I bought my farm in MN in Sept 2013, and before the snow flew a friend gave me 4 chickens and 2 roosters, and we bought 5 more. Then in Jan I bought 10 more just to get enough eggs. This winter is one of the coldest on record here and it was definitely a trial by cold. The farm is wonderfully set up for chickens with 4 sizable coops and 4 outruns.
Then in Feb I bought 3 more hens (2 Chochins (one bantum), and 1 Americana) and 2 Polish Roosters (one bantum). I figured I would keep these separate with a couple Rock Islands and 2 West something? and collect eggs and incubate them. Looking forward to interesting new chickens.
So I got an incubator full and did everything wrong - didn't make sure it was running correctly and didn't have a valid thermometer so ended up cooking the eggs, then 2-3 power outages caused more issues. So the entire incubator was lost (41 eggs),
I started another incubator full on the 11th of May, and then the next day my Bantum Chochin hen became very broody and there is now 12 eggs in that nest. The Americana became broody on the 24th and she and the Cochin shared the one nest - then somehow another nest is full of eggs and they are both setting!
These are my first hatchings - due June 1 and beyond...!
I also ordered 20 baby chicks and the came home on Sunday (with 20 of a friends) and they are doing well in the brooding box out in the coop!
This is the first time I have had chickens and although some will be food this winter, many will be my future hens. Pretty exciting times!
Then in Feb I bought 3 more hens (2 Chochins (one bantum), and 1 Americana) and 2 Polish Roosters (one bantum). I figured I would keep these separate with a couple Rock Islands and 2 West something? and collect eggs and incubate them. Looking forward to interesting new chickens.
So I got an incubator full and did everything wrong - didn't make sure it was running correctly and didn't have a valid thermometer so ended up cooking the eggs, then 2-3 power outages caused more issues. So the entire incubator was lost (41 eggs),
I started another incubator full on the 11th of May, and then the next day my Bantum Chochin hen became very broody and there is now 12 eggs in that nest. The Americana became broody on the 24th and she and the Cochin shared the one nest - then somehow another nest is full of eggs and they are both setting!
These are my first hatchings - due June 1 and beyond...!
I also ordered 20 baby chicks and the came home on Sunday (with 20 of a friends) and they are doing well in the brooding box out in the coop!
This is the first time I have had chickens and although some will be food this winter, many will be my future hens. Pretty exciting times!
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you are putting together a nice flock! Good luck with the broody hatches and the incubator eggs. Sorry about the problems you had before, hope all goes well this time.
