NY chicken lover!!!!

[myfivegirls]

ouch ...so sorry

Thanks ... I knew it was a risk trying to raise chicks in the winter, and I thought they be fine if I just brought them inside. They didn't have a light on them inside, just their own body heat. But the downfall was I didn't leave a wide enough gap when I put on the lid to the plastic bin. My theory is the lid trapped all their heat inside & caused the condensation, then they got wet & chilled?? The stronger ones climbed on top & eventually the weaker ones under them succumbed.

Several things I learned through this:
1. Always listen to your mother! (As she asked if I should put some in another bin, so they'd have be more room. I thought b/c it was just temporary, I'd be fine & keep them warmer all together.)
2. Make sure there's enough space & ventilation!
3. And if the power goes out at night & you bring chicks inside, set an alarm to check on them in a few hours!

At least there's some chicks left, and I know they'll be true survivors if they make it through this cold snap we're having.

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

I'm new as well. I'm still on my first flock and they are not even a year until Easter.

Same here! Looks like we're learning together.

Check your roosters combs. They get cracked and bleed and then he shakes his head and you see what happens. Put some blue kote on it.

Thank you Rancher! We don't have Roosters but I see by Beer Can's post, this can also happen with pullets too. I'm going to have to check them a bit closer tomorrow. How do you spray their combs with Blue Kote without getting it in their mouths or eyes? Is there a different application method available to purchase?

I was thinking same thing @HISIRISHGEM even a pullet or hen could get a small unnoticeable cut on comb or wattle, shake it's head and cause that mess, doesn't take much blood. That's what it looks like to me. I've seen pics like that inside coops blood sprayed to the rafters with no visible injuries, most logical explanation. ? I think?

Thank you so much! I was wondering if pullets could get the cracks too. You and Rancher helped me narrow some things down. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.

Same! Opened the coop door when I came home from work about 7:30 and they were all good. My lav orp even laid her first egg today. My silkies are even doing good. My barred blue egg layer chick has been loving to run around my basement when they are out of their brooder! She's going to have a crest, wonder if my pet chicken mixes a CCL with barred rock.

Where did you get your Lavender Orp if you don't mind me asking? I would love a couple of them. Your all starting to get me hooked on more chickens. I was thinking of 4 more to pace myself but I may get 6 more to add to the other girls.

 

[Lady Loveall]

Some Mille eggs into lockdown tonight, about a dozon. Over the next two weeks there will be more. (Higher power willing) in the process of rehoming an impulse buy of a pair of silkies. I truely believe they are cuter in someone else's coop. Searching, always searching...

 

[akaruby]

@HISIRISHGEM I got her from Meyer Hatchery. The other ones I had I got from a lady in the Ithaca area, but they both turned out to be roos. I couldn't keep them as I had no idea they would be so huge!! But they were so pretty.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks ... I knew it was a risk trying to raise chicks in the winter, and I thought they be fine if I just brought them inside. They didn't have a light on them inside, just their own body heat. But the downfall was I didn't leave a wide enough gap when I put on the lid to the plastic bin. My theory is the lid trapped all their heat inside & caused the condensation, then they got wet & chilled?? The stronger ones climbed on top & eventually the weaker ones under them succumbed.

Several things I learned through this:
1. Always listen to your mother! (As she asked if I should put some in another bin, so they'd have be more room. I thought b/c it was just temporary, I'd be fine & keep them warmer all together.)
2. Make sure there's enough space & ventilation!
3. And if the power goes out at night & you bring chicks inside, set an alarm to check on them in a few hours!

At least there's some chicks left, and I know they'll be true survivors if they make it through this cold snap we're having.

I have hatched chicks with a broody in this weather and found that the mother knows best.

I too have experienced the lid humidity business but with older birds. Chickens exhale a great deal of moisture.

I' am sorry you had to learn this lesson like I did. This is why I absolutely will not add heat to my coops. Heat is more of a killer than the cold. I just don't understand why folks don't listen to the experts when it comes to heating the coop.

Keep in mind that we need to put a thermometer in the brooders. Those 250 watt bulbs are too, blankety blank hot!! Especially if your chicks are in a heated room.

Same here! Looks like we're learning together.



Thank you Rancher! We don't have Roosters but I see by Beer Can's post, this can also happen with pullets too. I'm going to have to check them a bit closer tomorrow. How do you spray their combs with Blue Kote without getting it in their mouths or eyes? Is there a different application method available to purchase?


