NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tab's chicken obsession]

My sister got the new job she applied for. I'm really happy for her, but now I have to get a new babysitter. The new one won't be for free either.

We have 15 new babies and still a few more pips. Go chickies go!

 

[happyhensny]

Annie, I saw an ad in Albany craigslist for a flock of chanties in Vorheesville. Are they yours? Good luck! Ginny

Yes, they are ours. I've had 2 calls and an email. The one family I know and they are getting their "dream" farm up in Berne and moving in at the end of the month. They are supposed to let me know for sure by tomorrow.

Is it really possible to have a "runt" chicken? I'm beginning to wonder about the littlest chick I have. I understand he's the youngest (born 4/3/12) but he is just so tiny! So not only is he a silkie with 4 toes not 5, but he's tiniest. LOL He's going to be my Chicken Little of the 3. He's not as lively either as the other two, so I'm kind of worried about him. Hope he makes it ok.

I just had a tiny one hatch, much skinnier than the others. Good luck to your little chick.

Well a good weekend for me, and I hope everyone else had a good weekend.

I think I now have 4 broodies. 3 Orps and an Americana. Do they often go broody? She is only 7 months old.

I had a so-so hatch
6 of 6 RIR with one very strange little one, more below.
1 of 2 BLRW
0 of 1 Mutt eggs from a friend.
6 of 15 Jersey Giant Shipped eggs (started with 24) I have read a lot about how giants take an extra day, and technically I am only on day 22-23, so I'll probably leave them for a few more days. I was hoping for 10 or 12.

So the Weird RIR chick. My wife and I move the first dozen last night and noticed one guy was acting weird. We looked at him and he has no EYES. None. Just little divots were the eggs should be. The baby was crying, and it was late, so I'll deal with him tonight. Has anyone ever had that happen? I believe he has found the water and feed, but don't see a future for a blind chick.

42 in the Incubator Friday, and 2 of the 4 broodies are sitting on eggs, if the others are serious, I'll give them eggs this week.

No eyes, that is so sad for the chick and for you.

Holy cow! Go away from the computer for a couple days and ten new pages of posts!!

I am pretty sure these days, you could just stick some eggs under the butt of most teenagers (as they sit at the computer or video game) and they would hatch your eggs just fine!

Auction was less that exciting Saturday. I do have to say, though, they had some of the nicest looking roosters I have seen in a long time (at auction). Just really great colors and condition.

My DS is 14, very intelligent and a very kind, good person. He plays PS3 for many hours. I've chosen my battle and as long as there is no trouble, he continues to play sports (needs some exercise!) and great grades I am ok with it. BUT, the hatching idea! MUUUhahahaha! Useful!

 

[stonykill]

thanks Rancher. My screen name is the name of the creek that divides our land in 2. Old dutch settlement area

Stony - congrats on the find. You know I just remember a kid I was friends with in younger days my sis used to call "Stoney Burke". He was the star of a TV show back in the 60's.

Featherz - hope the chicks don't do you in. I've got more than a few, but unwilling to "give" them away and I'm expecting more in a couple of weeks. Only a few of those are staying though, so I will end up with about 30. Not including the eggs I stuck in the bator just cuz. I gave away most of the Del hens and am hatching their replacements. It looks as though of the 10 I now have I might end up with 5 or 6 hens.

Happy - thanks for the recipe. I'll have to write it down. DW went and bought two doz white eggs to color with Darcy and then didn't cuz Darcy is sick. She's the only grandchild we have near us.

I do like NN's but Lord have mercy where would I put them. Now if I could get trades of pullet for pullet then I could work them in. I'd be willing to trade as soon as they are sexable. Though not this year.

Featherz - I was told by a friend who researches these things to buy earthquake insurance. Not sure how that will work with holes in the yard. However with prices what they are it can't hurt to store a few things. Chocolate is one thing I'd hate to do without. And by the way, the Swiss do NOT make the best chocolate.

I would gage whether to buy a tractor on how much you think he would use it. DW wants an expensive sewing machine and she can sew, but she doesn't sew enough to warrant an expensive machine. I would spend according to the use it will get.

