Minnesota!

[MinnesotaNice]

How do you band chicks/chickens?

I have no idea. I tried once and failed horrible. I don't know if the size I had was too large and they slipped off or if they picked them off. Either way, I wasn't successful.

I ordered 20 chicks through a feed store. The delivery was scheduled for this morning so I went to pick them up, giddy with excitement. They never arrived. The entire order (1000 chicks) was delayed in st. Paul. The feed store said they will be there tomorrow. So I have to drive into town (one hour... 50 miles) AGAIN and pick up my 20 stressed chicks. Does this sort of thing happen? Those poor chicks being in transit for 3 days....won't their health be jeopardized?

I've been hearing a lot of experiences similar to yours this season. The feed store I go to has been getting their deliveries up to a week early, a week or two late, half orders, wrong breed, etc. Half their shipment of Self Blue D'uccle Bantams didn't make it upon delivery. I hope the little ones are okay. They'll be happy to get some fresh water and relax in their brooder.

 

[scandiafowl]

Tried to pick them off here as well.

 

[scandiafowl]

Just checked on the little ones in the coop. Other than the expected pine shavings in the water they are fine and not huddled under the heater. Love watching them flap their wings and enjoy their new space!

Am also happy that a local family is buying 12 of the Jersey chicks!

 

[KlopKlop]

I ordered 20 chicks through a feed store. The delivery was scheduled for this morning so I went to pick them up, giddy with excitement. They never arrived. The entire order (1000 chicks) was delayed in st. Paul. The feed store said they will be there tomorrow. So I have to drive into town (one hour... 50 miles) AGAIN and pick up my 20 stressed chicks. Does this sort of thing happen? Those poor chicks being in transit for 3 days....won't their health be jeopardized?

My last batch of chicks showed up at the post office 3 days early with no warning

 

[lalaland]

wow, that would be tough to get them early. There are always those last minute adjustments to make, not to mention wanting to be there that day to watch to make sure things go ok.

I'm planning on using the mama heating pad brooder to supplement the little brinsea warmer....

took today off so I could drive to askov and pick up cattle panels for the coop. stopped by jessie the junk guy and got fence posts. Little bit of lumber to grab in the morning, plus hog rings, and then building the hoop coop. next week I'll line the danged thing with hardware cloth and the following weekend will be building a little sleeping coop inside.

Today the quail were out for a few hours and then had enough, streamed back into their run. one of these times they won't come back....

FIrst ticks, bloodroot is blooming, swallows showed up....

 

[scandiafowl]

Mama heating pad?

Tell me more, tell me more...

 

[mnbrewdude]

This weather is great!!! I got out and dethatched part of the lawn this morning. As I was collecting all of the grass/stuff, i figured I'd throw a few handfuls in the run with the birds. They love it! In watching them dig Around, eat the bugs/grass and just be birds. 5 weeks now and they are almost out of their dinosaur stage and are looking like birds.

 

[lalaland]

Mama heating pad?

Tell me more, tell me more...

best thing ever. you dont use a heating lamp, and you avoid the risk of fire, plus your chicks don't freak out the first time its lights out because from day one it is dark at night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update


it is what I will use on the 25 chicks. I've used the commercial variety in a brinsea heat brooder that I won here on byc but it isnt big enough for 25 chicks.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Hi folks, I just wanted to drop in to say hello and I wish I had time to catch up on all the last few pages but I am beat. My son was admitted to the hospital last weekend and we have been making two trips a day down to see him every day and trying to squeeze all the must-do stuff in in between. He is doing well now, but may be there a few more days.

I hope everyone is getting their chicks and finding happy places for them. I just got another hatch of 67 out this week. The brooder house is pretty full, but Holm will be coming to take a few Buckeyes off my hands tomorrow. I wish I would have more time to spend chatting with him, but it will have to be a short visit, plus he has quite a drive to get here and back.

It has been a whirlwind but the critters don't stop needing their care. My tom cat started limping and we discovered he has been out scrapping with something. His front leg has a couple of wounds and he is not happy when we start touching the leg with them on it. He is cleaning himself, but we may need to wrap him in a towel and treating them and doing some wrapping to get them healed. We shall see. He doesn't like to be handled a whole lot and he was not too impressed when I started squeezing on the gunk coming out tonight. Poor fella.

I will be back to my regular visits to the page soon, I hope. You all better be enjoying all the sun and warmth! Time to get those gardens going!

 

[scandiafowl]

best thing ever.  you dont use a heating lamp, and you avoid the risk of fire, plus your chicks don't freak out the first time its lights out because from day one it is dark at night.  

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update


it is what I will use on the 25 chicks.  I've used the commercial variety in a brinsea heat brooder that I won here on byc but it isnt big enough for 25 chicks.

I really like it. What is press and seal?