Thank you so much! I was wondering if pullets could get the cracks too. You and Rancher helped me narrow some things down. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.

What I do is cover their eyes. I also generally do it at night with a head lamp on. Chickens don't see well in the dark and are calmer. Keep in mind they know your voice. You might also consider rubbing some vaseline or bag balm on them.

I noticed the Daisy roo has some fbite on his waddles poor thing. It's been unusually cold this year. So much for global warming.

 

[cutipatooti]

Rancher, sorry to hear of all the cancer in the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

I too believe there are more cures then they are letting on its just more profitable if people get cancer and pay for treatment. I believe that what causes cancer is in most of our everyday items but I think food is probably one of the biggest contributers.

Hisirishgm, glad to hear from you again. I'm with the others that the blood is probably from the wattles somewhere, but don't worry it looks bad but I have never found it to be serious.

Myfivegirls, sorry to hear of the loss of some of your chicks. We lost power for 7 hours the other night, my chicks are all in my basement but we had 3 silkie chicks under a week old that I had to bring upstairs. They made it. I have had roosters that rooster in trees before not in the same tress or huddled and they survives in the snow and rain and in below freezing temps. Cold don't bother them, just moisture.

I have gotten eggs from tjs chickens before, highly reccomend them, the porcelain are beautiful.

On another not, we are thinking of moving again. We rent, and won't be able to buy anything for at least 5 years probably more. There is never anything for rent in our area that's why we jumped on the house we are in now, but we are outgrowing this house and my plans for poultry and livestock outgrow the yard. The biggest issue is the ticks and bears. It turns out we do not have the amount of property we were origionally told..3.5 acres. We got the chickens to free range the woods but it's not our property. It's loaded with giant barberry bushes that ticks breed in. Also the bear and raccoons pass through our property to go to the sports bar across the street and raid the dumpster. The raccoons are on
Y a problem to the chickens that are stupid enough to try to roost in trees but the bear can get what he wants if he wants it.

Anyway we have baby # 5 on the way and will be devastated if any of our children come down with another case of Lyme disease. H huge house that has 9 acres is available that used to have a horse living there . Several acres are fenced in and the neighbor has goats and chickens. It has a deep freezer in the basement so good for extra Roos and a bigger fridge in the kitchen. Ours is a small one now, no room for a big one. Also a lawn tractor, for the lawn and maybe to move small chicken tractors.

I know the place is in our budget, but barely. We won't be able to save much money, but the kids will be safer and have more room, the chickens will be happier, and I will get to do a huge garden as well as other livestock. I feel this is the healthier way for our family. It is also walking distance to the school and an award winning park.

I just worry about things like gas and oil prices going up. Or if my husband gets injured and can't work. I might not see another house for rent that is Suitable for us for a few years. What do you all think. Should we go for it?

 

[tao chick]

Rancher, sorry to hear of all the cancer in the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

I too believe there are more cures then they are letting on its just more profitable if people get cancer and pay for treatment. I believe that what causes cancer is in most of our everyday items but I think food is probably one of the biggest contributers.

Hisirishgm, glad to hear from you again. I'm with the others that the blood is probably from the wattles somewhere, but don't worry it looks bad but I have never found it to be serious.

Myfivegirls, sorry to hear of the loss of some of your chicks. We lost power for 7 hours the other night, my chicks are all in my basement but we had 3 silkie chicks under a week old that I had to bring upstairs. They made it. I have had roosters that rooster in trees before not in the same tress or huddled and they survives in the snow and rain and in below freezing temps. Cold don't bother them, just moisture.

I have gotten eggs from tjs chickens before, highly reccomend them, the porcelain are beautiful.

On another not, we are thinking of moving again. We rent, and won't be able to buy anything for at least 5 years probably more. There is never anything for rent in our area that's why we jumped on the house we are in now, but we are outgrowing this house and my plans for poultry and livestock outgrow the yard. The biggest issue is the ticks and bears. It turns out we do not have the amount of property we were origionally told..3.5 acres. We got the chickens to free range the woods but it's not our property. It's loaded with giant barberry bushes that ticks breed in. Also the bear and raccoons pass through our property to go to the sports bar across the street and raid the dumpster. The raccoons are on
Y a problem to the chickens that are stupid enough to try to roost in trees but the bear can get what he wants if he wants it.

