to. I was also thinking of candling again on day 15 or 16 (it would be my 4 th time doing that but I'm trying to learn) I have a Brinsea Octagon advance EX with Humidity pump so it gets back up quick. My temp varies from 99.5-99.7 and my humidity from 40-45. I guess it is ok to vary that much? I have it in a small room in the house. I plan to put it up to 65% for the last 3 days.
Thanks everyone...I am so worried I won't get any chicks to hatch on this first time by doing something stupid.

So bummed about the weather I went ahead and planted some veggies and flowers last night in the basement. I had set up the light and table a month ago...figured I may be rushing it a little but did it anyway.

 

[Olive Hill]

Well, so much for wishful thinking. We've got 1/4 - 1/2 inch of ice on everything. Had no power throughout the night and part of the morning but it's back on now. Wouldn't be surprised if it went back off again though with as much ice build up as there is out there. Tree limbs are dropping like flies.

ETA: The turkeys look like they've been through WWIII. They roost in the trees and they must have got pummeled, poor things. They're frisky and happy as usual, but don't look nearly as pretty as they did yesterday. Hopefully they fluff up once they dry and shed some of that ice.

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We use no chemical/commercial medications or dewormers whatsoever. I just give mine whole pumpkins. I'm far too lazy to separate out the seeds for them when they can do it themselves.

We also have lots of black walnuts here, which they thoroughly enjoy and whole cloves can be fed when those items are not in season if you have further concerns.

 

[Olive Hill]

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Start counting the second day. So if you set on the 11th, you would could the 12th as day "one" because it marks the point at which they had been incubated for 1 day, 24 hours. I put mine in lockdown early because they consistently hatch early you won't know if that's the case for yours until you get a couple hatches under your belt though.