Minnesota!

[MinnesotaNice]

Only three. And now?

Ummmmm, 29 including the 12 chicks I'm brooding. And ducks. A few of them. Can't forget the ducks.

I have been selling mine for $3 a dozen over this winter for $3 a dozen. We sold for $4 a dozen at the market last year and sold out every week. We will see if the market will hold that this year or not. Store eggs prices were up around last year due to AI. I have been avoiding splitting a dollar so I don't have to give coin change but I will if I have to

I'm too cheap. Family is free, there's an older couple down the road I give eggs to for free, friends are $1.50/dz, and someone just wanting eggs is $2.50/dz. I'd like to charge another 50 cents per dozen, but it's hard when the price has been set for so long. Plus, they always bring their own cartons. I rarely have extra eggs and will be very happy when my 5 pullets start laying. Smart move with not splitting a dollar. I wish I would have thought that far.

 

[cottonlouie]

I have 20 week old chicks. All were running around and eating and drinking and pooping. This afternoon I have one very lethargic chick. She is just laying down, breathing hard. I dipped her beak in water and she fussed half heartedly. The other chicks walk on her and she barely responds. No pasty butt. Good temp in the brooder. Any suggestions?

 

[scandiafowl]

I have 20 week old chicks. All were running around and eating and drinking and pooping. This afternoon I have one very lethargic chick. She is just laying down, breathing hard. I dipped her beak in water and she fussed half heartedly. The other chicks walk on her and she barely responds. No pasty butt. Good temp in the brooder. Any suggestions?

Not much. Sometimes chicks get sick and don't get better.
One of my Bielefelders died suddenly a week ago. I have no idea why.

 

[scandiafowl]

A photo of the two hens.

 

[cottonlouie]

Not much. Sometimes chicks get sick and don't get better.
One of my Bielefelders died suddenly a week ago. I have no idea why.

I have had such good luck with chickens. Lost 2 to predators last summer. One baby chick drowned (the only one to hatch from a batch my broody was responsible for). But that's it out of 16 chickens. The summer before that I had all 5 meaties that lasted until "it was time." The summer before that I adopted 3 wild old hens that lasted all summer until "it was time." (they were really old and really wild...) Anyway, that seems like decent odds for chickens that free range on 40 acres in the middle of no where. So I'm sad to see this little one so weak.

 

[scandiafowl]

I have had such good luck with chickens. Lost 2 to predators last summer. One baby chick drowned (the only one to hatch from a batch my broody was responsible for). But that's it out of 16 chickens. The summer before that I had all 5 meaties that lasted until "it was time." The summer before that I adopted 3 wild old hens that lasted all summer until "it was time." (they were really old and really wild...) Anyway, that seems like decent odds for chickens that free range on 40 acres in the middle of no where. So I'm sad to see this little one so weak.

I don't blame you at all. Every chick I've hatched or bought I've rooted for every step of the way. When one dies - I felt like I've failed.

So cool that you adopted older wild hens. I've thought about rescuing hens and probably would if asked.

 

[cottonlouie]

I don't blame you at all. Every chick I've hatched or bought I've rooted for every step of the way. When one dies - I felt like I've failed.

So cool that you adopted older wild hens. I've thought about rescuing hens and probably would if asked.

They really didn't get much care. They had a coop and water and food. They spent a lot of time in trees, getting away from any human form they saw. We gave them the summer and a bit of fall but we didn't want to stress the old girls out with a cold winter. So....anyway, it was our first chicken experience and now I feel pretty attached to all of them. The new chicks jump into my hands and have no fear of me. They're so cute.

 

[holm25]

I know how u all feel... We started with strictly a layer flock... No I am hatching chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys.

 

[cottonlouie]

I have been putting my hands in the brooder and my chicks are now so comfortable with me they curl up in my hand and sleep. I can lift them out and put them back in and they usually choose to stay in my hand instead of jumping off. A few are nervous but mostly the chicks run to my hands and use them like a jungle gym. This is okay for me to do, right?

 

[scandiafowl]

They really didn't get much care. They had a coop and water and food. They spent a lot of time in trees, getting away from any human form they saw. We gave them the summer and a bit of fall but we didn't want to stress the old girls out with a cold winter. So....anyway, it was our first chicken experience and now I feel pretty attached to all of them. The new chicks jump into my hands and have no fear of me. They're so cute.

I wish I had the time to handle all of my chicks like that. Must me so much fun.

Today 12 of my 22 JG chicks went to a new home. It's a local 4H family so I know they are in good care. And my flock has become a bit more manageable.