Anyway we have baby # 5 on the way and will be devastated if any of our children come down with another case of Lyme disease. H huge house that has 9 acres is available that used to have a horse living there . Several acres are fenced in and the neighbor has goats and chickens. It has a deep freezer in the basement so good for extra Roos and a bigger fridge in the kitchen. Ours is a small one now, no room for a big one. Also a lawn tractor, for the lawn and maybe to move small chicken tractors.

I know the place is in our budget, but barely. We won't be able to save much money, but the kids will be safer and have more room, the chickens will be happier, and I will get to do a huge garden as well as other livestock. I feel this is the healthier way for our family. It is also walking distance to the school and an award winning park.

I just worry about things like gas and oil prices going up. Or if my husband gets injured and can't work. I might not see another house for rent that is Suitable for us for a few years. What do you all think. Should we go for it?

You seem convinced that it's a good choice. If it's only the whatifs that are cons then you should go for it.

 

[tao chick]

Well, the chickens don't mind the temperature today. They're outside.

 

[shodack]

Well, the chickens don't mind the temperature today. They're outside.

I have wimpy chickens! Still haven't stepped a foot outside!

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, sorry to hear of all the cancer in the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

I too believe there are more cures then they are letting on its just more profitable if people get cancer and pay for treatment. I believe that what causes cancer is in most of our everyday items but I think food is probably one of the biggest contributers.

Hisirishgm, glad to hear from you again. I'm with the others that the blood is probably from the wattles somewhere, but don't worry it looks bad but I have never found it to be serious.

Myfivegirls, sorry to hear of the loss of some of your chicks. We lost power for 7 hours the other night, my chicks are all in my basement but we had 3 silkie chicks under a week old that I had to bring upstairs. They made it. I have had roosters that rooster in trees before not in the same tress or huddled and they survives in the snow and rain and in below freezing temps. Cold don't bother them, just moisture.

I have gotten eggs from tjs chickens before, highly reccomend them, the porcelain are beautiful.

On another not, we are thinking of moving again. We rent, and won't be able to buy anything for at least 5 years probably more. There is never anything for rent in our area that's why we jumped on the house we are in now, but we are outgrowing this house and my plans for poultry and livestock outgrow the yard. The biggest issue is the ticks and bears. It turns out we do not have the amount of property we were origionally told..3.5 acres. We got the chickens to free range the woods but it's not our property. It's loaded with giant barberry bushes that ticks breed in. Also the bear and raccoons pass through our property to go to the sports bar across the street and raid the dumpster. The raccoons are on
Y a problem to the chickens that are stupid enough to try to roost in trees but the bear can get what he wants if he wants it.

Anyway we have baby # 5 on the way and will be devastated if any of our children come down with another case of Lyme disease. H huge house that has 9 acres is available that used to have a horse living there . Several acres are fenced in and the neighbor has goats and chickens. It has a deep freezer in the basement so good for extra Roos and a bigger fridge in the kitchen. Ours is a small one now, no room for a big one. Also a lawn tractor, for the lawn and maybe to move small chicken tractors.

I know the place is in our budget, but barely. We won't be able to save much money, but the kids will be safer and have more room, the chickens will be happier, and I will get to do a huge garden as well as other livestock. I feel this is the healthier way for our family. It is also walking distance to the school and an award winning park.

I just worry about things like gas and oil prices going up. Or if my husband gets injured and can't work. I might not see another house for rent that is Suitable for us for a few years. What do you all think. Should we go for it?

Well now I reckon you should check with a realtor if you have good credit records. (Not fishing for personal info) I talked with a friend in real estate and found we were good to go, back a ways. Wish we'd found a place like this then, but I don't think it was ready.

No offense to anyone BUT I rented in the younger days and had three small dogs. Then the house/apt burned I had to move and the rest is history. I suggest you get your foundation/house first then build on that. Don't make the mistake of trying save by skirting the real estate agent and lawyer. The nightmares I see. Read Edith Lanks "House Calls" and you'll see what's what. Point being these rent to own jobs.

You've got to have a plan. Flying by the seat of your pants is foolish. DO NOT got for another rental if it's more money. Stay where you are and save for your foundation/house first. Put everything you have into affording a place. You'll be glad you did.

Get some counseling and advice from someone non family.

I wish you well,