\Well take care folks, places to go and people to annoy,

Rancher

 

[Cass]

I went down to the coop to see what the broody was up to...after they all walked off to only god knows where....and lifted her up to see if anyone had laid an egg in her nest. She is good girl, didn't even make growling noises at me....but the poor thing....I feel so bad cuz I don't know when it happened....and egg had gotten broken and the yolk from the broken egg had stuck one of the intact eggs to her feathers. I don't know how long it's been since she has gotten off the nest. I feel terrible.

I picked her up, took her over to the water so she could drink and then put her back on the nest to let her choose what to do next. Now I wish I had saved the lid from one of my empty medication bottles so I could put some water and food right in the nest box with her.

 

[vmdanielsen]

My sister got the new job she applied for. I'm really happy for her, but now I have to get a new babysitter. The new one won't be for free either.

We have 15 new babies and still a few more pips. Go chickies go!

Would sister stay and babysit if you paid her?

 

[rancher hicks]

Lynz - my first batch from the hatchery had three Dominiques and one was a runt. She laid ok but she never did get as big as her sister.

Cass - glad all the eggs weren't ruined.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Lynz--as long as the little guy is holding his own, I wouldnt worry about him.

Cass--sorry about the egg. I had that happen to all of the ones I put under my broody last summer. I was mad that the other broody had gotten in and broken them. She is psychotic so she will be in the dog cage if she goes broody this year.

Rancher--you are a busy guy, my man. I have to agree with you about the use thing. I know that now that I am older, I look at things like sewing machines and small appliances and ask myself how much would I really use it before laying out all that money for it. My bread machine is off limits though. I spent a good amount on it 20 years ago and that thing is indestructable and still cranks out several loaves each week. They dont make them like this one any more!

So I come home to my silkies cute little faces pressed up against their run. I say hi and go inside. Come out to lock them up and what do I find....an egg buried in the run with just a little bit of the top showing. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!! So after locking them up I dug it out and brought it inside. I give up. They insist on laying in the run. I can only hope to get a broody who will let me put her in the nest box and stay there on some fertile eggs.

The tiny terrorists in the cardboard box downstairs were introduced to pine shavings tonight. Holy cow! Can you say chicks on crack??? They are still scratching and pecking and its been over 2 hours now! Little terrorists feel the need to attack and peck everything that enters their box. I have one little barred rock who was intent on killing the cardboard tube I put in there for them to play with. Jumped at it and pecked it over and over. I would say that raptors are definately in their lineage! They are just a week old. Cant wait till they are teenagers....we better have the coop done fast.

No pips yet on the silkie eggs on lockdown. Patience is the word of the day I guess. Temp is holding well. Humidity is fluctuating a bit. I am still keeping my fingers crossed that they all hatch. I got a peek at the surprise silkie coop my dd and her boyfriend are building me. Its nice. A hybrid between the one in the dummies book and another one I liked. Now I have to move a rock wall and a brush pile to make room for it. Does it every end???

Everyones baby pics are adorable. I hope everyones babies stay healthy and grow strong. Night!

 

[demp4]

I went down to the coop to see what the broody was up to...after they all walked off to only god knows where....and lifted her up to see if anyone had laid an egg in her nest. She is good girl, didn't even make growling noises at me....but the poor thing....I feel so bad cuz I don't know when it happened....and egg had gotten broken and the yolk from the broken egg had stuck one of the intact eggs to her feathers. I don't know how long it's been since she has gotten off the nest. I feel terrible.

I picked her up, took her over to the water so she could drink and then put her back on the nest to let her choose what to do next. Now I wish I had saved the lid from one of my empty medication bottles so I could put some water and food right in the nest box with her.

oh no... I hope she is okay! Could you use a small bowl with marbles or rocks in it for water?

 

[admhotel]

Is anybody interested in a Golden Cuckoo Maran cockeral? I have 2 extra that need to find new homes soon. FREE to anyone from this thread. They are very pretty, and I know if they end up at the auction they will probley become dinner. Let me know and I will try to take some pics.

 

[Framac]

Here is a picture of the little guy with no eyes.